Zen Intelligence
Category: Computer Vision
Physical AI startup developing 3D Vision and Vision-Language Models to automate construction site inspection and management through its zenshot platform. Zen Intelligence was founded in 2020. The company is led by Hiroki Nozaki. Based in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $27.3M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Z Venture Capital; Angel Bridge; Rice Capital; Firstlight Capital; Incubate Fund.
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $27.3M
Value proposition
zenshot transforms construction sites into 3D digital twins from 360-degree videos, using a construction-specialized Vision-Language Model (VLM) and AI agents to automate process, safety, and quality management — reducing site supervisor travel time by up to 60%.
Products and solutions
zenshot (AI construction management platform using 360° video → 3D digital twin); zenshot AI (Physical AI Agent launched April 2026 for autonomous site management)
Unique value
Proprietary 3D Vision + construction-specialized VLM + Spatial Intelligence that perceives, reasons, and acts within physical construction sites; selected for METI/NEDO GENIAC program for domestic AI foundation model development.
Target customer
Construction companies, home builders, general contractors in Japan — from large housing manufacturers (Panasonic Homes) to regional builders (Kondo Kensetsu, Next Innovation)
Industries served
Construction; Residential housing; General contracting
Technology advantage
Proprietary 3D Vision technology; construction-specialized Vision-Language Model (VLM); Spatial Intelligence for physical site understanding; GENIAC program selection (METI/NEDO); Kaggle Competition Masters on team; over 100 construction sites deployed
How they differentiate
Unlike general-purpose construction management SaaS, Zen Intelligence builds a Physical AI stack with proprietary 3D Vision + construction-specific VLM that autonomously perceives, reasons, and acts on site conditions — moving beyond digital twin visualization to autonomous AI agent-driven site management.
Main competitors
Buildots (Israel, AI construction analytics); OpenSpace (US, 360° construction documentation); Photoruction (Japan, construction photo management)
Key partnerships
NAVER LABS (3D foundation model collaboration via ZVC group synergy); METI/NEDO GENIAC program (domestic AI foundation model development)
Notable customers
Panasonic Homes (multiple sites nationwide); Kondo Kensetsu (all construction sites); Next Innovation (all construction sites, 3 group bases); Livind (Living Dee); Fudosan SHOP Nakajitsu
Major milestones
Founded July 2020 as SoftRoid; Launched zenshot product (2022); Pre-Series A ¥220M (March 2024); Renamed to Zen Intelligence (July 2025); Series A ¥1.5B (Sep 2025); Selected for METI/NEDO GENIAC Phase 3 (Aug 2025); Launched zenshot AI Physical AI Agent (Apr 2026); Series A extension to ¥2.5B total (May 2026); Panasonic Homes multi-site deployment (Mar 2026); Forbes JAPAN 2024 Notable Startups 100; Toyo Keizai Sugoi Venture 100 (2024)
Growth metrics
Deployed at 100+ construction sites; Panasonic Homes multi-site deployment; remote confirmation reduced site supervisor travel time by up to 60%
Market positioning
Leading Physical AI startup in Japan's construction tech space; selected for Forbes JAPAN 2024 Notable Startups 100, Toyo Keizai "Sugoi Venture 100" (2024); deployed at 100+ construction sites
Geographic focus
Japan (primary); potential global expansion
Patents and IP
IPA Mitou Advanced Program (2021) for construction site robot data collection; METI/NEDO GENIAC Phase 3 selected for construction AI foundation model development
About Hiroki Nozaki
Ex-Arthur D. Little Japan (new business strategy for manufacturing); Keio University MS in Information Engineering; Soft robotics research published at IEEE IROS; 5th dan in kendo; Apprentice site supervisor at a construction company
Official website: https://zen-intelligence.ai