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: $19.2M. 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
- $19.2M
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); NEDO DTSU STS Phase for construction-specialized World Model (2026); Kaggle Competition Masters on team; 100+ companies / thousands of 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
Z Venture Capital / potential NAVER LABS 3D foundation model synergy (relationship-building opportunity, not announced joint product), METI/NEDO GENIAC Phase 3, NEDO DTSU STS Phase (construction-specialized World Model, June 2026)
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), NEDO DTSU STS Phase selected for construction World Model (June 2026), Forbes JAPAN 2024 Notable Startups 100, Toyo Keizai Sugoi Venture 100 (2024)
Growth metrics
Deployed at 100+ companies and thousands of 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+ companies / thousands of 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; NEDO Deep Tech Startup Support (DTSU) STS Phase selected (June 2026) for construction-specialized World Model
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
Latest news about Zen Intelligence
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Official website: https://zen-intelligence.ai