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Joining with Hardware Venture Firms to Combine Technologies
OMRON VENTURES Co. Hosts OMRON Koto Challenge Demo Day

Experts from OMRON help hardware venture companies complete prototypes

June 6, 2015 was Demo Day of the OMRON Koto Challenge program, a startup support program for hardware-related ventures. Hosted by OMRON Ventures Co. and held at the OMRON Head Office, Demo Day provides participating teams a chance to present their achievements. The event was open to the public. This year's Grand Prix Award went to the Waiston Chobit Healthcare team founded by two students.

This year, the program drew more than 30 entries, with six teams selected through screening to participate in the program. During the three-month period from March to May, the participating teams worked to complete prototypes of products or services. Teams that had already completed their prototypes worked on refining them. During the course of the program, the teams were given the opportunity to discuss their business concepts with OMRON engineers and business development staff, giving them access to the staff's extensive manufacturing knowledge and expertise. The participants also received assistance in procuring parts and materials, as well as technical support. On Demo Day, each participating team made a presentation of the business concept and technology incorporated in its product/service, as well as the promise that the business may hold for the future.

Have you had the experience of overeating, even while worrying about the size of your abdomen?


The concept that the Waiston Chobit Healthcare team, the Grand Prize winner, initially had was a wearable monitor that enables easy diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. But as the team proceeded with their work, they realized the need to plan a business that could be useful for more users, so they conducted some marketing research. Based on the results of the research and new business planning, the team developed a mechanism that can handle more than simple measurement of the user's abdominal circumference. The completed prototype used pressure sensing technology to constantly monitor the level of bloat in the stomach, and issue an overeating alarm with a smartphone app.

Five other teams presented the following prototypes they had developed:

Committed to supporting hardware ventures with OMRON's sensing and control technologies and manufacturing strengths


Today, only a limited number of hardware ventures exist in Japan. In view of this, the objective of OMRON Ventures Co. is to provide support for startups that have superb technological seeds and innovative ideas, but face difficulty in commercializing them. To this end, "what to make"—that is, creating better products by improving quality and performance—is of course important. But equally important is "what to do," or providing solutions by anticipating issues that users may have and envisioning the situation in which the commercialized product will be used.


OMRON has core competencies in sensing and control as well as extensive knowledge in commercializing businesses that are capable of solving society's issues. OMRON also has manufacturing expertise built around the company's experience in dealing with a diversity of businesses, which vary in size, quantity, and price range. By sharing this unique manufacturing knowledge and expertise with hardware startups, OMRON Ventures Co. aims at creating innovations for addressing various challenges of society.


Through collaboration with venture companies, OMRON Ventures Co. will seek to introduce new automation that creates a harmonious relationship between people and machines. This enables interaction by which machines can do their part in unleashing human potential and creativity, allowing people to enjoy a greater quality of life.


Venture companies are welcome to participate in the second OMRON Koto Challenge program.

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