[Kyoto, Japan, April 16, 2025] — Almaprism Inc. has successfully raised 150 million yen (approx. $1 million USD) in seed series funding. The round was led by SBI Investment Co., Ltd., with participation from Kyoto Capital Partners Co., Ltd. and Kyoshin Social Capital.
About this investment round
The capital raised in this round will be used to accelerate clinical studies of Almaprism Inc’s software-as-a-medical-device (SaMD) product “AP-ARC-01” targeting pediatric ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), as well as development of the beta version of the consumer healthcare app using the same core technologies.
Comment from Almaprism Inc. CEO Shinichi Kasuno
We are thrilled and grateful to be able to receive the support of the three participating firms.
The field of mental healthcare still has many unknowns, and children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD often face many challenges in their day-to-day lives. However, support for mental healthcare is far from sufficient, and many children are unable to access systematic, effective care and support.
To tackle this issue, we are developing novel technologies for mental healthcare using principles from video game development. We believe using behavioral data that arises during the play of video games can unlock new evidence-based approaches to measurement and intervention.
The funding we were able to receive in this round will help us move forward with clinical studies in partnership with medical institutions as well as pilot studies with stakeholders in the local community. Our goal is to make our technology a practical solution for both healthcare providers and families of children facing difficulties.
As ever, we are committed to delivering evidence-based solutions to as many families and clinical settings as possible.
Investor Comments
SBI Investment Co., Ltd.
Manager – Shoichi Ozawa
ADHD has received a lot of societal attention in recent years. At the same time, some consider it to be a trait rather than a disability, and many people with ADHD are able to lead productive, fulfilling lives. Some of this may be due to a difference in severity, but it is also said that it is crucial to understand where someone falls on the rich and varied spectrum of traits and characteristics seen in those with ADHD. However, it is difficult to access timely care for ADHD, with wait times at many institutions being as long as several months. Almaprism seeks to solve this problem by delivering solutions to accelerate appropriate care, so that people with ADHD can thrive in society. We at SBI Investment were deeply moved by Almaprism’s vision, which ultimately led us to make our investment.
Having patients enjoy playing video games while also utilizing game-play metrics to inform healthcare is a novel approach, and we believe this innovation has the potential to be widely adopted not just in Japan but also globally.
We will continue to support Almaprism’s endeavors through the SBI Group.
Kyoto Capital Partners Co., Ltd.
Principal – Satoyoshi Yanagi
We were inspired by the CEO Mr. Kasuno’s vision of building a globally viable product from the ground up through community-based validation in the city of Kyoto, and are honored to support his vision through our investment.
In Japan, the population is rapidly aging and birthrates are declining. Precisely in such a society, it is of utmost importance to build an infrastructure for supporting the healthy development of children, who will form the backbone of society in coming decades. One key challenge we must address is how to deal with mismatches between a child’s varied and unique characteristics and the skills and traits demanded by modern society.
Almaprism’s product directly tackles structural issues in Japan’s pediatric psychiatry field, and offers a vision of what psychosocial treatment ought to look like. We look forward to seeing this solution evolve–grounded in rigorous scientific evidence–while leveraging the engagement potential of video games to appeal to a wide audience as a consumer healthcare application. We believe this technology will ultimately become a trusted tool for both healthcare professionals and families alike.
Kyoshin Social Capital
CEO – Takehiro Kunimoto
We at Kyoshin Socal Capital, as a corporate venture capital form under The Kyoto Shinkin Bank, are committed to supporting businesses that contribute to solving social issues and revitalizing local communities.
In Japan’s healthcare sector, a shortage of specialist doctors and the challenges inherent in ADHD diagnosis and care lead to delays in treatment. Additionally, there remains a strong sense of caution and resistance towards seeking diagnosis and medical care, resulting in a large number of undiagnosed cases. Many young children with ADHD struggle with a sense of unease and difficulty navigating the expectations placed on them by society, and we believe this shortage of appropriate diagnosis and care to be a significant societal challenge.
We believe that Almaprism’s product, which leverages video games as a medium for diagnosis, is an innovative and well-suited application of technologies as it allows children to express their traits in a natural and immersive environment. We are hopeful that wide-spread adoption of this solution will foster a broader sense of understanding of ADHD and contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and normalized society.
In young children with ADHD, this shortage of diagnosis and care lead to many of them struggling with a sense of unease and difficulty navigating the expectations placed on them by society.
About ADHD
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder and is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These core symptoms often lead to various challenges in daily life and social functioning. If left untreated, ADHD can contribute to a host of co-occurring conditions such as depression, substance abuse, and traffic accidents. In Japan, the economic loss from ADHD is estimated to exceed 1 trillion yen annually. However, studies have also shown that early intervention–particularly in childhood–can greatly resolve issues and significantly improve long-term outcomes.
While pharmacological treatment is one approach, clinical guidelines and academic societies emphasize the importance of psycho-social interventions tailored to each individual’s strengths and challenges. Nevertheless, due to the lack of objective assessment tools, physicians often have to rely on subjective judgment and a trial-and-error approach to develop treatment plans. This leads to delays in appropriate intervention, worsening prognoses, extended waiting periods, and increased burden on healthcare providers. It is estimated that there are approximately 500,000 school-aged children with ADHD in Japan, yet only around 900 certified child and adolescent psychiatrists. As a result, many children—particularly those in the so-called “gray zone”—are unable to receive appropriate care.
Our Product
To date, we have conducted an exploratory study involving 33 participants, including children diagnosed with ADHD, using a digital task developed by adapting video game technologies. The study demonstrated that our task enables us to efficiently collect data about many different cognitive abilities relevant to ADHD symptoms at once. By analyzing behavioral data collected within the digital task from multiple perspectives, we were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of their cognitive traits.
With this recent round of funding, we aim to conduct a clinical trial to evaluate whether our technology can practically address the pressing challenges faced by healthcare providers and physicians. Our goal is to obtain regulatory approval in Japan as a novel software-based medical device (SaMD, software-as-a-medical-device) and deliver our solution to clinical settings.
At the same time, we are also planning to develop a consumer healthcare application that can be used anywhere, with the aim of reaching undiagnosed children who are unable to access timely and appropriate medical care. Through these efforts, we are committed to building a society in which every child with ADHD, as well as their families and healthcare providers, are able to get involved in appropriate treatment and support.
Almaprism Inc.
Almaprism is an interdisciplinary team applying interactive experience design from video games to develop next-generation digital healthcare solutions.
With the support from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) under the initiative “Project for the Development of Medical Devices–Development of a Therapeutic Device for ADHD Using Executive Function Interventions in Video Games” we conducted joint research with Nagoya University and Hamamatsu Medical University. Our efforts have been centered around product development as a medical device and clinical validation of the core technologies used. We are currently aiming to foster collaboration among experts in medicine, education, and technology to realize a sustainable model of care, one that is accessible to all.
For more information, please see Almaprism’s website (https://almaprism.com).
For inquiries, please contact Almaprism:
Almaprism Inc.
contact@almaprism.com