HeCNOS AWARD Winners Featured at Expo 2025: Healthcare Startups to Watch (Part 2)

Innovation at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 continues to shine at the Reborn Challenge, located inside the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion. This initiative showcases the creativity of over 400 startups and SMEs, featuring breakthrough technologies over 26 themed weeks.

The Osaka Business Development Agency (OBDA) launched the HeCNOS AWARD to recognize top innovators in healthcare and carbon neutrality. Award-winning companies are being featured at Expo 2025.

In our previous edition, we introduced three standout healthcare startups [LINK]. Today, we continue the series with two more HeCNOS AWARD-winning companies driving the future of healthcare.

eightis

Photo: Kazuchika Nakamura, CEO of eightis and Koyo Takahashi, CFO of eightis

https://eightis.co.jp/

Q: What problem is eightis solving?

A: Musculoskeletal disorders—often caused by posture issues and movement imbalances—are a major contributor to chronic pain, injuries, and reduced quality of life. Traditionally, assessing these risks requires long, specialized sessions with top trainers or therapists. We make this process fast, accurate, and accessible.

Q: What technology are you developing?

A: Our AI-powered system analyzes posture and skeletal alignment in just three seconds using a single photo. It detects twists and imbalances, estimates future risks like knee osteoarthritis or frozen shoulder (with probability scores), and provides personalized exercise recommendations—instantly. This replaces what top trainers would typically spend 1–2 hours evaluating.

Q: What makes your approach unique?

A: Unlike generic posture apps, our system incorporates expertise from elite physiotherapists and trainers worldwide. Over the past 15 years we met with over 1,000 experts around the world, working with the top 30 to compile their know-how into a system—teaching AI to “see” what human experts see. This makes our platform accurate enough for pro sports teams while scalable for general users.

Q: What’s your commercialization plan and milestones?

A: We’re currently in the prototype phase with strong traction in pro sports and fitness markets—some professional teams have already pre-ordered. Commercial launch is planned for autumn–winter 2025. Our long-term goal: a device for every individual to enable early detection and prevention of movement-related health risks.

Q: Any plans for global expansion?

A: We plan to start in the U.S. market, forming partnerships with sports teams and wellness businesses. Cultural and skeletal differences are minimal for our application since we analyze movement trends, not millimeter-level variations. Interest is already coming from international organizations, including defense sectors.

Tellme Solutions

Photo: Kohei Yamamoto, CEO of Tellme Solutions

https://glymap.senri.co.jp/en/

Q: What problem does Tellme solve?

A: Diabetes is one of the most costly health challenges globally, with annual medical costs reaching over ¥1 trillion in Japan alone. Traditional diagnostics require blood tests, limiting accessibility, especially in regions with few hospitals. We aim to make early detection simple and widely available by using a surprising biological sample: human hair.

Q: What technology are you developing?

A: Our system analyzes just a few strands of hair to detect biomarkers associated with diabetes risk. Hair captures trace glycation-related compounds from the bloodstream, and with our advanced microanalysis technology (within 5% CV at the ppb (μg/L) level), we can identify early warning signs without blood samples. The method is painless, easy to implement at beauty salons, and eliminates the need for cold-chain storage required for liquid samples like tears or blood.

Q: What sets you apart?

A: Unlike liquid-based diagnostics, hair is incredibly stable—it can be stored and shipped without special conditions, even from remote regions like deserts or islands. This makes it ideal for areas with limited medical infrastructure.

Q: What are your key milestones and global plans?

A: We have already presented our research at the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry and are now preparing for next year’s International Diabetes Federation congress, with journal publications also in progress.

Global interest is strong—from embassies to major corporations—and we’re planning joint research with universities in multiple countries. Our long-term vision is to deploy this solution across populations where diabetes prevalence is accelerating amidst growing economies and healthcare needs.

Q: What’s your ultimate vision?

A: We want beauty salons to become hubs for preventive healthcare. By turning routine visits into health check opportunities, we aim to make early detection effortless—empowering women and communities to stay healthier, longer.