The SaaS Source: April 2026

This month’s roundup covers the latest innovations and developments from Japan’s SaaS industry, including a Series A for a satellite data platform backed by NTT Docomo and JR East, a scholarship management SaaS closing its Series B, a Niigata-based 3D decision-support platform raising its first-ever outside capital, and construction SaaS giant rolling out AI agents across its platform.

New Space Intelligence Raises ¥430 Million to Build Satellite Data Infrastructure

PR Times reported that New Space Intelligence (NSI), a Yamaguchi-based developer of satellite data calibration and integration technology, closed a ¥430 million Series A round on April 7. The round was led by Partners Fund, with participation from strategic investors including HIS, NTT Docomo Ventures, Zenrin Future Partners, JR East Startup, as well as venture capital firms epiST Ventures, Shichijushichi Capital, and Mizuho Capital.
The company’s core technology standardizes data from multiple satellite sources, resolving differences in sensor type, resolution, and observation conditions. This enables consistent, high-quality satellite data to be used across applications such as infrastructure monitoring, disaster response, and land analysis.
NSI was also selected for the second phase of JAXA’s Space Strategy Fund, which will support the development of calibration and verification methods for domestic small satellites through September 2030.

Gaxi Closes Series B First Tranche with ¥425 Million for Scholarship Platform

The Bridge reported that Gaxi, a Tokyo-based operator of one of Japan’s largest scholarship information platforms, raised ¥425 million in the first close of its Series B round on April 9. The round was led by Nissay Capital, with participation from Terasky Ventures, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking, and STATION Ai Central Japan.
Gaxi’s platform covers over 16,000 scholarship programs nationwide and provides cloud-based scholarship management tools through its SaaS product “Gaxi Agent,” supporting processes such as recruitment, screening, and disbursement for schools, foundations, and local governments.
In 2025 alone, the company supported the creation of approximately 100 new scholarship programs, delivering over ¥1.27 billion in grants to around 900 students.
The new funding will be used to accelerate product development and expand its “Shin-Scholarship” service, which enables individuals and companies to create scholarship programs from scratch.

Lipronext Raises ¥120 Million Seed for 3D Decision-Support SaaS Roomiq

PR Times reported that Lipronext, a Niigata-based startup providing 3D virtual space and AI concierge services, raised ¥120 million in a seed round from Genesia Ventures on April 16. This marks the company’s first external funding in its tenth year of operation.
Lipronext’s flagship product, Roomiq, visualizes physical facilities as explorable 3D spaces online. It is built on a metaverse platform originating from the NTT Group, with over 260,000 spatial datasets already constructed.
Its companion product, NOIM, is a conversational AI concierge that guides users through complex decision-making processes. It is currently used in university open campus events, municipal relocation initiatives, and housing showrooms.
The company positions the combination of these products as infrastructure for high-stakes personal decisions—such as job changes, relocation, and property purchases—where conventional online content often fails to provide sufficient confidence for commitment.

ANDPAD Integrates AI Agents Across Japan’s Largest Construction SaaS

The Bridge reported that ANDPAD, a Tokyo-based developer of construction site management software, has begun rolling out AI agent capabilities across its platform under the product name “ANDPAD Stellarc.”
The company’s core SaaS product, ANDPAD, is used by approximately 233,000 companies and over 684,000 workers to manage site progress, drawings, and schedules.
Rather than replacing existing workflows, these AI agents are designed to operate within ANDPAD’s established platform, leveraging accumulated data from real-world construction projects to automate coordination and optimize processes.
ANDPAD has also expanded into adjacent services, including a construction-specific invoice financing product launched in 2025 and a job placement service for construction workers. These initiatives deepen its presence in the financial and HR layers of the industry it has already digitized.