StartupBlink

18 Top startups in Kobe for August 2026

We rank ACALL, Godot and Biopalette in Kobe along with 15 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. Kobe is part of Osaka startup ecosystem which ranks #147 globally and #14 in East Asia.

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Best Startups in Kobe for 2026

1st
Godot logo
GodotSB Score: 314

Godot's mission is to “inspire personal and societal growth through human augmentation”. As part of this mission, we are developing a Behavior Intelligence Platform (BIP) that helps enterprises improve UX, CX, and EX by visualizing human behavior principles and making it easy for anyone to implement insights from behavioral science. This platform leverages evidence from behavioral sciences and advanced AI technologies. Our technology has already proven successful in health insurance industries, resulting in significant improvements in customer retention and satisfaction. Our team comprises experts in AI, behavioral science, and industry-specific applications, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to our solutions. Together, we are committed to creating a society where everyone can enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life, true to themselves, with the support of Godot's innovative technologies.

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Website
godot.inc/en
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$7.6M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Aqua Fusion logo
Aqua FusionSB Score: 235

Aqua Fusion regenerates fisheries through technology and manufactures and sells marine audio equipment. It develops the AquaMagic, an underwater visualization device series that realizes the visualization of all underwater information (fish species, fish length, number of fish, fish weight, underwater garbage, fishery information, etc.). It develops the FINE (First INterval Echosounding) Technology, overcomes the sound barrier in water, enabling unprecedented fine-grained fish image display. And aims to realize the Sustainable Ocean by providing users with high value-added underwater information, contributing to the development of fisheries (fishing and aquaculture), marine leisure, and marine development. It was established in 2017 and headquartered in Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.

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Website
aquafusion.jp
Employee range
1 – 10
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$2.1M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
MoonJapan logo
MoonJapanSB Score: 176
EdtechEdtech

MoonJapan is an educational impact startup that offers a variety of programs and thorough assistance.

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Website
www.moon-japan.com
Employee range
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$194.4K
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
Shifter logo
ShifterSB Score: 144

Whether it is delivering a home appliance, moving goods or furniture, relocating or even hauling goods for your office party, Shifter is the perfect service for you.

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Website
getshifter.io
Employee range
1 – 10
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
5th
Avii logo
AviiSB Score: 92

AVII IMAGEWORKS is a production company that creates films, websites, designs, and illustrations. It is a company that creates surprises and impressions by producing, and creates smiles from people, companies, and more.

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Website
avii.jp
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
6th
Hylable logo
HylableSB Score: 55

Hylable offers services for in-person and online conferencing. Discussions are instantly visualized and automatically evaluated for users to use. The use of graphical data facilitates unbiased evaluation and evidence-based criticism.

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Website
www.hylable.com
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:6

Most Funded Startups in Kobe for 2026

The top three most funded startups in Kobe have raised total funding of more than USD 56.3M. ACALL has 0.66% more funding than Biopalette.
1st
Godot logo
GodotSB Score: 314

Godot's mission is to “inspire personal and societal growth through human augmentation”. As part of this mission, we are developing a Behavior Intelligence Platform (BIP) that helps enterprises improve UX, CX, and EX by visualizing human behavior principles and making it easy for anyone to implement insights from behavioral science. This platform leverages evidence from behavioral sciences and advanced AI technologies. Our technology has already proven successful in health insurance industries, resulting in significant improvements in customer retention and satisfaction. Our team comprises experts in AI, behavioral science, and industry-specific applications, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to our solutions. Together, we are committed to creating a society where everyone can enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life, true to themselves, with the support of Godot's innovative technologies.

View Full Page
Website
godot.inc/en
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$7.6M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Aqua Fusion logo
Aqua FusionSB Score: 235

Aqua Fusion regenerates fisheries through technology and manufactures and sells marine audio equipment. It develops the AquaMagic, an underwater visualization device series that realizes the visualization of all underwater information (fish species, fish length, number of fish, fish weight, underwater garbage, fishery information, etc.). It develops the FINE (First INterval Echosounding) Technology, overcomes the sound barrier in water, enabling unprecedented fine-grained fish image display. And aims to realize the Sustainable Ocean by providing users with high value-added underwater information, contributing to the development of fisheries (fishing and aquaculture), marine leisure, and marine development. It was established in 2017 and headquartered in Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.

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Website
aquafusion.jp
Employee range
1 – 10
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$2.1M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
MoonJapan logo
MoonJapanSB Score: 176
EdtechEdtech

MoonJapan is an educational impact startup that offers a variety of programs and thorough assistance.

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Website
www.moon-japan.com
Employee range
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$194.4K
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:6

Top Hiring Startups in Kobe by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in Kobe have an median employee size that is between [101-250]
1st
ACALL logo
ACALLSB Score: 338

ACALL is the provider of a Smart Office platform that realizes a safe, secure, and comfortable work style anywhere. ACALL uses AI/IoT to automate, facilitate, and recommend experiences in various workspaces and can realize the best mix of office work and remote work, as well as freely design people's living and working environments.

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Website
corp.acall.jp
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$30.4M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
IoTBASE logo
IoTBASESB Score: 254

IoTBASE has aided companies' digital transformation by providing IoT cloud services. They will continue to develop IoT products that are critical for company growth by leveraging the knowledge and experience gained from various IoT developments as they technical capabilities.

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Website
iotbase.co.jp
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$722.2K
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Godot logo
GodotSB Score: 314

Godot's mission is to “inspire personal and societal growth through human augmentation”. As part of this mission, we are developing a Behavior Intelligence Platform (BIP) that helps enterprises improve UX, CX, and EX by visualizing human behavior principles and making it easy for anyone to implement insights from behavioral science. This platform leverages evidence from behavioral sciences and advanced AI technologies. Our technology has already proven successful in health insurance industries, resulting in significant improvements in customer retention and satisfaction. Our team comprises experts in AI, behavioral science, and industry-specific applications, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to our solutions. Together, we are committed to creating a society where everyone can enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life, true to themselves, with the support of Godot's innovative technologies.

View Full Page
Website
godot.inc/en
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$7.6M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
Biopalette logo
BiopaletteSB Score: 279

Biopalette is a operator of a platform intended to offer gene-editing techniques. Bio Palette plans to develop our business in three fields, classified based on the type of cells targeted for genome editing.

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Website
biopalette.co.jp
Employee range
11 – 50
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$18.3M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:18

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National Rank

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Regional Rank

(East Asia)

14th

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Global Rank

(WorldWide)

147th

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