UnaBiz, Singapore’s IoT service provider, opens Tokyo office in regional expansion

Singapore-headquartered Internet-of-Things (IoT) startup UnaBiz has launched its regional expansion efforts with the opening of a new office in Tokyo, Japan, which is one of the top markets for ICT and IoT.

In a statement, UnaBiz said the expansion is the culmination of the company’s increase market presence in Japan. The Tokyo office will support its growing strategic alliance in the country.

The Japan expansion followed UnaBiz’s $100-million Series A funding round in 2018, co-led by Japanese telecommunications firm KDDI, Japan’s global telecommunications pioneer, and ENGIE Services.

Post Series A, UnaBiz joined the “Invest Tokyo” program and worked with Accenture, the global management consulting group, on its Japan market entry strategy.

Since then, the IoT service provider has announced and completed one of the largest Smart Gas Metering projects in the region with SORACOM, Kyocera Communication Systems, and Sigfox.

Kenichi Matsuki, director at Kyocera Communication Systems, said the entry of UnaBiz is proof that Japan is one of the largest IoT markets in the world.

“We hope that the opening of the Tokyo office will further promote the use of the Sigfox network in Japan. As the exclusive Japan Sigfox operator and the win-win partner of UnaBiz, KYOCERA Communication Systems will continue to strive and develop the IoT market in the country,” Matsuki added.

UnaBiz has appointed Pascal Gerbert-Gaillard as managing director of its Japan business. Gerbert-Gaillard is currently a trade advisor to the French Government, a board member in the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry Japan, and the president of Ecole Polytechnique Alumni Asia Chapter.

“We see a great deal of synergy in IoT use cases for the Singapore and Japanese markets, especially in areas that address the challenges faced by its fast-aging population, shrinking workforce, and high manpower cost,” Gerbert-Gaillard.

Japan is constantly developing next-generation technologies to supplement the declining workforce—an issue further exacerbated by COVID-19.