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Democratizing Information on a Global Scale: Supporting Corporate Overseas Expansion by Providing Accurate, Real-Time Information from Developing and Emerging Countries with AI【2025 ICT Startup League Member Interview: KiAI Inc.】
In modern society, where internet use is commonplace, we are truly overflowing with information. However, there is a huge gap in the quantity and quality of information we can obtain about economically wealthy countries in Europe and North America (the Global North) versus information about emerging and developing countries (the Global South).
KiAI Inc. (formerly DEVELOPTONIA), established in 2023, has developed and provides the "KiAI" intelligence platform. This service uses AI to collect, translate, and analyze information from developing and emerging countries in real-time, delivering it to users. Users can obtain the latest local information tailored to their needs from approximately 1,000 categories, including politics, economics, and disasters, based on their business field or interests.
CEO Kazumasa Oba worked as an economist for 15 years at institutions like the World Bank and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Leveraging his extensive experience providing solutions for researching and analyzing economic conditions worldwide, he is developing a service that uses AI technology to overcome information barriers.
The "KiAI" service has already begun implementation in major corporations, and research is steadily progressing toward wider adoption. We asked Mr. Oba about the background behind the service's creation and the world he aims to achieve.
[Image describing KiAI]A Challenge Witnessed Globally: The "Uneven Distribution of Information"
What inspired you to start your own business?
Oba: I had wanted to "start a business and take on something big" since I was a student, but I felt I needed to gain diverse experience first, so I primarily worked at financial institutions. My experience at the World Bank Group's IFC (International Finance Corporation), where I worked just before launching KiAI, was a major catalyst for starting the company. The IFC is a financial institution that invests in local companies to promote growth in developing countries. At the time, I was stationed in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, working to analyze the macroeconomic conditions of five Central Asian countries to inform investment decisions. Compared to Europe, the US, and Japan, which I had analyzed previously, there was extremely little data available in those countries for making investment decisions, such as how much goods were being sold or how the economy was changing. Even when data was available, much of it was in local languages, and analysis inevitably took a long time. Both I and the people I worked with felt frustrated that even in a society overflowing with information, there were still areas lacking data. I founded the company to resolve this "uneven distribution of information" and began developing the service "KiAI."
So you decided to start a business to solve a problem you actually felt in your work. You built your career in finance, but you weren't insistent on the fintech (finance + IT) framework?
Oba: When I decided to start the business, people around me asked, "Are you doing fintech?" But rather than focusing on finance, I wanted to broaden my horizons and tackle the challenge of "information" in all its forms.
Regarding the AI technology used in "KiAI," I understand you are conducting joint research with Professor Hiroyuki Niinomi of Ibaraki University. How did you meet him?
Oba: In making AI the core of our solution, I was keenly aware of the high technical hurdles. As I consulted with various people, they recommended joint research with an expert. I learned about Professor Niinomi as someone whose knowledge was well-suited to solving our problem. I then contacted Ibaraki University directly. Professor Niinomi also took an interest in our business, and we began joint research in November 2023, two months after I established the company. Since April 2024, Professor Niinomi has been participating in the business as our CAIO (Chief AI Officer).
Enhancing Information Reliability Through AI Technology & Human Connections
How does the AI function in the "KiAI" service you currently offer?
Oba: We mix our company's proprietary technology with existing AI technologies. Even in information processing alone, the AI performs analysis in multiple layers. Various pieces of information are delivered to the user after passing through processes that judge the necessary information from what's obtained on the internet, and processes that extract only highly reliable information at deeper layers.
What kind of algorithms are you particularly focused on developing to give "KiAI" its uniqueness?
Oba: It's the task of "extracting facts" from information. To extract reliable information, "KiAI" identifies ambiguous parts within the information, such as speculation or opinion, and performs the work of removing them to extract only the facts. This process organizes the facts from the large amount of information gathered, making it possible to deliver more reliable information. For example, if you think about a plane crash, a wide variety of information flies around, from fact-based announcements and reports to speculation about the cause and personal opinions. From all that, we first extract the facts based on linguistic analysis, then perform fact-checking and editing to make it easy for the user to read, and finally provide it as news.
Is Professor Niinomi's research expertise used to classify the parts stating facts versus those stating speculation or opinions?
Oba: Yes. Professor Niinomi is a specialist who has been researching natural language processing (technology that allows computers to understand and process the languages humans normally speak) for 30 years. He is well-versed not only in cutting-edge AI language processing but also in the accumulation of past research results. This technology for classifying and analyzing information through language is, I believe, a unique strength of "KiAI" that was only made possible thanks to his efforts.
How do you obtain the information from various countries that you process with AI?
Oba: We obtain it in two main ways. The first is by broadly collecting information that is publicly available on the internet. The second is by forming partnerships with institutions in various countries, such as governments and chambers of commerce, to obtain more reliable information through human networks.
Even with the first method, the process of taking all existing information can risk undermining reliability. Therefore, we select a certain number of reliable information sources, either by commissioning experts from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) or based on my own past experience.
You are sincerely pursuing "information reliability," which is directly linked to the value of your service. By the way, how were the partnerships you mentioned in the second method established?
Oba: Some have developed from the network I already had, while in other cases, we are approached by countries interested in our business. The strategic partnership we concluded with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Nigeria, which we announced in July of this year (2025), is an example that came about because they reached out to us.
What merits or appeal do governments and institutions in various countries see in "KiAI" that makes them reach out?
Oba: For government officials in emerging and developing countries, or those in positions close to the government like chambers of commerce, attracting investment from foreign companies is a major interest for the further development of their country. They see potential in us, as we are working to collect and disseminate the reliable information that is crucial for connecting emerging countries with foreign companies, and this leads to building cooperative relationships.
[Ceremony for signing the memorandum with Kyrgyzstan]Aiming for a World Where Everyone Can Access Correct Information
Do you have any projections or goals for what kind of user base this service will be used by in the future?
Oba: We are currently at the stage where we've verified the service's usefulness with large corporations. Going forward, I want SMEs to actively use it as well, and to utilize the data and news "KiAI" provides for their overseas business. To that end, we plan to make various adjustments so that more people can use it easily.
What is the driving force behind your enthusiastic efforts to support the overseas expansion of diverse companies?
Oba: This relates to the problem awareness that sparked my business. In the world today, there are still disparities in the quantity and quality of information and data depending on the region. The situation continues where only a limited number of people, such as those at large corporations, can obtain information from emerging countries where it's difficult to access. We want to change this world of "information disparity." KiAI Inc. has a vision of "Global Return for Everyone." Like these words, we are working on our business under the philosophy of "democratizing information," wanting to create a world where anyone, even SMEs and individuals, can obtain accurate data without paying a high price, and where everyone can expand their business in various ways based on the information they've obtained.
How do you want to grow this service in the medium to long term?
Oba: I want to continue emphasizing information reliability and make "KiAI" even more sophisticated. Currently, a vast amount of information is flying around on websites and social media, but I feel its reliability as a whole is declining. In this environment, we are planning to secure a "space of information for confident decision-making" on the internet, first in the business domain, with a goal of three to five years. Then, in the long term, I want to make "KiAI" a general-purpose tool that anyone can use, a kind of social infrastructure like Google.
In the process, I think we can also consider expansions, such as leveraging text-based natural language processing to apply it to the beauty field, or using geopolitical risk analysis for supply chain management in logistics or in the defense sector.
Specifically, how do you plan to further increase information reliability and expand your user base?
Oba: In addition to concluding partnerships at the government level in various countries, discussions for collaboration with various companies are moving forward, sparked by the value-up session at the "2nd Startup League Academy" I attended in September. This includes people from travel agencies that have networks spanning the globe. I envision that by collaborating with companies and organizations in a wide range of fields to further expand our information-gathering network, we can enhance the reliability of the information we handle.
You mentioned the "Startup League Academy." Could you share your impressions of participating in the ICT Startup League?
Oba: The ICT Startup League feels a bit different from other acceleration programs. My impression is that it's a program that values "comradery," where participants help each other and share know-how and information. Because of that, human connections are actively born, and I think it has a direct, positive impact on each other's businesses and research. It's a rare opportunity that leads directly to results, so by participating in this program, I hope to further expand those "wet," personal connections between people.
[With Nigerian government officials]Editor's Postscript
Regarding the current state of information distribution, Mr. Oba says, "I wonder if the fundamental structure of the world hasn't changed in 400 years." He refers to the Age of Discovery, a time when a handful of advanced nations like the Netherlands and Great Britain monopolized wealth and information, paving the way for modern nation-states and imperialism. Mr. Oba envisions punching a hole in that situation and building a global system for a healthier flow of information.
In the two years since its establishment, KiAI Inc. has steadily accumulated results and achievements. The interview made it clear that Mr. Oba's desire to create a world where information reaches everyone is a crucial foundation for the company. I look forward to seeing a world where information reform is advanced by AI technology and cooperation with people and organizations around the globe.
■ICT Startup League
This support program was launched in FY2023, originating from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Program to Support R&D for Startup Creation."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four pillars.
①R&D Funding / Hands-on Support
Up to 20 million yen in R&D funding is provided in the form of subsidies. Additionally, through hands-on support, the selection committee members involved in choosing League members continue to work closely with them post-selection to promote growth. For companies that committee members deemed "must-select," a dedicated "cheering"-style support system is in place, where the evaluators themselves provide ongoing advice on business plans and offer growth opportunities.
②Discovery & Development
We provide opportunities for learning and networking to promote the business growth of League members.
We also work to discover individuals who aim to start businesses in the future, aiming to expand the base.
③Competition & Co-creation
It serves as a place for positive competition, much like a sports league, with a system where startups learn together, engage in friendly competition, and win the funding (up to 20 million yen) they truly need. We also provide a platform for co-creation, where League members can collaborate and expand their businesses through various opportunities, such as sessions with selection committee members.
④Promotion
We collaborate with media to publicize the initiatives of League members! By making their business known to many people, we aim to expand opportunities for new matching and chances.
■Related Websites
KiAI Inc.
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KiAI Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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ICT Startup League
