The ICT Startup League supports startups in the ICT field. This time, we introduce Kiviaq Inc. (hereafter, Kiviaq), a company selected for the 2025 program. Kiviaq is a truly unique company challenging the very foundation of the "pharmacy," an essential part of our daily lives.

Aiming to create a "pharmacy you don't need to visit," Kiviaq is developing a new, integrated service that handles everything from prescription reception to dispensing and delivery. Let's hear the "selling points" from the secretariat staff member in charge of supporting Kiviaq.

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Changing the "Normal" Pharmacy Experience

You finish your doctor's appointment and head to the pharmacy with a prescription. Many of us have surely experienced long waits and the hassle of visiting multiple pharmacies while feeling unwell. Until I learned about Kiviaq's business, I thought waiting at the pharmacy or being turned away due to stock shortages was just "something you have to put up with." However, Kiviaq questions this "norm" and is trying to solve it with the power of technology.

What is Kiviaq's "Pharmacy You Don't Need to Visit"?

The "pharmacy you don't need to visit" that Kiviaq aims for is a delivery-first pharmacy where prescription medications are delivered directly to your home or office after a medical consultation, without you having to go to a physical location. Specifically, they are building an integrated service where patients upload their prescriptions via LINE, the medicine is dispensed at a Kiviaq-operated pharmacy, and then delivered to their desired location.

This eliminates the need to travel from the hospital to the pharmacy, endure long waits, or visit multiple pharmacies due to stock shortages. Furthermore, because it uses the LINE platform, it is intuitively easy to use even for those unfamiliar with smartphone operations.

Kiviaq is making the new experience of "getting medicine without going to the pharmacy" a reality through the power of technology.

A System to Prevent the "Runaround" and Surprising Speed

Kiviaq's strength lies in its challenge to achieve "zero out-of-stock" items through a thorough inventory management system. It eliminates the inconvenience of being told "we don't have that medicine" and having to search for another pharmacy. Furthermore, they aim for delivery in as fast as 30 minutes after dispensing. When you're not feeling well, receiving your medication smoothly is crucial, and Kiviaq's service provides new peace of mind.

¥60 Million in Funding, Operations to Begin in November 2025

Just three months after its establishment, Kiviaq successfully raised ¥60 million in funding in August 2025. The company is now preparing to launch its first self-operated pharmacy in November 2025. They plan to demonstrate their business model, which involves accepting prescriptions not only electronically but also via image submissions on LINE and direct transmissions from medical institutions, and then delivering the medicine through their own delivery network after dispensing. While the medical industry is said to be lagging in DX (Digital Transformation), Kiviaq is steadily overcoming high hurdles such as safety, personal information protection, and legal regulations.

Broader Social Impact and the Secretariat's Hopes

Kiviaq's initiative not only improves convenience for patients but also helps reduce the workload for pharmacy staff. While DX in the medical industry won't happen overnight, Kiviaq's efforts to create a society that is kinder to both patients and pharmacies hold the potential to become the new standard for medical services in the future.
As the ICT Startup League secretariat, we will continue to stand by Kiviaq as they face challenges and provide our full support for the growth of their socially significant business.