In this article we sit down with Yosuke Kaneko, CEO of SORA Technology. SORA Technology is an alum of S-Startups, a startup certification program run by Shibuya Startup Deck to support startups through industry-government collaboration. Yosuke founded SORA Technology in 2020 with the mission to “transform people's way of life from the sky (‘sora’ is the Japanese word for ‘sky’).” The company utilizes air mobility, particularly drones, to address social issues in the global health field such as combating malaria and last-mile drug delivery. We interviewed him about his path to starting his own business, business development, and future vision.
SORA Technology CEO, Yosuke Kaneko (Photo: SORA Technology）
Please tell us about your journey starting SORA Technology.
After graduating from university, I joined a consulting firm. I worked as a Strategy Manager and then eventually joining a drone venture as its Chief Strategy Officer. Later, I became a lead researcher at a national research and development institute. The catalyst for starting my own business was a request from the Institute Pasteur in France to deliver vaccines within one day of birth in Africa. While on-site, I recognized the necessity of utilizing drones in the Global South (which refers to regions like Africa, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, and the Caribbean classified as low- or middle-income countries by the World Bank) and established SORA Technology to specialize in global humanitarian assistance.
Could you provide more details about what your company does?
SORA Technology addresses urgent issues in emerging countries, with an initial focus on malaria. With SORA Malaria Control, our proprietary fixed-wing drones combine aerial imagery data and multiple AI technologies to efficiently identify and manage water pools with a high risk of breeding malaria-carrying mosquitoes. This significantly reduces the labor required for discovering water pools, and by targeting specific water pools identified as high risk for mosquito breeding — as opposed to general spraying — we are extremely cost-effective. Given the tight budgets of the countries where we operate, this is essential.
Why did you start this business?
We started our drone delivery business in Sierra Leone, West Africa, in collaboration with UNICEF and the local Ministry of Science and Technology. However, there weren’t even medical supplies available for distribution. Through discussions with the local Ministry of Health, we identified and prioritized the most underlying issue – malaria control.
Are there any specific strategies you’re employing for international business expansion?
We value “fairness,” which is the core value of our company. We are a small team but need a diverse workforce for international expansion, so we will continue to work on our human resources and community outreach.
What led you to apply for “S-Startups”?
Shibuya is well-known internationally for landmarks like Scramble Crossing. We recognized here as a suitable location for recruiting international talent interested in Japan, and as a result, we were indeed able to hire a diverse, international staff. We were also inspired by other S-Startups that expanded internationally.
What are your next steps?
Our malaria control efforts using drones and AI opened up for our next step, we will continue innovating in the global health sector with new technologies. We specifically want to expand into countries in Asia and the Pacific.
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