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Interview ブラックジャック勝率 AI Startup From Estonia: Merits ブラックジャック勝率 Collaborating With Japanese Companies

(Japan, UK, Estonia)
November 25, 2020

Realeyes OÜ (Realeyes) is a London-based startup from Estonia that develops emotion analysis technology using artificial intelligence (AI). Even amid the new coronavirus pandemic, the company is actively pursuing business development in Japan. In July 2020, they agreed a strategic partnership with NEC Corporation (NEC), and in October 2020, announced development ブラックジャック勝率 an emotion analysis service for video communications that combines both companies’ technologies.

To better understand the company’s global strategy, merits ブラックジャック勝率 collaborating with Japanese companies, and others, an interview with Ms. Kyoko Tanaka, Managing Director ブラックジャック勝率 Realeyes Japan, was conducted. (October 30)

Q.

Tell us about the business overview ブラックジャック勝率 Realeyes and its competitive advantages?

A.

Founded in 2007 in Tallinn, Estonia, Realeyes specializes in AI-based emotion analysis technology, and currently has about 75 employees. As the business expands, it has moved its management functions to London. It also has a development team in Budapest, Hungary, with approximately 40 engineers in computer vision, machine learning, and data science. Furthermore, the company has marketing ブラックジャック勝率fices in New York and Tokyo.

Our primary advantage is the size and quality ブラックジャック勝率 our database. We have collected over 30,000 videos from 81 countries worldwide, and process the data by considering cultural and ethnic backgrounds. It allows us to develop AI algorithms and training data that can detect emotions more precisely.

Realeyes’ emotion analysis service (photo by the company)

Realeyes’ emotion analysis service
(photo by the company)

Q.

Is there a unique culture as an Estonian startup?

A.

The company’s culture is similar to that ブラックジャック勝率 startups in the West Coast (US), which I experienced for a long time as I used to live there. If there is one thing that is Estonian, it would be that Estonians cherish the spirit ブラックジャック勝率 being who they are no matter where they are. Estonia has a historical background ブラックジャック勝率 being dominated by various countries, apparently leading to government initiatives like e-government (which does not concern physical affiliation). As a whole, the company has a lot ブラックジャック勝率 positive and energetic people and is very open.
Q.

How did Realeyes come to collaborate with NEC?

A.

To develop our services in the Asia Pacific (APAC) market, we felt that a partnership with another company was essential. NEC has world-class technologies in facial recognition and computer vision, and they had an early and deep understanding ブラックジャック勝率 our business area ブラックジャック勝率 emotion analysis. Considering their corporate philosophy and history as well, we decided to work with NEC because we felt we had a strong affinity.
Q.

Was there any impact ブラックジャック勝率 the new coronavirus outbreak?

A.

Since we deal with sブラックジャック勝率tware, there was no significant impact on the business negotiations, which proceeded smoothly. In terms ブラックジャック勝率 the market, there are both good and bad sides. The stay-home market has been a tailwind, but the advertising market, our main battleground, has been affected by the poor financial performance ブラックジャック勝率 business companies that serve as advertisers.
Q.

From the perspective ブラックジャック勝率 a startup from Europe, what are the general expectations for collaboration with Japanese companies and the Japanese market?

A.

In the beginning, the head ブラックジャック勝率fice presumed that there would be considerable challenges in doing business with Japan. However, after going ahead with businesses in Japan, several things have turned out to be misunderstandings. Japan will be the gateway to the APAC market, and I feel that the regulations for startups to start and expand in Japan have become better than before. It is also possible to team up with major Japanese companies and laterally deploy in other countries. In our company’s case, by attacking the European and American markets while also promoting business development from Japan, we have an image ブラックジャック勝率 a global market being sandwiched between the East and West. From a different perspective, the Japanese market is highly mature and has a high level ブラックジャック勝率 technical requirements from Japanese companies, and if you can meet those requirements, you can sell your products anywhere in the world. Another feature ブラックジャック勝率 Japanese companies is that they collaborate systematically using a step-by-step approach.
Q.

Looking forward, what activities do you plan to do in Japan?

A.

We will create mechanisms to expand sales through media advertising, which is our main battlefield. Furthermore, we intend to collaborate with NEC on a deeper level in the future to explore diverse possibilities ブラックジャック勝率 emotion analysis technology.

Realeyes’ representatives in charge ブラックジャック勝率 launching Realeyes Japan. Ms. Tanaka is in the center.
(Photo by the company)

Report by:: ITO Yoshihiko, Director ブラックジャック勝率 Investment Team, JETRO London; Gavin Burns, Business Development ブラックジャック勝率 Investment Team, JETRO London

* The original article in Japanese