Haudi, Inc. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: 浅田 風太), which operates smart home • smart society businesses, was established in June 2021. After a preparation period, full-scale operations began in September. We also announce that Mr. Susumu Furukawa, former President of Microsoft Corporation, and Mr. Yoshiki Yanai, former Director of Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd., have been appointed as company advisors.
Background and Purpose of Company Establishment
People are said to spend more than 60% of their lifetime at home. The home where we spend most of our time is the most important place for families. There is demand for homes that are comfortable and stress-free, where we can heal fatigue and relax, and maintain our health.
Furthermore, with the COVID-19 pandemic, people have come to spend even more time at home, and the functions required of homes have been increasing.
As one means to realize the homes required in the coming era, our company has focused on smart homes—homes where various in-home equipment can be freely controlled and monitored through the internet.
In the IoT era where everything is connected to the internet, we will develop smart home businesses that realize comfortable homes by comprehensively managing various " things " in the home such as door locks, lighting, air conditioning, boilers, appliances, and shutters. By having the home automatically collect data such as temperature, humidity, and air quality and utilize it for control, we will realize homes that are safe and secure, maintain comfortable indoor conditions, save energy, and become increasingly convenient the longer you live in them.
Recently, appliances and electrical equipment capable of internet connectivity have appeared and are gradually becoming widespread. However, existing products are single-function and must be controlled individually using separate smartphone apps, etc., and cannot perform automatic control linked to the surrounding environment or overall control with devices coordinating with each other. We aim to realize this by connecting various devices through communication with our original home controller as the core, securely authenticating • concealing information through security technology, coordinating • automating control of devices throughout the home, and developing technology that continuously evolves using AI.
Furthermore, we will also develop businesses for smartifying entire neighborhoods where such homes stand side by side (smart cities), and ultimately smartifying society as a whole (smart society), and will advance all of this based on " evidence " grounded in scientific data and proof.
A home and society where people can live safely, conveniently, peacefully, and healthily. Haudi will strive forward to realize this.
Business Fields
Technology development related to smart homes • smart society
We will develop various technologies necessary for smartification, such as security • encryption technology, communication technology, data analysis, and AI, which are our company's greatest strengths. We are preparing to conduct joint research with universities for some projects.
Design, construction, and setup of smart homes • smart society
For customers building new homes or renovating, we will perform design for smart home conversion, construction such as electrical work and equipment installation, and setup of each device and the home controller.
Smart home maintenance, 24-hour monitoring, and watching over
We plan to establish a 24-hour online monitoring system and provide services such as equipment malfunction and failure detection, and watching over services.
Investment business in smart home • smart society related technologies
We will establish our company's Corporate venture capital " Haudi Investment Limited Partnership No. 1 (tentative name) " in 2021 and invest in startups in the smart home and smart society fields. Details about the investment limited partnership will be announced as they are determined.
Origin of the company First Name
" Haudi " is written as "Haudí" in alphabet notation. The top of the final "i" has a diagonal mark from upper right to lower left, which is an acute accent. This comes from the fact that the etymology of Haudi is Spanish (more precisely, Catalan).
Antoni Gaudí, the great architect we respect who designed many groundbreaking structures such as Sagrada • Familia and Casa • Milà. With the intention of " taking Gaudí one step further ", we changed the initial "G" to "H," the next letter in the alphabet.
Gaudí -> Haudí
Furthermore, Haudi also contains the meaning of
House + Digital -> Haudí
digitalizing homes.
Key Members and Comments
President and Representative Director 浅田 風太 (Asada Futa)
Master of Media Design from Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD). At KMD, engaged in various projects themed on physical interaction, including " ARIE ", a production control system aimed at improving online live experiences, and " MusiArm ", a prosthetic instrument enabling people with limb deficiencies to play musical instruments. The VR content " Kabutorift ", which allows users to experience the sensation of horns growing from their head, won the Kawakami Memorial Special Award at the 27th IVRC. In 2021, developed a new version of MusiArm for people with upper arm deficiencies together with colleagues, realizing performance by those affected. Promotes social inclusion and challenges the nature of entertainment.
Chairman of the Board 浅田 一憲 (Asada Kazunori)
A researcher • engineer • executive with two doctoral degrees: Doctor of Medicine (Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine) • Doctor of Media Design (Keio University Graduate School of Media Design). Has deep knowledge in communications • cryptography • medical fields. As an entrepreneur, founded Open Loop Corporation, an information security startup, in 1997 and assumed the position of representative director. Led the company to IPO in 2001. As a social activity, developed and provides free of charge a suite of vision • color vision assistance apps including a " color simulator " for people with visual difficulties. Used by over 1 million people worldwide.
Developer of the " MN128 " ISDN communication device, a major bestseller that triggered the spread of the internet in Japan. Founding member of Cybertrust. Principal of Netchuu Elementary School Etan Branch. Distinguished Visiting Professor at Professional University of Information and Management for Innovation.
Advisor Susumu Furukawa, Former President of Microsoft
An engineer • executive who has played a leading role at the center of ASCII and Microsoft since the dawn of personal computers in Japan. Born in Tokyo in 1954. Joined ASCII Publishing in 1979, served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Monthly ASCII, and became Director in charge of technology in 1982. Worked on Japanese localization of UNIX and discovery of Just • System. Assumed the position of President of Microsoft Corporation in 1986 and contributed to the development • popularization of MS-DOS, Windows, etc. Became Vice President of Microsoft USA (New Business/Japan) in 2003. Left Microsoft in 2005. Participated in the establishment of Keio University Digital Media • Content Integrated Research Organization (DMC) in 2006 and Graduate School of Media Design (KMD) in 2008, assuming the position of professor, and retired from Keio in 2020. Currently a special lecturer at N High School, utilizing his experience. Senior • Fellow at Mistletoe and supporting venture entrepreneurs. Hobbies include railway photography • models.
Advisor Yoshiki Yanai, Former President and Representative Director of Tokyo Tatemono Amenity Support
Born in 1956. Graduated from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University in 1980 and joined the Design Department of Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. the same year.
Served as Director and General Manager of Housing Business Division 1 in 2009, and became Director and General Manager of Housing Business Division in 2012.
President and Representative Director of Tokyo Tatemono Amenity Support Co., Ltd. in 2013.
Became a director of the Japan Condominium Management Association the same year, and assumed the position of Vice Chairman in 2019.
Chairman of Tokyo Tatemono Amenity Support Co., Ltd. in 2020, resigned in June 2021.
Comments from Related Parties
President and Representative Director 浅田 風太
I have loved science fiction movies since I was a child. Moving objects by waving your hand, lighting candles by snapping your fingers. The day when such movie-like worlds become reality is not far off.
Haudi has adopted the mission of " creating innovation in daily life with magical technology ", and will develop • provide residential smart control platforms to fundamentally change the common sense of living. Homes where you can live an exciting life, with comfort of course, but also become creative and spend mentally rich and healthy days. With bold speed and cutting-edge engineering technology, we will design an Internet of Everything (IoE) environment where everything in living spaces is connected to the internet, and the operability to freely control them. We believe that by expanding the circle of smart & magical from homes to neighborhoods, and from neighborhoods to society as a whole, we can realize a new lifestyle filled with smiles.
Chairman of the Board 浅田 一憲
With the internet society, we have come to spend much time in cyberspace. That is precisely why the time spent in our real homes has become even more precious. No matter how wonderful a place we travel to in the world, we still long for home. Home, Sweet Home! That is what a home is.
Home is a place we can return to no matter what, a base for taking on challenges, and a cradle for healing fatigue. Using IT technology to make this core place as comfortable as possible. That is what we should do at Haudi, our home base.
Advisor Susumu Furukawa
I have been supporting young people since my Microsoft days, but at Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD), I met even more young people.
Both the chairman and president of Haudi (the Asada father and son) are my students from my KMD days. Chairman Kazunori Asada was a new employee during my ASCII days and was active even then. At KMD, he obtained the first Doctor of Media Design degree. I have known President Futa Asada since before he entered university, and I expected that he would someday launch a venture company.
" Haudi ", launched by those two. The wave of the next generation's " smartphone "—that is, "smart home" that goes beyond mobile phones—will come to generations and traditional industries left behind by IT. I intend to provide solid advice so they can become the top company when that happens.
Advisor Yoshiki Yanai
New housing starts in fiscal 2020 reached 820,000 units, with robust demand for new housing construction continuing. Also, with the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are spending most of the day at home, and it has become an era where not only living • eating • sleeping but also work is done at home. However, with the coming population decline, a long-term decrease in new housing construction is unavoidable. Difficult times will come for manufacturers that cannot comprehensively provide the various functions required of homes in the coming era.
Optimizing energy, ensuring safety with security, maintaining comfort using IT and AI technology. Smart homes utilizing such various technologies are what the times demand. I am convinced that the venture company Haudi, with its high technological capabilities and housing knowledge, will bring innovation to the housing industry.
Supporting Comments from Everyone
Keiichiro Taniguchi (Project Assistant Professor, The University of Tokyo Graduate School / Co-director of Studio Nora, First-class Architect)
Homes are treasure troves of data, including physical information such as temperature and humidity and records of resident behavior. Hidden there are many hints for residents to aim for enjoyable, comfortable, and energy-saving living.
I expect Haudi's smart home business to open up a new future for housing.
Takafumi Horie (Founder, SNS media&consulting Co., Ltd.)
I have known Chairman Kazunori Asada since I was a university student. I worked with Mr. Asada as a part-timer. Even then, his technical skills were outstanding, and he was someone who could do anything in any field. Our relationship continued after I started On • The • Edge (later Livedoor), and he consistently supported me even when I went through difficult times.
Mr. Asada went through a difficult time when leaving the company he founded and took public, and perhaps because of that, he once disappeared from the public eye. I repeatedly told Mr. Asada that it was a waste and he should start another company and be active again! But he was reluctant to make a move. However, this time, that Mr. Asada has finally decided to start a company again and is motivated! Moreover, together with his son whom I have known since he was young. This is going to be amazing! That's what I think as I support them.
Masako Wakamiya (IT Evangelist, Member of Digital Society Vision Council)
I heard that Professor Kazunori Asada and his son Futa Asada have started a smart home company called " Haudi, Inc. ", so I rushed to offer my congratulations. (Although, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, for now in writing!)
Professor Asada, Futa, congratulations. " Smart home " is a technology that makes full use of the latest technology to create " homes " that are convenient, safe • secure, and comfortable for residents. Professor Asada, who created technology for people with visual impairments, and Futa, who made earphones that are easy to hear even for my aging ears—I'm sure they will think about homes where we elderly • people with physical disabilities can live comfortably. I'm looking forward to it!
Company Overview
Company First Name: Haudi, Inc.
Address: Kawanabe Building 3F, 2-15-6 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Representative: President and Representative Director 浅田 風太
Capital: 50 million yen (including capital reserve, as of end of September 2021)
Contact for Inquiries Regarding This Matter
Haudi, Inc.
Phone: 03-6412-7173
Email: pr@haudi.jp
