RIVANES Corporation is promoting a project commissioned by the city of Sendai, called "Rivanes", which is a project to promote the development of a new type of "Sendai".Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP)Eight companies have been selected for support in the "Japan's first ever global business development program" (JFY 2011)!

The City of Sendai and LIVERNESS conducted a screening of applications and online interviews, and ultimately selected the following eight startups for support.
*Please see the bottom of the page for an outline of the selected companies and themes.

From September 2025 to February 2026, the RIVANES communicators will provide support and information on local issues and needs while meeting with various organizations in the target countries (major companies such as conglomerates, government officials, startup companies, incubators/accelerators, researchers in academia, etc.). We also provide support for the development of business opportunities tailored to the business stage and type of industry through individual meetings with various organizations in the target countries (major companies such as conglomerates, government officials, start-ups, incubators/academic researchers, etc.)Support will be provided.

During the above-mentioned period, meet-up events and conferences will be held with local organizations with the potential for new business partnerships in the region on the following dates. The selected companies will be invited to participate in these events and conferences, and meetings will be held between the selected companies and local companies in each country. The selected companies will be encouraged to verify their business hypothesis and materialize their plans through discussions with the accompanying representatives from RIVERNESS, RIVERNESS Singapore, and RIVERNESS Malaysia.

Singapore

Year 2025November 12-15 (Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)

Visits to and discussions with local institutions for business collaboration
Participation in HYPER INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE in Singapore 2024

Malaysia

Year 2025October 5-9 (Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu)
Participation in Sustainable Aquaculture Summit 2025

Year 2025October 18-19 (Saturday and Sunday)
interpoint (interword separation)Participation in Science Castle Asia

Year 2025November 19-22 (Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)
Visits to and discussions with local institutions for business collaboration
Participation in HYPER INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE in Malaysia 2024

tai (species of reddish-brown Pacific sea bream, Pagrus major)

11 in 2025March 24-27 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Visits to and discussions with local institutions for business collaboration
Participation in Tech Venture Meet UP

Ailat Corporation (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
https://airato.jp/

Target country: Singapore

Summary: A startup from Tohoku University School of Medicine has developed a service that uses AI to automatically generate radiotherapy treatment plans and verify their safety, reducing the time required by medical staff from more than 6 hours to 20 minutes. The company aims to revolutionize cancer treatment with AI and create a world where all patients can receive high-quality treatment.

amu Corporation (Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture)
https://www.amu.co.jp/

Target country: Malaysia

Summary: Developing a business that collects and recycles discarded fishing gear and revives it as high-quality recycled material "amuca®". We weave together the stories of fishing gear to both solve the ocean plastic problem and revitalize local industries. Through the use of recyclable materials, we aim to reconnect industry and society and realize a world where there is nothing we don't need.

Alphatec Corporation (Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture)
https://alpha-technology.jp/

Target country: Thailand

Summary: A Yamagata University venture that has developed Amorfast, an innovative milling technology that instantly alphasizes starch without the use of water. In addition to improving nutritional value by improving digestibility, it can be applied to a wide range of fields including free-from foods, biofuels, and bio-plastics. Creating the food culture of the future with new cooking technology that supports sustainable and diverse food and resource use.

Storyline Corporation (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
https://storyline.co.jp/

Target countries: Thailand, Malaysia

Summary: A proprietary decaffeination technology under development with Tohoku University has realized a high-quality decaffeinated product that preserves the original flavor of the bean. Furthermore, the concept of "caffeine control" makes it possible to adjust intake according to one's physical condition and lifestyle. Envision a world where everyone can choose the coffee experience that suits them best, combining both taste and health.

3D Architech LLC, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
https://www.3d-architech.com/ja/home

Target country: Malaysia

Summary: The world's first gel-based metal manufacturing technology that enables metal fabrication with 10µm precision. Optimization of microstructure, which was not possible with conventional manufacturing, is expected to improve data center cooling efficiency by 50% and reduce green hydrogen production costs. Innovating metal manufacturing and dramatically increasing energy efficiency to realize a sustainable society

Tuggle Corporation (Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture)
https://www.tagle.co.jp/

Target country: Thailand

Summary: Using robotic palpation technology, the state of muscles is quantified to predict and prevent athletes' risk of injury. Visualizes fatigue and risks that could previously only be understood subjectively as objective data, and supports collaboration among athletes, coaches, and medical staff. Positioning athletes as assets (human assets), aiming for a world where injuries do not rob athletes of the miracle of sports.

Flame Heavy Industries Co.
https://www.hmrc.co.jp/

Target country: Malaysia

Summary: A Tsukuba University venture that developed the Swimmy Eye, an ultra-compact water drone. Provides technology that dramatically improves safety, efficiency, and objectivity in inspections and surveys of water areas, bringing innovation to infrastructure maintenance management. Protecting social infrastructure and realizing a secure future with technology that extends the human eye.

Metagen Corporation (Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture)
https://metagen.co.jp/

Target countries: Singapore, Thailand

Summary: A bio-venture established by researchers from Keio University and Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Tokyo University of Science). Based on the concept of "Gut Design®," which controls the intestinal environment based on scientific evidence, the company aims to realize a society with zero disease by promoting social implementation of "stratified healthcare" tailored to the intestinal environment that differs from person to person.