Hedgehog Medotech

Hedgehog Medotech, Inc., a Tokyo-based healthcare technology company, was established in October 2021 by the husband-and-wife team of Dr. Yumi Kawata (CEO) and Hiroaki Ishizaka (CFO). Dr. Kawata, a physician, medical doctor, and occupational physician, brings a wealth of experience from clinical practice, a tenure at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and roles at Medley and SoftBank, where she was involved in government relations for online medical care and investment in the Digital Therapeutics (DTx) sector. This background inspired her to create solutions that improve the quality of medical care remotely. Ishizaka complements this with his background in finance, having worked at Morgan Stanley and FOLIO, focusing on fundraising and M&A.

The company operates in the Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and DTx market, developing prescription therapeutic applications that require regulatory approval as medical devices. Its primary focus is on addressing chronic headaches, a condition affecting a large portion of the working-age population, particularly women in their 30s. Recognizing that many sufferers do not seek medical help, Hedgehog Medotech aims to bridge the gap between daily life and healthcare. The business model hinges on its applications being prescribed by doctors and covered by insurance, making them affordable for patients (e.g., a 30% co-pay) and creating a revenue stream for medical institutions through診療報酬 (medical service fees).

Hedgehog Medotech's flagship product is a migraine treatment application that utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy to help users recognize and improve behavioral patterns that trigger headaches. The app is designed to reduce symptoms and is currently undergoing clinical trials with the goal of obtaining regulatory approval in Japan around 2026. In addition to the migraine app, the company is developing an AI-powered tool for diagnosing headache types and a therapeutic app for tension-type headaches. Expanding its focus, the firm has also initiated research and development for a therapeutic app targeting Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). To date, the company has secured significant funding, including a JPY 145 million seed round in November 2022 and a JPY 500 million Series A round in December 2023, bringing its total funding to approximately $4.4 million.

Keywords: Hedgehog Medotech, Digital Therapeutics, DTx, SaMD, migraine treatment, headache management, PMS therapy, Yumi Kawata, cognitive-behavioral therapy, medical app, healthcare technology, Tokyo startup, femtech, health tech, chronic condition management, prescription digital therapeutics, AI diagnostics, clinical trials, venture capital, Keio Innovation Initiative, DBJ Capital