Zest

In Japan's healthcare sector, a significant challenge persists: scheduling home-visit nursing and medical care. Many companies still rely on manual methods, a time-consuming process prone to inefficiency. Responding to this, Zest Inc. was founded to develop a SaaS platform that automates and optimizes these critical scheduling tasks. The company's software is designed to generate optimal visit routes, reducing travel time for caregivers and allowing for more appointments, thereby increasing operational efficiency and sales. The core of Zest's offering is a cloud-based service that tackles scheduling, route optimization, and staff management to maximize revenue for home care providers. The platform, sometimes referred to as ShareONE, functions as a human resources sharing platform, matching the skills, locations, and availability of healthcare professionals with patient needs. A key moment in the company's journey was its Series B funding round on November 29, 2024, where it raised $3.56 million from investors including Venture United, Globe Advisors Ventures, and Nippon Life Insurance. This capital injection supports Zest's mission to digitize a traditionally paper-based workflow within the Japanese healthcare system and expand its services.