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  • Comment: Removing press releases is only one of the necessary steps. Can you please actually work on this before resubmitting? This is taking up volunteer time. Drmies (talk) 19:55, 8 October 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: Looks like promotional writing, with PR sources. Drmies (talk) 19:47, 8 October 2024 (UTC)


Ubie Inc.
Company typeCorporation
IndustryHealthcare service
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
Founders
  • Yoshimichi Abe
  • Kota Kubo
HeadquartersTokyo,
Japan
Area served
United States, Japan
Decrease ¥3.843 billion (2023)
Total assetsIncrease ¥1.908 billion (2023)
Number of employees
280 (2023)
Websiteubiehealth.com

Ubie Inc. is a health technology company established in May 2017 by physician Yoshinori Abe and machine learning engineer Kota Kubo. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and operates in the United States and Japan, Ubie focuses on developing AI solutions for healthcare, which include consumer-facing symptom checkers and clinical support software for healthcare providers. The company’s mission is to make healthcare more accessible, empowering people to access medical information and care using AI technology. The name "Ubie" is derived from the Japanese word "指 (yubi)," which translates to "fingers," representing the concept of easy access to healthcare.[1]

History

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In 2013, Ubie began when Kota Kubo started researching the use of AI to analyze the relationships between symptoms and diseases during his graduate studies at the University of Tokyo. Yoshinori Abe joined Kubo in 2014 to create a comprehensive dataset from approximately 50,000 research papers. Ubie was co-founded in 2017 to enhance healthcare accessibility through AI technology.[2] That same year, Ubie launched Dr. Ubie, an Android app that provides symptom-based medical information. In 2018, Ubie released the AI Health Assistant for healthcare providers, aims to optimize patient intake processes and alleviate the documentation burden.[3] The company also secured ¥60 million in funding. [4]

Initial Expansion and Collaborations

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By 2019, Ubie's technology was implemented in major Japanese hospitals. As the company grew, it obtained ¥510 million in funding from Kansai Electric Power Co., Ltd. and other investors.[5] In 2020, Ubie introduced its browser-based AI Symptom Checker, which helps users identify potential diseases and access educational resources.[6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ubie developed a triage system for COVID-19 and collaborated with NTT to provide secure VPN solutions for hospitals.[7] Additionally, the company expanded internationally by establishing a subsidiary in Singapore and partnering with AstraZeneca to enhance AI applications for conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.[8][9]

Strategic Partnerships and International Expansion

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In 2021, Ubie partnered with pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda, Pfizer, and Bayer, to improve disease detection and patient engagement.[10] Ubie raised ¥6.26 billion the following year and set up a U.S. subsidiary.[11]

Recent Developments

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In 2023, Ubie hosted its first "Ubie Pharma Summit," which focused on patient-centric AI in healthcare.[12] Ubie also launched Ubie Lab, a research organization aimed at advancing AI safety and innovation, and developed the Patient-Centricity Assessment tool for pharmaceutical companies.[13]

U.S. Expansion and Activities

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Ubie entered the U.S. market in October 2022 with the launch of a browser-based AI Symptom Checker and established partnerships with healthcare organizations like ZocDoc, HealthTap, and Sesame Health.[14] In July 2024, Ubie collaborated with the American Kidney Fund (AKF) to enhance kidney disease prediction through AI and support patient educational resources.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us | Ubie Inc". Ubie Inc. Corporate Website.
  2. ^ "Q&A: Kota Kubo, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ubie". ramaonhealthcare.com. 9 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Ubie: Using GKE Autopilot to lower costs and focus resources on delivering an AI-powered patient questionnaire and clinical record system for hospitals". cloud.google.com.
  4. ^ "AI medical startup Ubie gets estimated $2.7M from Osaka power company's VC arm". thebridge.jp. 21 May 2018.
  5. ^ "AI medical startup Ubie gets estimated $2.7M from Osaka power company's VC arm". thebridge.jp. 21 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Meet Ubie:Using Al to Improve Patient Care | Interviews | JETRO Global Connection". jetro.go.jp.
  7. ^ "Japanese medtech startup Ubie scores $18.7M in Series B funding". mobihealthnews.com. 4 June 2020.
  8. ^ "[Medical & Healthcare] Ubie Corporation" (PDF). jetro.go.jp.
  9. ^ "Ubie×AZ New challenge to deliver awareness for potential asthma patients by AI powered questionnaire | Collaborations | i2.JP (Innovation Infusion Japan) | Astrazeneca". i2.JP.
  10. ^ "Ubie's AI Symptom Checker Used by 2 Million Americans in First Year, Fueling Pharma Partnerships | Newsroom | Ubie Inc". Ubie Inc. Corporate Website.
  11. ^ "Japanese Healthcare Startup Ubie, Inc. Closes Extended Series C Round at $45 million, Establishes Subsidiary in NY | Newsroom | Ubie Inc". Ubie Inc. Corporate Website.
  12. ^ "Ubie Pharma Summit 2023". ph-ubie.com.
  13. ^ "Ubieが研究組織「Ubie Lab」創立。医療・ヘルスケア領域でのAIのイノベーションと安全性を追求". techable.jp. 9 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Ubie, Japanese HealthTech Startup, Launches AI-powered Symptom Checker in the U.S. | Newsroom | Ubie Inc". Ubie Inc. Corporate Website.
  15. ^ "Exclusive: American Kidney Fund, Ubie partner for AI kidney disease detector | news". mobihealthnews.com. 18 July 2024.