YStory Secures Pre-Series A Funding, Intensifying Expansion of Digital Health Platform Supporting Women's Health Issues
YStory Co., Ltd. has completed its pre-Series A funding round, led by Kyoto University Innovation Capital, to accelerate the development of its digital health platform addressing women's health. The company plans to strengthen product development, data infrastructure, and corporate services, focusing on menopause care.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 12:31
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YStory Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Directors: Yuen Show, Siju En) has completed a pre-Series A funding round. This round included lead investor Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd., as well as new investors ASKA Pharmaceutical CVC (ASKA Innovation Investment Limited Partnership), Kyoto Capital Partners Co., Ltd., Seihou Investment Works Co., Ltd., NEXTBLUE, and existing investor ANRI.
Women's health issues have long been a neglected area. We aim to change this premise and realize a society where everyone has access to appropriate care. This funding is considered an important step to accelerate this transformation and spread a new standard for women's health throughout society.
Building Menopause Healthcare Based on Scientific Evidence
Through joint research with Dr. Miho Egawa and her team at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, our company has been verifying the effectiveness of digital interventions in the field of menopause. We are currently conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) targeting approximately 400 menopausal women.
As a preliminary study, a single-group pre-post comparison study was conducted in 2023 involving 91 menopausal women, which confirmed a significant improvement in SMI (Simplified Menopause Index) during the period of using the self-care support app.
We will continue to accumulate further evidence and promote the development of higher quality solutions through ongoing joint research with Kyoto University.
Launch of Corporate Service "JoyHer Enterprise"
Utilizing insights from clinical research, we have officially launched "JoyHer Enterprise," a corporate service for companies and health insurance associations. This service aims to quantify menopausal issues and visualize improvement effects, providing an environment where employees can use it with peace of mind while ensuring anonymity. Furthermore, in addition to supporting menopause self-care and preventing severe conditions, it also provides integrated support for promoting understanding and organizational cultural transformation, thereby establishing a new corporate support model for women's health issues. In fact, approximately 80% of users showed an improvement in their SMI score through 1-3 months of use.
For details, please visit the service website: https://ystoryhealth.com/enterprise
For trial use or implementation inquiries, please contact: contact@ystoryhealth.com
Women's Health Data Platform Based on Japan's No. 1 Menopause App with Over 70,000 Users
The personal menopause self-care app "JoyHer" has been downloaded by over 70,000 people, establishing one of Japan's leading women's health data platforms in the menopause domain. Moving forward, by leveraging this data platform, we aim to create new value through joint activities with pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, and medical institutions, addressing women's health issues in their 40s and 50s and menopause that have been difficult to grasp until now.
The funds raised will be used to enhance product development, strengthen the data infrastructure, expand the corporate business, and fortify the service provision system. Our company will transition to the next growth phase, becoming a new standard for social implementation in women's health issues, and delivering value to more women.
Investor Comments
Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd.
Manager, Investment Department, Masahiro Shinohara
In the market for services for menopausal women, there are structural challenges where appropriate care is difficult to reach due to the perception that symptoms do not improve and a shortage of specialists. Amidst this, YStory has developed an app that merges data science and clinical medicine, enabling users to "feel real effects," and has gained support from many users.
We decided to invest, sensing potential in the large latent market, the uniqueness of the service, and the persistent execution capabilities of founders Janet and Sherry.
We hope that YStory will further promote women's empowerment and will support its growth in various ways, not limited to collaboration with Kyoto University.
ASKA Pharmaceutical CVC (ASKA Innovation Investment Limited Partnership)
Manager, Portfolio Management Department, Yuto Sasaki
YStory Co., Ltd. is working to create science-based solutions utilizing digital technology for women suffering from menopause.
We see great potential in the fact that they are providing new value by utilizing the latest technology in the women's healthcare field, where delays in response have been pointed out.
As a pharmaceutical company CVC, we sincerely hope to partner with them to help their initiatives reach more women and contribute to solving their problems.
Kyoto Capital Partners Co., Ltd.
Women's health issues have long been a neglected area. We aim to change this premise and realize a society where everyone has access to appropriate care. This funding is considered an important step to accelerate this transformation and spread a new standard for women's health throughout society.
Building Menopause Healthcare Based on Scientific Evidence
Through joint research with Dr. Miho Egawa and her team at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, our company has been verifying the effectiveness of digital interventions in the field of menopause. We are currently conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) targeting approximately 400 menopausal women.
As a preliminary study, a single-group pre-post comparison study was conducted in 2023 involving 91 menopausal women, which confirmed a significant improvement in SMI (Simplified Menopause Index) during the period of using the self-care support app.
We will continue to accumulate further evidence and promote the development of higher quality solutions through ongoing joint research with Kyoto University.
Launch of Corporate Service "JoyHer Enterprise"
Utilizing insights from clinical research, we have officially launched "JoyHer Enterprise," a corporate service for companies and health insurance associations. This service aims to quantify menopausal issues and visualize improvement effects, providing an environment where employees can use it with peace of mind while ensuring anonymity. Furthermore, in addition to supporting menopause self-care and preventing severe conditions, it also provides integrated support for promoting understanding and organizational cultural transformation, thereby establishing a new corporate support model for women's health issues. In fact, approximately 80% of users showed an improvement in their SMI score through 1-3 months of use.
For details, please visit the service website: https://ystoryhealth.com/enterprise
For trial use or implementation inquiries, please contact: contact@ystoryhealth.com
Women's Health Data Platform Based on Japan's No. 1 Menopause App with Over 70,000 Users
The personal menopause self-care app "JoyHer" has been downloaded by over 70,000 people, establishing one of Japan's leading women's health data platforms in the menopause domain. Moving forward, by leveraging this data platform, we aim to create new value through joint activities with pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, and medical institutions, addressing women's health issues in their 40s and 50s and menopause that have been difficult to grasp until now.
The funds raised will be used to enhance product development, strengthen the data infrastructure, expand the corporate business, and fortify the service provision system. Our company will transition to the next growth phase, becoming a new standard for social implementation in women's health issues, and delivering value to more women.
Investor Comments
Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd.
Manager, Investment Department, Masahiro Shinohara
In the market for services for menopausal women, there are structural challenges where appropriate care is difficult to reach due to the perception that symptoms do not improve and a shortage of specialists. Amidst this, YStory has developed an app that merges data science and clinical medicine, enabling users to "feel real effects," and has gained support from many users.
We decided to invest, sensing potential in the large latent market, the uniqueness of the service, and the persistent execution capabilities of founders Janet and Sherry.
We hope that YStory will further promote women's empowerment and will support its growth in various ways, not limited to collaboration with Kyoto University.
ASKA Pharmaceutical CVC (ASKA Innovation Investment Limited Partnership)
Manager, Portfolio Management Department, Yuto Sasaki
YStory Co., Ltd. is working to create science-based solutions utilizing digital technology for women suffering from menopause.
We see great potential in the fact that they are providing new value by utilizing the latest technology in the women's healthcare field, where delays in response have been pointed out.
As a pharmaceutical company CVC, we sincerely hope to partner with them to help their initiatives reach more women and contribute to solving their problems.
Kyoto Capital Partners Co., Ltd.