IBM BlueHub, an incubation programme set up by US-based computing conglomerate IBM and Japan-based incubator Samurai Incubate, has selected its five startups, The Bridge has reported.
The programme, first announced by IBM Japan in September 2014, will begin in January 2015 and take place in Tokyo. BlueHub will place a strong importance on improving the startups’ data analytics, user experience and user interface.
The startups joining the first cohort include Yamap, a mobile app helping climbers figure out their location even when they have no mobile phone reception, and BrandPit, a service which uses image recognition technology to analyse how brands are trending both online and offline.
Terrace Mile offers farmers a data-driven platform to increase their profit margins, while Gene Quest is an online genome analytics service. Finally, Link Sports helps people better manage their lifestyle by supplying an app which asks them questions about their fitness regime and provides feedback based on sports science.
BlueHub will organise a demo day in either April or May 2015, but IBM hopes to support the startups through to 2020, the year of the Tokyo Olympic Games.