Philduct Inc./Japan
Tokyo, JP · 2 known investors
Philduct is a Japanese oral-tech company that develops DPEARL, a 3D-printed clear aligner orthodontic service, along with remote dental consultation and digital dentistry services. It operates a dental technology R&D lab and targets consumers seeking affordable preventive oral healthcare in Japan.
Also known as Philduct · PHILDUCT · 株式会社フィルダクト
Founders & leadership
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Philduct Inc. (株式会社フィルダクト) is a Tokyo-headquartered oral-tech company that applies digital manufacturing and software to orthodontics and preventive oral health. Its principal service, DPEARL, is a clear aligner orthodontic treatment produced with 3D printers and CAD, offered with diagnosis and treatment planning adapted to Japanese jaw structures, ongoing dentist-supervised maintenance, and an app-based patient experience. The company states DPEARL is available from roughly half the typical market price, and it was released in 2019-2020 following a preliminary-order phase.
Alongside the consumer service, Philduct offers DPEARL for Clinics, a package for dental practices that includes support for orthodontic treatment plans, help establishing contact with prospective preventive-care patients in the surrounding area, and MediLeap, a cloud management system linking clinics with dental laboratory workflows. A third line, described as an oral health social-implementation business, involves working with oral health and wellness partners to broaden access to oral care, framed around the connection between oral health and general health, social connection and quality of life.
The company operates its own dental technology (technician/laboratory) division equipped with digital devices, which it uses as an R&D function to iterate on product quality. Registered offices are in Kanda Kajicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
Founding story
CEO Kanae Kaneko graduated from Tokyo Medical and Dental University's School of Dentistry (oral health sciences) in 2017 and obtained a national dental technician licence, then completed a master's course in health policy at the same university's graduate school in 2019, researching community dental health care and digital dentistry. She founded Philduct while still a graduate student, at age 24, aiming to correct distortions in the dental industry and build dental care as preventive healthcare infrastructure; the clear aligner service was conceived as a first step. The company was established on 2018-03-06 and the business was put on a full footing after her graduation in March 2019.
Business model
Philduct sells a direct-to-consumer clear aligner orthodontic service (DPEARL) delivered in combination with dentist supervision, and also distributes DPEARL to dental clinics as a partner offering together with a cloud-based clinic-laboratory management system (MediLeap). It maintains an in-house dental technology unit that both manufactures and serves as R&D.
Traction
By March 2022 the number of people registering interest in DPEARL had reached 10,000, prompting expansion of the delivery network from Tokyo to the rest of Japan. Recognition includes a prize at ICC Startup Catapult KYOTO 2020, selection for APT Women (FY2019) and DWEN JAPAN finalist status (2022).
Latest developments
In October 2025 CEO Kanae Kaneko appeared on the 40th episode of the radio/streaming programme 'Misato Ugaki no Startup Nippon powered by All Night Nippon', which features startups. In December 2025 Philduct joined the Impact Startup Association as a full member, in connection with its oral health social-implementation activities. In July 2026 Kaneko served as a lecturer in a graduate course at Institute of Science Tokyo on the future of dental technology in the AI era.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Philduct positions itself as an oral-tech company creating new-era value through technology and new business models, stating a goal of being number one in oral tech and prevention. It frames the Japanese dental sector as structurally outdated and under-serving preventive care despite rising global interest in oral health and its links to systemic health.
The company cites three pillars: an internal digitally equipped dental technology division used as an R&D function; a management team with clinical and dental technology backgrounds that incorporates academic developments into its services; and optimisation of the clinical and manufacturing workflow through digital tools. It also emphasises diagnosis and treatment planning tailored to Japanese skeletal characteristics and pricing from about half the market rate.
Technology
The service is built on digital dentistry workflows: CAD design and 3D printing of transparent aligners, a proprietary digital system for treatment delivery, an accompanying patient app, and MediLeap, a cloud system connecting clinics with dental laboratory operations. An in-house dental technology division using advanced digital equipment functions as the R&D unit for product iteration, with the stated aim of seamlessly connecting clinical and manufacturing workflows.
Go-to-market
Direct consumer acquisition for DPEARL, expanding from Tokyo to nationwide coverage, combined with a clinic channel (DPEARL for Clinics) through which dental practices offer the aligner service and adopt the MediLeap management system. Visibility is also built through startup competitions, university lectures and media appearances.
Consumers in Japan seeking orthodontic treatment and preventive oral care, initially in Tokyo and progressively nationwide, plus dental clinics that adopt DPEARL for Clinics and the MediLeap laboratory-coordination system.
Geography
Headquartered at Kanda North Front Building 5F, 3-3-1 Kanda Kajicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0045, Japan, with DPEARL service coverage expanding from Tokyo across Japan.
History
Philduct Inc. was established on 6 March 2018. Advance orders for the DPEARL clear aligner service opened in November 2019, and the service was released at roughly half of prevailing market prices; the site elsewhere cites a formal release in March 2020. In April 2020 the company announced DPEARL Home Dental, a remote simplified consultation service with dentists that does not require an in-person visit. It won a prize at the ICC Startup Catapult KYOTO 2020 in September 2020 and presented at the Dentaltech Update session of Health tech/SUM in December 2021. In January and June 2022 its work was featured in Tokyo Medical and Dental University's digital health programme and a faculty-development dialogue programme. In March 2022 the waiting list of prospective DPEARL users reached 10,000 and the company began building out a nationwide supply network beyond Tokyo. Kaneko was selected for the Tokyo metropolitan government's APT Women venture growth programme in FY2019 and was a finalist in Dell's DWEN JAPAN programme in 2022.
Compiled by commissioned research from 3 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 10
launches, deals, and filingsKaneko taught a graduate-level class covering her career, Philduct's work, and the role of dental technicians in the AI era.
Kanae Kaneko featured on the 40th episode of the startup-focused programme.
Prospective DPEARL users reached 10,000, and the company began building a nationwide supply network beyond Tokyo.
CEO Kanae Kaneko selected as a finalist in the DWEN JAPAN programme hosted by Dell.
Announcement of DPEARL Home Dental, a simplified remote dental consultation service by dentists that requires no clinic visit.
Formal release of the DPEARL 3D-printed clear aligner orthodontic service, initially in Tokyo.
Philduct began taking advance reservations for DPEARL, a 3D-printed transparent aligner orthodontic service priced from about half the typical market rate.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 3
primary sources listed
- Philduct Inc./Japanphilduct.com · web
3 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Philduct Inc./Japan do?
- Tokyo-based oral-tech company offering DPEARL, a 3D-printed clear aligner orthodontic service, and digital dentistry tools.
- Who are Philduct Inc./Japan's investors?
- Philduct Inc./Japan's investors include Global Hands-On VC, W Inc..
- Where is Philduct Inc./Japan headquartered?
- Philduct Inc./Japan is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.