Smile Home Spotlight Interview with Sadie Hase - #MyGiving Story

With a goal to make Japan the most livable country in the world by helping foreign residents in Japan who struggle to find housing.

We at Giving Tuesday Japan had the exclusive opportunity to interview Smile Home founder, Sadie Hase, about why she created the app, what inspires her to give back, and what her future goals are.

Take a look at the My Giving Story interview between Sadie and our Global Community Team Leader, Jasmine, below!

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Jasmine: Hi, Sadie! Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with us! Let's jump right into today's questions. Please introduce yourself.

Sadie: My name is Sadie Hase, and I’m the founder and CEO of SmileHome Inc., based in Tokyo. I started my career in global marketing and previously worked as a marketing director for an international manufacturer across the Asia-Pacific region.

Later in life — at 53 — I made the bold decision to leave corporate life and start a tech startup with my daughter, who currently takes the role of CTO. I’m also a mother of two, and family has always been at the center of my life and decisions.

Giving back has always been important to me. As a family, we believe that success only has meaning if it contributes to society. I am especially passionate about supporting foreigners living in Japan, and people who feel “out of place” in a new country.

Why? Because I’ve seen how isolating it can feel to navigate a system you don’t fully understand. Housing is not just about property — it’s about dignity, security, and belonging.

SmileHome introduced an inhouse AI product "SwipeHome (TM)" which is to match you to your ideal home. You can talk to AI and swipe to narrow down your choice. Please enjoy your house search with "SwipeHome (TM)."

Jasmine: What is SwipeHome (TM)?

Sadie: SwipeHome is an AI-powered real estate matching platform. We started the company after helping a foreign client search for housing in Japan and realizing how complicated and stressful the process was — especially with language barriers and cultural gaps.

We officially launched after that experience and have since evolved into a proptech company that integrates AI into real estate search, tenant support, and communication.

We specialize in:

・AI-powered property matching

・Multilingual tenant support

・Real estate digital transformation tools

Jasmine: What's your mission? Who is the target audience?

Sadie: Our mission is simple but ambitious:

“To make Japan the most livable country in the world.”

Our initial target audience was foreign residents in Japan who struggled to find housing.

However, we are now expanding our focus to include:

・Real estate agencies

・Property management companies

・Global talent moving to Japan

・Anyone who needs transparent, AI-supported housing solutions

Jasmine: What services do you offer? What types of services would you like to add in the future?

Sadie: Currently, we offer:

・AI real estate matching platform

・Multilingual chat support for tenants

・Support services related to relocation and lifestyle setup

・Short-term stay and flexible living options

In the future, we would like to add:

・More predictive AI analytics

・Cross-border housing solutions

・Integration with financial and credit solutions

Our services are currently focused on Japan, especially major metropolitan areas. However, we plan to expand internationally as we scale.

Jasmine: “Make Japan the most livable country in the world” — What does that mean?

Sadie: To me, “livable” means accessible, inclusive, and frictionless.

Japan is already safe and beautiful — but the systems can feel complicated. If we can use AI to remove friction in housing, reduce misunderstandings, and make information transparent, then we improve daily life for both Japanese residents and international residents.

When housing becomes easier, everything else becomes easier.

Jasmine: How do you think the recent AI trends will impact your company? Do you think people will embrace or reject this type of new real estate platform?

Sadie: AI is transforming everything — including real estate. I believe people will initially be cautious, but ultimately they will embrace platforms that genuinely reduce stress and save time.

The key is trust. AI should not replace humans — it should empower them. Our goal is “AI + human empathy,” not automation without care.

Jasmine: What is one of the more challenging aspects of building software?  The rewarding aspects?

Sadie: One of the most challenging aspects is prioritization. There are endless features you could build, but limited time and resources.

Another challenge is translating human problems into technical solutions — especially in real estate, which is traditionally very offline.

The rewarding part? When a user says, “This made my life easier.” That makes every late night worth it.

Jasmine: Where can people learn more about news and updates?

Sadie: People can follow us on:

・SwipeHome (https://swipehome.jp/en)

・Our official website (https://smilehome.tokyo/)

・LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadiehase-smilehometokyo/)

・Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Weibo, Red etc.

We regularly share updates about product development, partnerships, and local news.

Jasmine: Have you heard of or participated in Giving Tuesday before coming to Women's Impact Weekend?

Sadie: I was familiar with Giving Tuesday before Women’s Impact Weekend, but participating more deeply has inspired me to think about structured collaboration.

In the future, I would love to explore:

・Housing support campaigns for communities

・Awareness programs about inclusive housing

・Collaborative events combining technology and social impact

Giving Tuesday Japan could support SmileHome by helping us connect with nonprofits, impact-driven corporations, and communities that need housing solutions.

Housing stability is foundational to social impact — and I believe we can build something meaningful together.

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