Among the startup news and funding information announced from April 28, 2023 to May 11, 2023, we will pick up and deliver the projects that JP Startups (Japasta) is paying attention to.
Editor's Comments
This week's procurement news was abundant, and even the editorial department was at a loss as to which one to choose. As a result, Closer, which handles food packaging robots by people who graduated from technical college and IPA Mito. Magic Shields researched and developed for Koroyawa®, a fall fracture prevention mat. MI-6 such as material development efficiency SaaS. Pick up procurement news of three companies with strengths in technology development. Whether the release was solidified at the end of Golden Week, there were many investment news by DEEPCORE.
PETOKOTO and VARK, which have already been interviewed, have also announced additional procurement. Please also refer to the coverage article.
Market conditions are still tough, but there is good news about the establishment of a new fund. Incubate Fund, SMBC Asia Investment Fund, and Genesia's No. 3 Fund. Hopefully, more startups will be able to maintain their cash by expanding the sources of funding.
Startup News
Established “SMBC Asia Rising Fund” jointly with independent VC incubate fund Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (announced May 9, 2023)
Incubate Fund, an independent venture capital firm, jointly established SMBC's corporate venture capital in Singapore with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC). “SMBC Asia Rising Fund” (hereafter, SMBC ARF) was established.
SMBC Group established SMBC ARF in Singapore jointly with Incubate Fund, which has a wealth of investment experience in India and Southeast Asia, as it seeks to expand its business in Asia. Through collaboration with investee companies, we aim to discover and utilize new technologies, support the development of new business models and products, enhance the SMBC Group's business, and provide new solutions. In addition, the name of the fund, "SMBC Asia Rising Fund," contains the idea of developing together with Asia in the word "Rising." It says. Here is the original release.
Genesia Ventures has completed the formation of "Genesia Venture Fund No. 3 Investment Business Limited Liability Partnership (No. 3 Fund)" for pre-seed/seed stage startups with a total of 15 billion yen (announced on May 10, 2023)
Genesia Ventures Co., Ltd., which provides investment and management support to seed-stage startups in Japan and Southeast Asia, targets pre-seed/seed-stage startups. “Genesia Venture Fund No. 3 Investment Business Limited Liability Partnership” (hereafter referred to as Fund No. 3) announced that it had completed the formation of a total of 15 billion yen.
The company has invested in 47 companies from the No. 1 fund, which was formed in December 2017 with a total of 4 billion yen, and 59 companies from the No. 2 fund, which was formed in October 2020 with a total of 8 billion yen. The 3rd fund will also continue to specialize in investment and management support for pre-seed/seed stage startups in Japan and Southeast Asia, increase the amount of investment per company (including additional investment), and invest in the frontier tech area. In addition, we plan to expand the investment area (start of investment in India) and action, and to build a system that can invest sufficient risk money in startups that challenge to create large industries. Here is the original release.
An event for entrepreneurs aiming to make a fresh start or re-enterprise "Tokyo Re:STARTER", a kick-off event will be held on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 (announced on May 10, 2023) )
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will support tough entrepreneurs who will try again and again even if they face challenges and difficulties. “Tokyo Restart Entrepreneur Support Project (TOKYO Re:STARTER)” is being implemented. Bourne Rex Co., Ltd. is entrusted with and operates this business. Prior to the implementation of the acceleration program in 2023, the company will hold a kick-off event "The more you challenge, the stronger you become! ~ Secrets of restarting and re-entering the industry leading to success ~" on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. announced.
The business will support entrepreneurs who face challenges and difficulties and aim to launch new businesses or restart businesses (hereinafter referred to as restarts) for a fresh start, and provide a variety of support for commercialization. At the kick-off event, Mr. Shinichi Sakane, CEO of G-fit Co., Ltd., will be able to hear the experiences and real voices of past adopters, as well as a panel discussion on fundraising. Here is the original release.
Event Overview
date and time: Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 17:00-20:00
Holding format: Offline / online hybrid event
Venue: Bone Rex Co., Ltd. Headquarters (3-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Shin-Tokyo Building 4F)
way to participate: Apply from the official website
Funding Information
[Seed] Closer, an AI robot developer from the University of Tsukuba, has raised 100 million yen (announced on May 10, 2023)
Closer Co., Ltd., an AI robotics venture from the University of Tsukuba, raised 100 million yen in a seed round with DEEPCORE, epiST Ventures, and several individual investors as underwriters.
The company was established in November 2021, with the vision of "making robots a natural option." AI robot that mainly automates the task of placing "PickPacker" is developed and provided. Recently, they are developing a cup miso soup manufacturing process aiming for this introduction, and are planning to introduce it to a major food manufacturer's factory. The funds procured this time will be used to strengthen recruitment of human resources, mainly engineers, and to promote the introduction and expansion of AI robot packages. Here is the original release.
[Series A] Magic Shields of "Koroyawa®" aiming for zero fall fractures worldwide raises 230 million yen (announced on May 10, 2023)
Floors and mats that are hard when walking and absorb shock when falling “Koroyawa®” Magic Shields Co., Ltd., which develops , has raised 230 million yen through a third-party allocation of shares with Deepcore Co., Ltd. as the underwriter, with Carbide Ventures, which has a deep knowledge of deep tech, as the lead investor. . The cumulative procurement amount was about 410 million yen.
The company was established in November 2019 and conducts research and development, manufacturing and sales of mechanical metamaterials against the background of an increase in fractures due to falls among the elderly. As of March 2023, more than 560 facilities have introduced Koroyawa®, a flooring material developed using a variable-rigidity structure that is soft when falling. Based on the funds procured this time, the company will develop a new product that is easy to handle as a building material by making the variable rigidity structure thinner and lighter. Furthermore, through the development and demonstration experiments of sensor services, we have collected large-scale data on falls and fractures that occur in medical institutions and welfare facilities, which has been difficult to obtain until now. We would like to make efforts to reduce falls and fractures at overseas medical institutions and welfare facilities. Here is the original release.
[Series A] MI-6, which supports innovation in materials development with materials informatics, raises a total of 650 million yen. (announced May 10, 2023)
MI-6 Co., Ltd., which supports innovation in materials development through Materials Informatics (MI), has raised a series A round of funding with JAFCO, DEEPCORE, Mizuho Capital, and SMBC Venture Capital as underwriters. Combined with loans, the total amount raised so far is 1.4 billion yen. At the same time, we announced that the number of business partners exceeded 100 companies.
The company was established in November 2017. SaaS that streamlines materials development with materials informatics (MI) as its core technology, with the mission of "becoming a hub for materials development and data science and unleashing the potential of researchers" "miHub", professional services to support customers' MI utilization "Hands-on MI", to achieve automated autonomy of experiments through MI and robotics "MI Robotics" We are promoting the following three businesses. The funds raised this time will be used for further investment in MI's technology development, product development, and active research and development investment in the robotics field. Here is the original release.
[Series B] Pet Wellness Company “PETOKOTO” Raises New Funds from T&D Holdings and Spiral Capital Subsidiary Partnership Fund in Series B First Close (Announced May 10, 2023)
Pet Wellness Company Co., Ltd. PETOKOTO Co., Ltd., which provides services and information for pets to live a happy life, has joined JR East Startup Co., Ltd. and Spiral Innovation Partners LLP (T&D Innovation Investment Business Limited Liability Union) as Series B First Close. ) announced that it has raised funds as a lead underwriter. With this round, the cumulative amount raised so far will be 1.5 billion yen. In addition, we are planning additional procurement in the second close in the future.
The company was established in March 2015 with the mission of "creating a world where pets can be loved as part of the family." matching site "OMUSUBI", information media for the life of a pet "PETOKOTO MEDIA", Family Quality Fresh Pet Food “PETOKOTO FOODS” We are developing three businesses. Based on the funds procured this time, we will strengthen business cooperation with the underwriters who have newly participated this time, and aim to solve social issues and realize a sustainable society. Here is the original release.
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[Series C] VARK Co., Ltd., a comprehensive entertainment platform business, has raised about 1 billion yen as a series C first close. (announced May 11, 2023)
VARK Co., Ltd., which provides a virtual live platform, metaverse template, and video creation support tool for 3D avatars, has added SBI Investment Co., Ltd., NetEase Co., Ltd. to existing investors JAFCO Group Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd., and ANRI. Announced that it has raised about 1 billion yen as a series C round first close through a third-party allotment of shares with Games as an underwriter.
The company was established in August 2017, "VARK", which combines a virtual live platform and metaverse template, and a video creation support tool for 3D avatars. "VARK SHORTS" and other businesses. The funds raised this time will be used for product development systems, strengthening existing products, and developing new businesses. In addition, in order to strengthen the management system, it was announced that executive officer Yutaka Sugimoto was appointed COO. I would like to push forward to achieve the vision of "creating the No. 1 service with virtual x XX". Here is the original release.
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