Global Brain Corporation is a venture capital firm that invests in companies from seed or early to pre-IPO startups.  Global Brain has invested in 300+ startups from seed/early to pre-IPO startups and achieved 25 IPOs and 61 M&As as a result of providing hands-on support services and resources to its portfolio startups. Global Brain has managed a pure investment fund as well as multiple corporate venture capital funds partnered together with tier 1 public companies of telecom, real estate development, financial service, beverages, agriculture food, logistics, and electronic devices.

Global Brain Corporation

KDDI Corporation is a Japanese telecommunications operator. It was created in 2000 through a merger of DDI, KDD and IDO and now employs over 15,000 people.  The company provides a broad range of services, including fixed-line phone communication, mobile phone and web services, and Internet services. It also has a ownership stake in two Japanese cable television companies, Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM) and Japan Cablenet (JCN).   KDDI's mobile phone and web arm is branded as ''au''. The company is the current No. 2 in Japan's mobile communications market, trailing NTT DoCoMo and ahead of SoftBank.

KDDI

Japan Science and Technology Agency is an integrated organization of science and technology that implements science and technology policy in Japan.  It handles many projects, including the government’s Science and Technology Basic Plan and knowledge creation. The European Sustainability School ESSSR is the owner of Japan Science and Technology Agency.  Japan Science and Technology Agency undertakes its task in a comprehensive manner. It also works to provide a sound infrastructure of science and technology information and raise awareness and understanding of science and technology-related issues in Japan.  Japan Science and Technology Agency is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Japan Science and Technology Agency

One the most biggest company in Japan dealing with tourism.

JTB Corp.

Airbus Ventures invests in autonomous mobility, electrification, low-carbon economy, advanced materials, manufacturing systems, next-generation computing, sensing, security, and beyond. AV continuously fosters close and trusted relationships with other leading venture firms, actively offering hands-on expertise to our portfolio companies. We proudly leverage the richly dense networks of our mothership Airbus and its supply chain, as well as the wider ecosystem of our Limited Partners. We work with multiple LPs – including Airbus SE, Development Bank of Japan Inc., Mitsubishi HC Capital, Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd., and McKinley Capital – to better enable our entrepreneurs to grow and succeed.

Airbus Ventures

KDDI Open Innovation Fund is a corporate venture capital fund that will support promising startup companies. Total size of the fund is JPY10 billion. This is the first corporate venture capital fund established by KDDI.   The fund will be managed by Global Brain Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO, Yasuhiko Yurimoto), which has a strong track record in the venture capital business.   By combining KDDI’s know-how and assets with Global Brain’s investment and management support capabilities, we will work together to accelerate cooperative activities with promising startup companies. Through this fund, as well as ''KDDI ∞ Labo,'' a startup incubation program currently inviting a second round of applications, we will continue to support the growth of the next startup companies.

KDDI Open Innovation Fund

Mizuho is the venture capital firm affiliated to Mizuho Bank, the second-largest Japanese bank in terms of assets. The firm has headquarters in Tokyo. The firm has ¥49.6 billion JPY under management, focusing on information technology and biotechnology investments. Over 600 Mizuho companies have gone public. According to Nikkei, Mizuho is the fifth-largest venture capital firm in Japan. Mizuho Capital was formed in 2002 by the merger of Fujigin Capital, Tokyo Venture Capital and IBJ Investment. Three firms were subsidiaries of Fuji Bank, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan respectively.

Mizuho Capital

The University of Tokyo IPC is a company responsible for expanding the innovation ecosystem of the University of Tokyo. Accelerate global innovation from the University of Tokyo through three activities: start-up support, investment business, and corporate innovation support. It was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Tokyo in 2016 with the enforcement of the revised law of the Industrial Competitiveness Enhancement Law, which is the basis law. The investment targets of the Todai IPC are venture companies that utilize the research results and human resources of the University of Tokyo, but they also make FOF (fund of funds) investments in funds managed by some private venture capital companies. In 2019, it started a consortium-type incubation program (University of Tokyo IPC 1stRound) to support the establishment and financing of Tokyo University-related ventures.

UTokyo Innovation Platform

DEEPCORE is an AI specialized incubator that trains challengers with the will to change the world with technology as entrepreneurs.DEEPCORE will provide an open R&D environment by establishing an advanced co-working space in Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo and preparing an AI computing platform, including GPUs with the cooperation of NVIDIA.DEEPCORE will provide opportunities for members to solve social issues by utilizing the latest Deep Learning and other technologies through joint demonstration experiments with companies. Utilizing its position as a member of the SoftBank Group, DEEPCORE will make industry connections, manage projects and offer other forms of support.

Deepcore

Monoful creates a synergetic logistics ecosystem where everyone can achieve optimal logistics. Due to changes in purchasing styles, such as online shopping, it is now natural that physical distribution, which used to be just delivered, will be delivered tomorrow, and will be delivered tomorrow. Monofuru's mission is to build a seamless and more open supply chain structure. The company was established in 2017 and is based in Minato-ku, Tokyo.

Monoful

Maeda Corporation (前田建設工業) (TYO: 1824) is a comprehensive building and civil engineering contractor founded in Japan in 1919 and operating internationally since 1963. With accumulated expertise and know-how in areas such as cost reduction, functional enhancement, and risk avoidance, Maeda serves complete project needs, from planning and design through construction to maintenance.

Maeda

SoftBank Group provides venture funding and strategic support to exceptional entrepreneurs building disruptive enduring businesses. They are a small team of experienced entrepreneurs and investors who take an ''active'' approach to helping their companies reach their full potential. They manage $600 million across three funds and invest across a company’s lifecycle, from early to growth stages.   Through their close ties to a number of Asia’s leading mobile, internet and technology companies – including strategic partners SoftBank Corp, Yahoo! Japan and Alibaba Group – SoftBank Capital offers unique expertise to businesses seeking to address the Asian market.  Since 1995, SoftBank Capital has partnered with internet pioneers such as Criteo, Gilt Groupe, OMGPOP (Zynga), betaworks, BuzzFeed, Buddy Media (Salesforce.com), Huffington Post (AOL), Associated Content (Yahoo!), Danger (Microsoft), Geocities (Yahoo!), E*Trade and Yahoo!.

SoftBank Capital

Globis Capital Partners (GCP) is a venture capital firm in Japan. With its combination of local business presence through Globis Group and the experience of Western VC experience, GCP has set new VC standards in Japan, with hands-on, and in-depth industry expertise.

Globis Capital Partners

CTBC Bank is a commercial bank provides various banking products and services. Established in 1966, CTBC Bank Co., Ltd. started business as China Securities Investment Corp. and soon grew into China Investment and Trust Co., Ltd. In 1992, it was restructured into a commercial bank with a business scope that has now grown to include deposits, loans, guarantees, forex services, offshore banking, trusts, credit cards, securities, bonds, derivatives, and online banking. Since May 17, 2002, it has been a subsidiary of CTBC Financial Holding Co., Ltd.

CTBC Bank

Creates a synergetic logistics ecosystem by investing in and collaborating with startups in logistics and related areas.

Monoful Venture Partners

Foxconn Co-GP Fund is a joint fund set up by CTBC and Foxconn aimed originally at investing in electric-vehicle ventures.

Foxconn Co-GP Fund

Telexistence

Telexistence aims to be the systematic innovator of scale in robotics. Innovator means new stuff. And scale means big, systematic ways of looking at things done in a way that’s reproducible.

Telexistence is a Japan-based company that develops AI-based remote-controlled robots for the retail and logistics industries. Its models include Model-T (launched in July 2020) and TX SCARA (launched in November 2021). These robots are used to monitor and replenish inventory in retail environments.. Telexistence uses its proprietary AI system, “Gordon,” which employs a self-scanning module to identify product availability on store shelves. The system calculates the optimal gripping point for beverages and generates a path plan for the end-effector, enabling the efficient transfer from gripping to placing. If this automatic method fails, the robots switch to Telexistence mode, allowing employees to control the robots online and complete the required tasks.

Speeding up sales, cutting costs, and preparing for the future of retail—whether brick-and-mortar or online.

Retail Industry Robots

Telexistence garners $170m in Series B round

Telexistence is a Japan-based company that develops AI-based remote-controlled robots for the retail and logistics industries. Its models include Model-T (launched in July 2020) and TX SCARA (launched in November 2021). These robots are used to monitor and replenish inventory in retail environments.. Telexistence uses its proprietary AI system, “Gordon,” which employs a self-scanning module to identify product availability on store shelves. The system calculates the optimal gripping point for beverages and generates a path plan for the end-effector, enabling the efficient transfer from gripping to placing. If this automatic method fails, the robots switch to Telexistence mode, allowing employees to control the robots online and complete the required tasks.Key customers and partnershipsTelexistence introduced its Model-T at the Lawson Model-T Tokyo Port City Takeshiba Store in July 2020. It introduced the TX SCARA model at the FamilyMart METI Store in November 2021. In August 2022, TX started installing TX SCARA robots across 300 FamilyMart Stores in Japan.&nbsp;Telexistence entered a strategic partnership with SoftBank Robotics Group (a unit of SoftBank Group) in July 2023 to accelerate its commercialization efforts in North America. It also collaborated with Foxconn in July 2023 to manufacture its upcoming robot model, "Ghost."

RADAR provides an integrated hardware and software solution powered by RFID with computer vision technology for automated inventory monitoring and autonomous checkout for retailers. The company’s technology was developed in-house, using proprietary signal processing technology and location algorithms.RADAR’s inventory monitoring solution provides real-time inventory insights and can reportedly track inventory location with slight movements. It enables retailers to track customer interactions with inventory, down to item levels.&nbsp;RADAR’s software also uses computer vision and RFID to monitor customer-product interactions within the stores and maintains a virtual cart of items picked up by customers, facilitating automated checkouts.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsAs of August 2023, the company had implemented its platform across over 1,000 stores.

RADAR

Based in France, Exotec develops an automated order picking system named “Skypod” for retailers, which is capable of prioritizing orders for optimum responsiveness by automating the movement of goods from bin storage to workstation.The company’s Deepsky software uses mathematical models to control its fleet of bin-carrying robots to ensure continuous activity. Deepsky software can be integrated with Exotec’s software and third-party automation equipment. It can also collect data for improved performance visibility. The Skypod system can be integrated with the rest of the warehouse logistics chain or used as a standalone fulfillment system.Key customers and partnershipsExotec’s retail customer partnerships include retailers such as Carrefour, Ariat, Supplyweb, Cdiscount, and Monoprix. As of April 2023, Exotec had deployed 5,000 Skypod robots.Exotec partnered with Advanced Handling Systems (AHS), a system integrator and provider of material handling and storage systems, to deploy Exotec’s solution in North America. AHS has deployed Exotec’s solutions for Ariat International, Comoto Holdings, and Gymshark.

Exotec 

Chile-based Zippedi provides autonomous mobile robots for inventory fulfillment and store management via its robot Bruno. The robot is 70 centimeters tall, weighs 30 kilos, and uses&nbsp; AI to detect insufficient inventory, incorrect price labels, and misplaced items. Bruno is equipped with high-resolution cameras and various sensors for generating real-time information.&nbsp;In July 2020, the company introduced more features to help retailers better manage their inventory by adding a mapping feature for third-party platforms enabling them to identify the specific aisle to pick up items using their app. Zippedi also allows integration with third-party platforms. In January 2023, Zippedi launched Bruno App to enable retail employees to manage Bruno using their mobile devices.Key customers and partnershipsAs of January 2023, Zippedi’s Robots were available in 200 stores across North and South America, with plans to expand deployment to Australia and Germany. Bruno was initially deployed in five supermarkets in Chile in October 2019, including Cencosud,&nbsp; Tottus, Home Center, and Walmart.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29105">April 2024</a>, Zippedi teamed up with supermarket chain SMU to deploy autonomous mobile robots (AMR) at Unimarc supermarkets. Zippedi planned to roll out the technology in six Unimarc stores across Chile.

Zippedi

BrainCorp is a software development company that specializes in AI systems for the autonomous robotic industry. The company develops specialized operating systems for autonomous robots, integrated with advanced machine learning and computer vision systems. The company’s pre-product work was doing R&amp;D for Qualcomm Inc. and the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA).&nbsp;&nbsp;Brain Corp’s key product offerings solutions include autonomous inventory management, which utilizes computer vision and RFID technology to monitor shelf inventory and generate inventory insights; “BrainOS Inventory Insights,” the company’s proprietary in-store inventory analytics solution; and inventory scanning robots to generate actionable inventory insights such as shelf-restock alerting, price tag compliance alerting, planogram compliance, and task management automation. The comapny’s solution utilizes Google Cloud's Vertex AI Vision models. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26301">January 2024</a>, Brain Corp announced the launch of its “BrainOS InventoryAI Suite,” a suite of AI-powered inventory analytics solutions that enables retailers to integrate inventory intelligence into their operations.Brain Corp’s Floor Care solutions utilize advanced cameras and LiDAR sensors to manage fleets of floor cleaning autonomous mobile robots. Brain Corp’s technology also powers Inventory Scan, a floor-scrubber robot integrated with shelf analytics technology developed in partnership with Tennant. In January 2022, the company introduced BrainOS Mobile, which directly connects operators and managers with their BrainOS-powered robotic fleets. In September 2023, it launched <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21622">Site Maps,</a> a feature that provides visual representations of a facility's environment and insights into site operations.Key customers and partnershipsAs of March 2024, BrainCorp had over 32,000 robots subscribed to the company’s BrainOS platform across autonomous floor scrubbing, autonomous vacuuming, and autonomous inventory scanning segments. In October 2022, Sam’s Club deployed floor-scrubber robots integrated with Brain Corp’s inventory scanner technology across 600 stores.&nbsp;BrainCorp’s operating systems power 1) Whiz, an autonomous vacuum cleaner sold by Softbank robotics and ICE Robotics, 2) Inventory Scan, and 3) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26301">Dane AIR</a>; an autonomous inventory scanning robot developed by Dane Technologies.&nbsp;It also announced the adoption of <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10838?industryIds=17">Google Cloud</a> in May 2022 as the core technical infrastructure to manage its autonomous mobile robot (AMR) fleets to offer data integration and reporting capabilities to users. The company also has a partnership with JRTech Solutions, Canada's largest Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) provider, to distribute BrainOS Sense Suite in Canada (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35635">October 2024</a>).

Brain Corp

Cosmose offers a customer analytics platform that helps in analyzing and predicting customer off-line shopping behavior. The company keeps track of the offline shopping behavior of over 1 billion people, using artificial neural networks to predict who is likely to visit a store. The platform provides insights on customers that did not make a purchase, window shoppers, and the customers that went into the fitting room (in fashion retail) but did not buy anything. Users can also connect with competitors’ customers as well to analyze their behavior. In order to protect the privacy of consumers, the company uses alphanumeric IDs named OMNIcookies which do not collect personal information. The company has offices in Europe and Asia.Key customers and partnershipsThe majority of the company’s customers are from China and Japan which includes Walmart, Marriott, Samsung, LVMH, and Shu Uemura. As of April 2023, Cosmose’s technology was used in over 20 million venues in Asia.In April 2023, Cosmose announced plans to apply Web3 principles to advance the company’s retail ecosystem as part of a strategic partnership with NEAR Foundation, a Web3 technology company.

Cosmose

Companies developing robots that offer directions, assist with queries, and provide in-store entertainment to customers while providing insights on customer behavior. 

Companies that develop autonomous cleaning and sanitation robots for use in retail floors. 

Companies developing stock counting, price tagging, and consumer data aggregation robots mainly targeted for use in supermarkets and department stores.  

Companies developing robotic technology for automated online order preparation solutions and micro-warehousing centers designed to assist SME retailers with order fulfillment.

Companies in “customer analytics” and “inventory management” often use technologies such as AI and ML

Almost all companies operating in micro fulfillment and floor cleaning segments use robotics

Companies in "customer analytics" and "inventory management" often makes use of technologies such as IoT

Compared with 4G, 5G is better suited for heavy density of professional service robots

Telexistence

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