TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Please replace the graphic with the accompanying corrected graphic.
The release reads:
MIRAI CREATION INVESTMENT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND INNOVATION NETWORK CORPORATION OF JAPAN TAKE THE LEAD AS GROOVE X CONCLUDES INVESTMENT AGREEMENT FOR THIRD-PARTY ALLOCATION OF SHARES
Approximately JPY 8 Billion in capital to be raised including past seed funding for development of “LOVOT™” new-generation household robots
Mirai Creation Investment Limited Partnership* (“Fund”), Innovation
Network Corporation of Japan (“INCJ”), and the new generation robot
business GROOVE
X, Inc. (“GX”) signed an investment contract for third-party
allocation of shares amounting to a maximum of JPY 6.45 billion on
Wednesday, November 29, with the Fund and INCJ as the largest investors.
The
Fund and INCJ will finance JPY 1.4 billion respectively on Monday,
December 18, and together with funds from other investors, the initial
total will amount to JPY 4.35 billion. INCJ also plans to additionally
invest at a cap of JPY 2.1 billion, and including GX’s past funding, the
grand total is expected to amount to a maximum of JPY 7.87 billion.
GX engages in the development of new generation household robots that
can improve people’s quality of daily life. While past robots covered
work performed by people, GX focuses on robots that can accompany people
on an emotional level and offer feelings of warmth. This robot has been
given its concept name “LOVOT™”, which combines the terms “LOVE” and
“ROBOT”. In an environment where negative effects of single living are
becoming a societal issue, that companionship by “LOVOT™” will provide
emotional fulfillment and a sense of relief and as a result, contribute
to increasing people’s performance.
A product announcement of
“LOVOT™” is planned for fall 2018 while the product launch for the
public is scheduled for 2019.
* Operated by SPARX Group Co., Ltd. (“SPARX”) with funds from twenty companies, including main investors Toyota Motor Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
About GROOVE X:
GROOVE X is a developer of next-generation domestic robots, founded by AI robot developer Kaname Hayashi in November 2015. Hayashi began his career as an engineer with Toyota Motor Corporation, where he conducted aerodynamic research for Formula 1 racing cars. In 2012, he joined leading Japanese IT firm Softbank group, where he served as lead developer of the groundbreaking emotion-responsive humanoid robot, Pepper, released in 2015.
