Report says Schaft co-founder opened Japanese start-up fund
According to a report from Bloomberg yesterday, Takashi Kato, co-founder of recent Google acquisition and DARPA Robotics Challenge winner Schaft Inc., has opened a fund to invest in new technology from Japanese start-ups and universities.
Kato told Bloomberg that his fund, 246 Capital, plans to raise about 2 billion yen ($19 million) in the next six months and focus on investments in biotechnology and energy efficiency. He said his own struggle to gather money for Schaft was the inspiration for the fund.
Although he doesn’t mention robotics specifically, it will be interesting to see if the fund uncovers any under-the-radar Japanese robotics firms, since Kato is obviously tuned in to that world. Currently, Russian investor Dmitry Grishin runs the most prominent fund dedicated specifically to consumer robotics.
Click here to read the complete report from Bloomberg: “Founder of Robot Startup Bought by Google Eyes Hidden Japan Gems”
[ photo courtesy of DARPA ]
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About The Author
Mike Davin
Mike Davin is passionate about business and robotics. In addition to editing The Business of Robotics, he is on the advisory board for the Robotics Alley Conference & Expo. He also serves on the executive committee of AUVSI Twin Cities as communications chair. Before he covered robots, he was senior editor of Boating Industry magazine as well as online editor of its sister publication, Powersports Business.