AI and robotics startup Atom announced on May 27 the closing of 3 billion yen (approximately $19 million) in seed funding.
According to the LinkedIn profile of founder and CEO Shunsuke Aoki, the company was founded in January of this year.
Aiming to Boost Japan’s Productivity Through AI Robots
Aoki previously served as co-founder and CTO of Turing, a Japanese autonomous driving startup. He appears to have left the company in July 2025.
In the press release announcing the funding, Atom describes its purpose as “a startup committed to developing and mass-producing humanoid AI robots to raise Japan’s GDP by 1 percent” To that end, the company is developing a dual-arm, bipedal humanoid robot alongside physical AI. Its products are intended for use in manufacturing and logistics.
In the logistics sector in particular, the “2024 Logistics Problem” emerged as a major social challenge in Japan two years ago. That year, regulations came into effect capping the working hours of truck drivers. Beyond that, bans on multi-tier subcontracting, prohibitions on freight rates below appropriate cost levels, and improvements to driver working conditions are set to be mandated between 2026 and 2028 through legally binding measures.
These reforms reflect a longstanding reality: truck drivers and logistics operators have historically occupied a weak bargaining position. The same dynamic — where those further downstream in multi-tier subcontracting arrangements face the greatest disadvantage — applies across manufacturing, construction, and IT, all sectors where productivity gains are urgently needed.
Funds Earmarked for Hiring as CEO Says He Is “Looking for People Who Want to Build the Next Great Industry”
Atom’s seed round was led by venture capital firms ANRI、Beyond Next Ventures、JAFCO Group, with participation from eight other investors, including Sumitomo Corporation Corporation’s corporate venture capital arm, Sumisho Venture Partners Venture Partners.
The funds are expected to be used primarily for talent acquisition. Atom is also planning a recruitment-focused event in late May to early June.
Atom CEO Aoki commented as follows.
“The humanoid robotics industry is one that someone in Japan must build. We chose to be that someone, and made the decision to take on the challenge of launching an industry that will define the 21st century.
We have already begun developing a dual-arm, bipedal robot and AI models. With this funding, we will vertically integrate the development of world models, supply chain construction, and the design and build of data collection centers.
We are looking for people who want to build the next great industry with us.”
