Technology

Turing has raised $78m in a Series A extension, taking its total funding to $172m, as the Tokyo-based startup pushes ahead with camera-based, VLA-driven autonomous driving.

Kyushu University spinout EUV photon raises $5m in seed funding to expand EUV irradiation and evaluation services, reducing Japan's reliance on overseas facilities.

RIKEN spinout BEAM Technologies raises $1.4m to grow semiconductor crystals in microgravity, signing LEO manufacturing MOUs with Resonac and others.

Japanese re-entry-satellite startup ElevationSpace has raised $40m in Series B funding, accelerating its "Aoba" mission and post-ISS space plans.

Space BD raises $22m in additional Series C funding, days after providing Japan's first commercial rideshare slots on JAXA's sixth H3 rocket launch from Tanegashima.

LIFESCAPES, a Keio University spinout developing non-invasive brain-machine interface technology, has raised ¥600 million (about $4 million) to fund overseas expansion into ASEAN markets, a clinical trial of its therapeutic BMI device, and next-generation business development.

TriOrb, a Japanese startup developing a sphere-based AMR platform, has raised ¥2.88 billion ($18M) in a Series B round backed by SPARX Asset Management, Mizuho Bank, and MUFG Bank. Proceeds will fund mass production, U.S. expansion, and R&D.

MJOLNIR SPACEWORKS, a Sapporo-based hybrid rocket engine developer, has raised up to ¥1.7 billion ($11M) in a Series B round. The startup uses a plastic-fueled engine design pioneered at Hokkaido University, with backing from Z Venture Capital and Shoko Chukin Bank.