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SORA Technology, which aims to solve social issues in the field of global health with drones and AI, raises 130 million yen (approx. 1million US dollars) in the seed round

SORA Technology Co.,Ltd. (Head Office: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Managing Director: Yosuke Kaneko; hereinafter SORA Technology), a company that uses drones and other forms of air mobility to solve social issues in the field of global health, such as malaria and other infectious diseases and last-mile delivery, is pleased to announce that in March 2023, raised a total of approximately 130 million yen (approx. 1million US dollars) through a third-party allocation of new shares led by DRONE FUND, and underwritten by Central Japan Seed Fund, and RheosCP1Investment Limited Partnership.

This financing represents the growing public interest in the urgent issues of global health, including the fight against infectious diseases, and demonstrates the high level of confidence that investors have in SORA Technology’s work in the field of air mobility, and in the field of health and hygiene.

・Background and Purpose of Fundraising
Although Japan is a country with a high public health level in the world, the experience of the global pandemic of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in 2020 has reminded us that in today’s globalized world, it is essential to take a global initiative.
SORA Technology will realize a “Sustainable society resilient to disasters and epidemics” from the Sky (SORA), by using drones and other forms of air mobility to help solve emergent social problems in the global health field, such as malaria and other infectious diseases and last-mile delivery.
Furthermore, we aim to realize a “Safe and integrated management of The Sky (SORA) throughout the world” and the “Universalization of data analytics through The Sky (SORA)”, through various business developments towards the realization of a society in which the use of air mobility is a prerequisite.
The funds raised through this third-party allotment will be used for further expansion of the regions where the company operates, and will also be actively utilized for technological development, and new business verification.
We will also strengthen our recruitment activities in anticipation of business expansion.

・Outline of Fundraising
Amount of funds raised : Approximately 130 million yen (Approximately 1million US dollars)
Fundraising method : Third party allotment
Fundraising round : Seed round
Shareholders :
DRONE FUND III Investment Limited Partnership, Central Japan Seed Fund Investment Limited Partnership, RheosCP1Investment Limited Partnership
Purpose of use :
・Expansion of business operative regions / Reinforcement of Business Development capabilities,
・Reinforcement of Research and Development capabilities ,
in order to accelerate the business development of “Malaria Control Measures” “Deployment to Other Infectious Diseases” and “Last-mile Delivery of Medical Supplies” ,
to realize a “Sustainable society resilient to disasters and epidemics”, by making full use of air mobility centered on drones and AI.

 

・Comments from Underwriters (random order)

DRONE FUND III Investment Limited Partnership
General Partner
DRONE FUND Inc.
Principal Kazutaka Yomogita
This time, we have invested in SORA Technology, a company that is taking on the challenge of solving global social issues through the use of drones.
The societal demand for drones is prominent in emerging economies and is particularly strong in the context of public health.
SORA Technology has established deep local relationships to address these national issues, and we are confident that we will be able to promote social implementation in emerging countries.
We will continue to support SORA Technology in its efforts to realize a “Drone and Air Mobility based society” from a global perspective.

 

Central Japan Seed Fund Investment Limited Partnership
General Partner
MTG Ventures,Inc.
CEO Go Fujita
We are pleased to announce that we have made an investment from the Central Japan Seed Fund (CJS), which supports seed startups that solve local problems.
The company, led by CEO Mr.Kaneko, is working to solve social issues in the field of global health from the sky.
We were impressed by the company’s global perspective, network, speedy management, and high resolution of local and micro issues, and decided to work together to solve these issues.
We will do our best to support them together with CJS fund investors from now on.

 

RheosCP1Investment Limited Partnership 
General Partner
Rheos Capital Partners, Inc.
Investment Manager Toso Toda
SORA Technology Co.,Ltd. and its representative, Mr. Kaneko, are firstly aiming to solve urgent issues in emerging countries, to realize a “safe and prosperous society anywhere in the world” by utilizing “The Sky(SORA)” which is in the company’s name.
Furthermore, we are looking forward for the creation of a player in the global health field, and the contribution to improve productivity by promoting the use of air mobility to business companies through reverse innovation to developed countries.
As an investor, we will give our utmost support.

 

・Comments from Yosuke Kaneko, Managing Director, Founder and CEO of SORA Technology Co.,Ltd
First of all, we are very pleased and grateful to DRONE FUND, Central Japan Seed Fund, and RheosCP1Investment Limited Partnership, for their investment in SORA Technology.
Emerging countries are characterized by the fact that many people are in need “right now”, and because real social needs exist, the process of social implementation is rapid.
SORA Technology will take advantage of this feature to promote advanced social implementation in emerging countries, and will return the result of the accomplishments to the developed countries.
We will continue to contribute to the development of global health, by implementing Japan-originated aviation technology on the ground in Africa and Asia, and by collecting and utilizing data on infectious diseases that are difficult to ascertain from within Japan.

 

【About SORA Technology Inc.】
SORA Technology creates new social infrastructures using drones and other air mobility systems with the mission of “Transform people’s way of life from ‘The Sky (SORA)’ ” (SORA=The sky, in Japanese).
With a global perspective, we aim for pioneering social implementation in emerging countries.
While contributing to solving urgent social issues such as malaria and other infectious diseases and last-mile delivery, we will conduct our business as a single package that also includes actions such as supporting the introduction of legislation, drone operation management systems (UTM), and drone licenses.
We also aim to realize “reverse innovation” to developed countries based on the operation and technology we have cultivated in emerging countries, to realize “A sustainable society resilient to disasters and epidemics by utilizing ‘The sky (SORA)’ ” and “Safe and integrated management of ‘The Sky (SORA)’ throughout the world”.

 

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