TriOrb, with 360° spherical movement technology, raises 500 million yen from Mizuho Bank and 160 million yen from UTEC – BRIDGE

TriOrb, which aims to restructure manufacturing with 360° spherical movement, announced on March 31 that it has raised 160 million yen through a third-party allotment of shares to the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC). The company simultaneously announced a 500 million yen loan from Mizuho Bank. This brings the company’s total cumulative funding to 1.35 billion yen. Despite being an early-stage manufacturing startup, this debt financing was realized due to Mizuho Bank’s evaluation of the company’s technology and future growth potential. This loan does not include the granting of stock options.

TriOrb is a startup from Kyushu Institute of Technology founded in February 2023. In June 2024, it obtained certification as an AISol (AIST Solutions) startup by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Furthermore, in September of the same year, it raised a total of 250 million yen in a pre-Series B round from Toyota Gosei, AIST Solutions, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), UTEC, Mirai Creation Fund, DRONE FUND, and others.

TriOrb develops autonomous driving and cooperative transport systems based on its proprietary spherical omnidirectional movement mechanism “TriOrb BASE.” It aims to realize production lines that address manufacturing industry challenges such as variable-mix, variable-volume production and labor shortages. Currently, the company is implementing its system in multiple manufacturing companies.

Going forward, the company will use the raised funds to accelerate the social implementation of “TriOrb BASE.” As a flexible automation solution that responds to the changing needs of the manufacturing industry, ripple effects throughout the industry are also expected.

via PR TIMES