Zip Infrastructure, which develops the self-propelled ropeway “Zippar,” announced on the 4th that it has raised additional funding in its Series A round through a third-party allotment of shares to Chugin Capital Partners and Sparkle. The amount raised was not disclosed. In the first close of the same round announced in September 2024, the company announced a funding of 310 million yen.
Headquartered in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, Zip Infrastructure was established in July 2018. The Zippar, designed and developed by the company, costs about 1.5 billion yen per kilometer, about one-fifth the cost compared to a monorail, and can be constructed in one year. With a structure where the rope and gondola are independent, it is characterized by flexible route design, allowing for curves and branches that were difficult in conventional systems.
Zippar adopts autonomous driving technology, contributing to solving regional transportation issues. Efforts toward implementation are progressing across Japan. In Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, after signing a cooperation agreement in April 2023, they are currently constructing a test line. In Kanagawa Prefecture, they have signed a cooperation agreement with the prefecture. In Sagamihara City within the prefecture, they are registered as a Sagamihara SDGs Partner, and a cooperation agreement has also been signed with Hadano City.
Furthermore, studies and considerations for the possible introduction of self-propelled ropeways are progressing in various regions including Hokkaido, Miyagi, Niigata, Fukuoka, and Okinawa. In February this year, they also announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with Kyushu Electric Power. They are also advancing overseas expansion, signing an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) of the Philippines in June 2024.
According to the company’s press release, the construction of the Fukushima test line is currently in its final stages, advancing toward the practical application of Zippar. With this funding, they state that further technological development and efforts toward implementation across Japan will accelerate.
via PR TIMES
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