Eight Knot Inc. (Location: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, CEO: Yujin Kimura, henceforth: Our Company) is thrilled to announce the successful completion of our Pre-Series A First Close in July 2023, raising a total of 110 million yen. The investors for this round include Seika Daiya Engine, DRONE FUND, and Real Tech Fund. With this latest funding, our cumulative fundraising amount has reached 290 million yen.
■Purpose and Usage of the Funds:
We intend to channel the funds predominantly to enhance our autonomous maritime platform, "Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN". Our focus is on fortifying our development team, particularly in the fields of robotics and AI. In line with our expansion strategy, we're planning on establishing new regional offices to solidify our domestic market presence. Additionally, as part of our global outreach, we are formulating teams for overseas market analysis and cultivating local partnerships. Our overarching ambition is to debut our international operations in 2024 and position ourselves as a leading contender in the global arena through rapid business expansion.
・Augmenting our engineering team with expertise in robotics and AI.
・Launching regional offices to bolster domestic sales initiatives.
・Assembling specialized teams for global market insight and local partnership cultivation.
■Transition from PoC Phase to Business Expansion Phase:
Since our inception in March 2021, we hit a significant landmark in October of that year by effectively showcasing the transportation of goods with a prototype ship featuring autonomous navigation. By October 2022, we unveiled the "Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN" platform tailored for smaller vessels, introducing ship assistance functionalities. Come January 2023, passenger ship operators began deploying vessels equipped with AI CAPTAIN for autonomous EV navigation, pioneering the water taxi operations. This initiative became Japan's first commercial venture using autonomous ships. By July 2023, we forged a strategic capital and business alliance with Seika Daiya Engine, experts in marine engines and associated gear. This collaboration is propelling the introduction of avant-garde solutions based on autonomous navigation in the Japanese market, ushering us into a phase of business expansion.
■Comments from New Investors:
Mr. Toru Shibasaki, CEO of Seika Daiya Engine Co., Ltd:
Eight Knot is at the forefront of revolutionizing autonomous navigation for smaller vessels. Even though Seika Daiya Engine recently discovered Eight Knot's ambitious vision for self-navigating maritime solutions, we're already certain of its transformative potential. This pioneering technology promises enhanced safety, especially for our core clientele like fishermen and operators of smaller passenger ships. As we foresee challenges from a dwindling workforce, attributed to an aging population and declining birth rates, our unwavering support for Eight Knot is both financial and strategic. We're excited about our ongoing partnership with Eight Knot, together shaping an innovative maritime future.
Related Articles:
Capital and business alliance concluded with Seika Daiya Engine Co., Ltd., a seller of marine diesel engines and navigation assistance equipment.
https://8kt.jp/en/news/ppgo01ou5cd
Related Videos:
Introduction video of Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN
■Selected Adoptions and Awards (Excerpt):
FY 2023:
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism: Smart Island Promotion Survey
Cabinet Office: Demonstration project using Michibiki
Hiroshima Prefecture: "Pioneering" project demonstration
Ehime Prefecture: Ehime Prefecture Digital Implementation Acceleration Project Implementation
Toyo Keizai: Amazing Venture 100 2022 Selection
ICC Summit FUKUOKA 2023: "Honda Xcelerator Catapult" Winner
FY 2022:
Hiroshima Prefecture: Hiroshima Sandbox D-EGGS PROJECT (Hiroshima Governor Award)
■Details of Investors:
Company Name: Seika Daiya Engine Co., Ltd.
CEO: Toru Shibasaki
Location: 1-1-19 Kita Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Daiya Fugen Building 8th Floor
Website: https://www.daiyaeng.co.jp/
Managing company: DRONE FUND Inc.
Official Name: DRONE FUND III Investment Limited
Partnership
Representatives: Kotaro Chiba, Soki Omae
Location: 3-3-6 Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo
Website:https://dronefund.vc/en/
Company Name: Real Tech Holdings Co.,Ltd.
Fund Name: Real Tech Fund 3 Investment Limited Partnership
Representative: Akihiko Nagata
Location: 1-16-3 Yokokawa, Sumida, Tokyo, Center of Garage Room02
Website: https://www.realtech.holdings/en/
■Company Information
Company Name: Eight Knot Inc.
Established: March 8, 2021
Officers: Representative Director CEO Yujin Kimura, Director CTO Tomoaki Yokoyama, External Director Kazutaka Yomogita
Head Office : Room 313, S-Cube Main Building, 130-42 Nagasone-cho, Kita Ward, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture 591-8025
Tokyo Office : Center of Garage, 1-16-3, Yokokawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0003
Business Content: Development of autonomous navigation technology for small vessels, development of on-demand water transportation systems.
Website: https://8kt.jp
Twitter: @8ktjp