Aeronext, which utilizes next-generation drones to help solve societal issues, raises 620 million yen in a pre-Series B round, bringing the total amount raised to date to approximately 2.3 billion yen.

Aeronext Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Keisuke Toji, hereinafter “Aeronext”) has raised 620 million yen in a pre-Series B round, with Impact Capital Limited(Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Directors: Chunmei Huang and Sayaka Takatsuka) through its Impact Capital I Limited Partnership, as the lead investor, and with third-party allocations of new shares to four new investors, including Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund（GP: Global Brain Corporation）, Mercuria Supply Chain Investment Limited Partnership, and MIE TOYOTA CO., LTD., as well as through venture debt from The Tokyo Star Bank, Limited.
With this latest round of funding, the total amount of funding raised since Aeronext was founded in 2017 is approximately 2.3 billion yen.

【Fund Raising Background】
Aeronext is working to create new value using low-altitude airspace, with the mission of “a new societal infrastructure for the 100-year life era, a world where enrichment is spread to every corner of the world.” Aeronext provides a technology licensing business that offers its unique 4D GRAVITY® aircraft structure design technology as a licensing package, as well as a joint development business that undertakes joint development and development contracts for drone-related technologies. In addition, through its strategic subsidiary NEXT DELIVERY Inc., which was established in 2021, the company develops and expands its SkyHub® business, which aims to centralize and streamline regional logistics, and a drone operation business, which is executed by a team with leading-edge technology and skills, one of Japan’s best track records, and foremost know-how. The SkyHub® business has already been implemented in multiple regions in Japan, and is contributing to addressing regional issues in logistics, where regional logistics infrastructures face many challenges.

The funds raised this time will be used for research and development of drone-related technologies that contribute to strengthening the patent portfolio centered on 4D GRAVITY®, development of drone operation systems and related systems for the SkyHub® business, and for hiring personnel to strengthen management.
In addition, we will work with Impact Capital, an impact investor who lead this round, to measure and visualize the impact of our business on society and use the results to improve our management and business, in order to pursue sustainable business growth and increased impact.

※About Impact Investments
Impact investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.
GSG (The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment) Impact JAPAN: Impact Investments

【Impact Logic (abridged)】
Currently, Japan is facing a crisis in its terrestrial infrastructure, due to the aging of existing infrastructure, environmental problems, natural disasters, etc., in addition to social issues such as the logistics problem of 2024, the decline in the working population due to the aging of society and the declining birthrate, and depopulation in rural areas. As these become more serious, Aeronext aims to achieve “a new societal infrastructure for the 100-year life era, a world where enrichment is spread to every corner of the world” with the vision of “the economic use of new airspace.”

To work towards this in a logical and concrete way, Aeronext will set indicators for our end goal. We will also incorporate these indicators into our management decision-making cycle and pursue societal impact as well as business growth.

【Investor Comments】

 Chunmei Huang, Representative Director, Impact Capital Limited
We believe that Aeronext’s drone utilization will be one of the keys to addressing pressing social issues such as the increasingly serious regional distribution issues and vulnerable regional disaster prevention infrastructure.
The creation of a new smart logistics market utilizing drones is still in its infancy worldwide. Aeronext is involved in establishing and operating a business model based on patented technologies essential for logistics drones, and as an industry leader, the Company is actively collaborating with companies from upstream to downstream in the logistics industry. In addition to its business activities, Aeronext has a track record of promoting demonstration projects and making specific policy proposals, such as the government’s introduction of Level 3.5 Flight and incorporating the use of drones into disaster prevention plans, as well as the launch of the “New Smart Logistics Promotion Council” to accelerate the social implementation of drones. We believe that Aeronext’s comprehensive efforts, including lobbying the government and industry, could lead to an industry revolution.
Impact Capital aims “to create a vibrant colorful society, where diversity is recognized and choices are made based on individual‘s value” through impact investment in startups, and to achieve both economic and social returns.
During the due diligence phase, we had in-depth discussions with Mr. Toji and Mr. Karao, and we organized the “logic of creating an impact on society through business”. Going forward, we will work with Aeronext to measure and visualize impact, introduce “impact measurement and management” to utilize the results for management and business improvement, and support the company’s growth with the aim of creating social value and maximize economic value.

Toshiya Mizutani, Senior General Manager of Research & Business Development, Corporate Planning Headquarters, Canon Marketing Japan Inc.
We are very happy for this opportunity to make this investment. From our many conversations with Mr. Toji during this round, we very much share Aeronext’s vision and strategy. In the midst of the changing environment surrounding the logistics sector, a societal infrastructure, issues have already begun to surface in last-mile delivery in rural areas. Aeronext aims to solve these issues through shared delivery business using drones that is useful in both emergency and non-emergency times.   We are confident that these endeavors will become an indispensable presence in society in the future. Through this investment from Canon Marketing Japan MIRAI Fund, we hope to engage in open innovation activities in the field of logistics and, together, to create a future that exceeds our imagination.

Jiro Kumakura, General Partner, Global Brain Corporation
Aeronext is a next-generation drone startup that is achieving significant growth under the leadership of Mr. Toji. The company possesses advanced technological capabilities, as exemplified by its unique drone fuselage design technology, 4D GRAVITY®, and its subsidiary, NEXT DELIVERY, operates the SkyHub® business, which has the potential to address regional issues in logistics.
Global Brain decided to make this investment based on our assessment of Aeronext’s clear vision for solving societal issues through next-generation drones, its track record of expanding its business while involving logistics companies, local governments, and other organizations, and its potential for future growth. Global Brain will also continue to provide support to contribute to the dramatic growth of Aeronext.

Kohei Fujita, Venture Investment Strategy Investment Manager & Yusuke Nakayama, Associate, Mercuria Investment Co., Ltd.
We are pleased that Mercuria Supply Chain Fund (MSCF) has invested in Aeronext. We are very happy to be working with Mr. Toji and everyone at Aeronext, who are sincerely committed to solving social issues. MSCF aims to become a platform that contributes to solving issues in the logistics and supply chain industries, while Aeronext develops and provides solutions that can solve issues such as the labor shortage in the logistics industry, the disruption of logistics networks due to disasters, and environmental issues. We will do our utmost to support the realization of “a new societal infrastructure for the 100-year life era, a world where enrichment is spread to every corner of the world”.

Noriaki Takebayashi, Representative Director, MIE TOYOTA CO.,LTD.
In the automobile sales industry, which is said to be in a period of great change that occurs once every 100 years, the Mie Toyota Group has started working with drones as a new mobility-related business. By supporting Aeronext, which is at the forefront of the logistics business using drones, we hope to contribute to regional mobility together.
We wish Aeronext continued growth and success.

【Keisuke Toji, CEO, Aeronext Inc. Comment】

We are very happy to have completed our pre-Series B round with Impact Capital as the lead investor. The New Smart Logistics SkyHub® system Aeronext is advancing to help create sustainable local communities continues to attract more and more attention. In terms of disaster prevention, logistics drones are also becoming an indispensable presence for local communities, and we expect the market for them to continue to grow. With this latest round of funding, we plan to invest in technology, systems, and human resources to ensure that this trend continues.

【Video of Aeronext Group Companies and Businesses】

Please watch videos below about our company and our subsidiary NEXT DELIVERY Inc.’s company profile and business.
・Aeronext Group introduction video
・What is the New Smart Logistics SkyHub®?
・Ｄrone Ｄelivery in Kosuge Village “Letter from villagers”

【Recruitment Strengthening】

In conjunction with this fundraising, we are actively recruiting for all positions. We invite interested parties to apply.
*Documentation in Japanese

・Sale for Local Governments
・SPL Sales
・Depot Management/Service Planning
・Management Planning Team
・Intellectual Property Manager
・Technical Development Project Manager (PM)
・Marketing/Public Relations
・Drone Flight Management/Pilot

【Recruitment Deck】
Our “Recruitment Deck”, which explains the business areas we are aiming for and the working environment we provide.

Supplementary Information

*1 New Smart Logistics
A public-private initiative to find solutions to the issues commonly faced by the logistics industry, such as labor shortages, environmental and energy issues, and DX areas, while utilizing digital and technology to ensure the future sustainability of logistics, which is an indispensable infrastructure for people’s daily lives. The project aims to realize the last mile joint delivery, the best mix of land and air transportation, freight and passenger consolidation, automated technology, etc., through co-creation based on an open public platform (O.P.P.) that transcends the boundaries between the industry and the outside world.

*2 New Smart Logistics SkyHub®
A new smart logistics platform jointly developed and deployed by Aeronext and Seino HD that connects existing land transportation and drone logistics, as well as connecting ground and air infrastructure to deliver goods anytime, anywhere. An open and standardized platform with built-in drone delivery, operating from Drone Depots® and using cars and drones as delivery vehicles, and SkyHub® TMS as the base for SkyHub® Delivery (shopping service), SkyHub® Eats (food delivery), SkyHub® Medical (pharmaceutical delivery), as well as joint delivery of packages from different logistics companies in bulk, to develop and provide services tailored to local issues and needs. The introduction of SkyHub® not only has the logistics benefits of promoting unmanned and inventory-free operations and improving last mile delivery efficiency, but also introduces a new logistics infrastructure. Where the logistics industry facing the “2024 Logistics Problem,” SkyHub® will contribute to solving social issues in the region, such as transportation problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and measures for the vulnerable in logistics, SkyHub® will also contribute to address regional issues such as traffic problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and measures for the vulnerable in logistics, as well as raise the level of satisfaction of residents and communities by improving convenience and quality of life.

【About Aeronext Inc.】
Aeronext, an IP driven R & D technology startup for next-generation drones, is a company that designs the sky through technology to create a world where the sky becomes a social infrastructure, is economized, and solves social issues through drones. Our core technology is 4D GRAVITY®, a unique structural design technology that improves basic drone performance such as stability, efficiency, and mobility of industrial drones by optimizing the center of gravity of the aircraft. In order implement this 4D GRAVITY® as standard equipment on industrial drones, we have constructed a strong patent portfolio and are promoting a partnership-based platform business for the 4D GRAVITY® license globally. Aeronext has also founded a subsidiary to implement the SkyHub® new smart logistics and pursue drone delivery.
*For more information: https://aeronext.com/about/company/

*Aeronext, the Aeronext logo, as well as “4D GRAVITY®” are trademarks of Aeronext Inc.
*Other company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.