July 18, 2024
OMRON VENTURES CO., LTD.

OMRON VENTURES CO., LTD. (OVC: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yoshihito Takabu) is pleased to announce that it has invested in avatarin Inc. (avatarin: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Akira Fukabori), a start-up originating from ANA Holdings Inc., through its OVC II Investment Limited Partnership.

avatarin is creating a global platform that will enable the AI-driven sharing of people’s various professional skills. By “avatarinizing” diverse robots and mobility solutions that are connected to this platform, it aspires to a world in which anyone can help others anywhere at any time.

With a declining birth rate, an aging society, and a shrinking population, shortages of workers in the manufacturing industry and service industries such as logistics and retail have become a serious social issue. To solve such social issues, avatarin is working to connect each other’s unique abilities and eliminate labor shortages by leveraging the AI, that it has developed by learning professional skills with its “Remote-to-AI”^*1 approach, as well as its communication AI robot, “newme”.

The OMRON Group aims to transition the entire Group from a manufacturing business into a data-driven solutions business in order to resolve the three social issues to be addressed under its Long-term Vision “Shaping the Future 2030,” namely “Achievement of carbon neutrality,” “Realization of a digital society,” and “Extension of healthy life expectancies.” To that end, in December 2023, it established a Data Solution Business Headquarters (DSB), under the direct control of the Company President. The Smart M&S Division set up within the DSB is working to create new solutions that will support workers, using a variety of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and remote technologies, based on the analysis and use of data. With this investment, this division will take the lead in OMRON’s collaboration with avatarin.

Through this investment in avatarin, OVC will facilitate collaboration between the two companies in terms of expertise and technology and support the creation of innovative solutions.

*1 Remote-to-AI: AI learning based on multi-modal data, including images, sound, and control data collected in the course of remote operation of the communication AI robot, newme, to see, hear, speak, move around, and provide services.

avatarin Inc. Company Profile

Company Name	avatarin Inc.
CEO	Akira Fukabori
Address	Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
Established	2020
Business Description	Design, development, operation and sales of avatar robots and related products, etc.
URL	https://avatarin.com