TOKYO, March 15 (Reuters) – Japanese trend magnate Yusaku Maezawa is shopping for robotics startup Groove X, which makes an “affectionate” companion robotic, saying on Tuesday he was drawn by its capability to “make folks really feel comfortable”.
A fund owned by Maezawa has taken a majority stake within the startup, based by an alumni of SoftBank Group Corp’s (9984.T) robotics enterprise, and can transfer to full possession in April, Groove X mentioned, with out offering additional element.
Lovot, an amalgam of “love” and “robotic”, has wheels and resembles a penguin with cartoonish human eyes. It has interchangeable outfits and communicates in squeaks.
Lovot “cannot clear or do work however I see huge potential in a presence that may make folks really feel comfortable, significantly right now,” Maezawa mentioned within the assertion.
Groove X beforehand raised 8 billion yen ($67.6 million) from traders together with funds backed by the Japanese authorities and Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T).
The state fund, INCJ, mentioned seperately on Tuesday it had bought its stake to Maezawa for an undisclosed quantity. It declined to say if it made a revenue.
Maezawa “confirmed a robust curiosity within the idea of a house robotic as offering an answer to social points,” INCJ mentioned.
The entrepreneur, who visited the Worldwide Area Station on a Russian rocket final 12 months, made his fortune founding the web trend retailer Zozo which was purchased by SoftBank’s web enterprise.
By means of his fund Maezawa has invested in ventures reminiscent of a maker of sensible cat-litter trays that analyses bathroom habits and tracks animal well being and one other providing personalised movies from celebrities.
($1 = 118.3100 yen)
Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; enhancing by Richard Pullin
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