Press Release: SPACE ONE Secures 20 Billion Yen in Cumulative Fundraising
2024.10.09
TOKYO, October 9, 2024 - SPACE ONE CO., LTD. ("SPACE ONE" or "the Company"), Japan’s leading private launch service provider, is pleased to announce that its cumulative fundraising of equity and debt (excluding grants and subsidies) has exceeded 20 billion yen this fiscal year.
To date, SPACE ONE has received investments from CANON ELECTRONICS INC., IHI AEROSPACE Co.,Ltd., Shimizu Corporation, Development Bank of Japan Inc., The Kiyo Bank, Ltd., K4 Ventures GK, Taiyo Group Co.,Ltd., MUFG Bank, Ltd., Azuma House Co.,Ltd., Okuwa Co.,Ltd., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., and TAIYO KOGYO CORPORATION. This diverse backing from well-known names across both corporate and financial sectors further underscores the company’s credibility and stability. Additionally, long-term and short-term loans have been provided by Wakayama Prefecture and MUFG Bank, Ltd., among others.
In this recent round of fundraising, SPACE ONE has secured additional funds through a third-party allotment of shares, with new investments from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited., and funds operated by NISSAY CAPITAL CO.,Ltd.. This recent capital investment will help ensure the successful launch of KAIROS 2nd Flight and support the mass production of launch vehicles, further accelerating the company's business growth. SPACE ONE will continue its fundraising efforts throughout 2024, aiming to close the round before the launch of KAIROS 2nd Flight.
Second Launch Plans:
In March 2024, SPACE ONE launched the maiden flight of KAIROS, its in-house developed launch vehicle, from Space Port Kii, a launch site also developed and operated by SPACE ONE. In December 2024, the company plans to launch KAIROS 2nd Flight, which will inject multiple satellites into orbit.
Development Status:
In addition to KAIROS rocket, the company is advancing research and development on the "Enhanced KAIROS," with the goal of increasing launch capabilities and improving satellite injection accuracy into orbits ("this project"). This project conducted under a contract awarded by the Japan Ministry of Defense for 8.5 billion yen, includes enhancements to the upper stage of the launch vehicle, with installing a methane engine. In September 2023, the project was also selected for the "Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase 3 (SBIR Phase 3)" administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The project successfully passed a stage-gate review in September 2024. With relentless commitment to innovation and technological advancement, SPACE ONE aims to establish globally competitive space transportation services.
Masakazu Toyoda, President and CEO of SPACE ONE:
SPACE ONE is on a bold mission to achieve 20 launches by the end of the 2020s, and 30 by the 2030s. Since our founding, we have been relentlessly building - from constructing a launch site, to developing rocket technology - and now, in our sixth year, we are ready to take the next leap with KAIROS this December. The mission for the upcoming launch is to swiftly bring these achievements to the market, establishing a highly convenient space transportation service that will become the backbone of Japan’s space industry. This latest round of funding is a powerful step forward, fueling our growth and bringing us even closer to that future.
For further information regarding this announcement, please contact the following
info@space-one.co.jp