Sumitomo, JIC back robotics platform QibiTech in late-stage round
What's the deal? QibiTechDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Tokyo startup developing a vendor-agnostic platform to remotely control and manage robots from different manufacturers, has raised a late-stage round. Sumisho Venture PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the corporate venture arm of Sumitomo CorporationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, co-led the round with JIC Venture Growth InvestmentsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What's the endgame? Founded in 2011 by alumni of the University of Tokyo's JSK robotics lab, QibiTech builds HATS (Highly Autonomous Teleoperation System). The software connects and controls multiple robots, including foreign-made models, and links to higher-level systems such as WMS and MES, equipment like elevators, and AI tools.
Why now? Labour shortages are driving automation investment across Japan, but automating individual machines caps how much overall productivity can improve. Tasks that sit between machines — transport, patrolling, monitoring — still lean heavily on people.
QibiTech positions HATS to fill those gaps and support broader workforce reduction and automation on-site.
What are investors betting on? Sumisho Venture Partners argues that software and operational know-how, not just robot hardware, will matter most in the robotics market ahead. It cited QibiTech's vendor-free management platform, remote operation technology, on-site implementation experience, and potential to sharpen operations with AI.
What's the plan? JIC Venture Growth Investments, described as one of Japan's largest growth funds, joined as co-lead. Sumisho Venture Partners said it will use the Sumitomo Corporation group's business network and expertise to strengthen QibiTech's operational base and business development, with future collaboration or joint ventures on the table.
The signal: The deal reflects a shift in robotics investment from hardware toward the orchestration layer that ties disparate machines and systems together. For Sumitomo, which set up its Tokyo CVC in 2022 after building overseas arms since 1998, it marks deeper commitment to a sector where the group's interest is rising.
Read more: prtimes.jp
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
