ANA HOLDINGS INC. (hereinafter “ANA HD”), through its corporate venture capital (CVC) fund “ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P.”, today announced it will invest in Axelspace Holdings Corporation (hereinafter “Axelspace HD”), a microsatellite developer; and NearMe Inc. (hereinafter “NearMe”), an AI-based shared transportation service.
About Axelspace HD
Axelspace HD is a space technology company specializing in microsatellite development through Axelspace Corporation, a consolidated subsidiary established in 2008. It develops, launches and operates ten microsatellites, including a technology demonstration satellite for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Currently, Axelspace HD offers two main services. One is ‘AxelGlobe’, an Earth observation platform providing satellite imagery with high monitoring frequency. The other is ‘AxelLiner’, a comprehensive, one-stop service for microsatellite development and operation, providing simplicity and transparency to clients through its proprietary project management system, which allows them to focus on their unique space business.
ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P. will acquire shares of Axelspace HD, recognizing the company’s exceptional team of microsatellite experts, led by Dr. Yuya Nakamura, President & CEO of Axelspace HD, and its advanced technological capabilities encompassing the entire process from satellite design and manufacturing to in-orvit operations.
Going forward, ANA and Axelspace HD will promote the creation of new value in the aviation and space fields through further business co-creation that leverages the strengths of both companies.
About NearMe
NearMe is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2017, specializing in ride sharing services and tackling mobility challenges with a focus on quality and efficiency.
From the perspective of “quality”, NearMe aims to increase the number of users per vehicle. Its approach aims to solve mobility issues such as overtourism, solving regional transportation gaps while promoting sustainable urban development through effective energy use.
In the past 18 months since March 2023, NearMe’s airport shuttle service experienced significant growth, with user numbers surging from 300,000 to over 850,000.
ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P. will invest in NearMe, building upon a strong foundation of trust through collaborative demonstration experiments with ANA’s MaaS “Travel CUBE” service.
The fund recognizes NearMe’s innovative approach to solving regional transportation challenges by maximizing the utilization of idle assets and untapped resources.
The leadership of President Koichiro Takahara and the company’s highly skilled and dynamic team were major factors in the investment decision. Moving forward, ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P. will accelerate open innovation initiatives with NearMe to provide exceptional mobility solutions that go beyond aviation and captivate users globally.
About ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P.
| Name | AH―GB Future Creation Investment Limited Partnership (called: “ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P.) |
| Date of establishment | April 2024 |
| Fund size | 8 billion yen |
| Operational Period | 10 years |
| Major Investment Fields | Accelerating the creation of new businesses and strengthening non-airline ventures to improve the profitability of revenue streams, while simultaneously enhancing airline profitability and elevating the customer experience.
EXAMPLES |
| Unlimited partner | Global Brain Corporation |
| Limited partner | ANA HOLDINGS INC. |
| URL | https://www.anahd.co.jp/group/en/pr/202404/20240409.html |
About ANA HOLDINGS
Founded in 1952 with just two helicopters, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has grown to become the largest airline in Japan. Today, ANA HOLDINGS Inc. (ANA HD) is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired companies by Fortune.
ANA HD was established in 2013 as the largest airline group holding company in Japan, comprising 69 companies. It offers three distinct airline brands: ANA, Peach, the leading LCC in Japan, and AirJapan, launched in 2024 for international routes covering Asia.
ANA’s legacy of superior service has earned SKYTRAX’s 5-Star rating every year since 2013, making it the only Japanese airline to win this prestigious designation for 11 consecutive years. ANA has topped Cirium’s Asia Pacific on-time performance rankings for five consecutive years during which the awards were announced.
ANA HD has been selected as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index list for seven consecutive years and the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index list for eight consecutive years.
Featured image credited to istock.com/shironosov
