Invested in AstroX Co., Ltd., which operates Rockoon rocket launch business. *United Corporation*
Press release: September 5, 2024
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Invested in AstroX Co., Ltd., which operates Rockoon rocket launch business. United Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer: Hayakawa)
Yoki, stock code: 2497, hereinafter “United”) is AstroX Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, Representative Director: Oda
Shobu has invested in AstroX.
* ■About AstroX’s business*
AstroX is “Japan as a space developer”
With the vision of “regaining No. 1,” we are developing satellite launch vehicles using the Rockoon method*1. Already, we have successfully conducted a rocket engine combustion test, successfully developed the ability to launch from a balloon in the air, and successfully conducted an integrated test of an attitude control system.We have also signed a joint research agreement with Obayashi Corporation and Chiba Institute of Technology. Development is progressing smoothly.
*1 A coined word combining Rocket and Balloon. A method in which a rocket is launched into the stratosphere (at an altitude of around 20 km) using an atmospheric balloon, and then launched into the air from there.
* ■Background of United’s investment in AstroX*
According to the Cabinet Space Policy Committee’s Space Industry Vision 2030*2, the market size of the space industry is currently approximately 1.2 trillion yen, and the government’s goal is to double it by the early 2030s. Demand for launches by satellite operators is increasing due to government promotion and growing business interest in the use of satellite data. On the other hand, there is a shortage of rocket launches to transport satellites into space. In particular, given the current situation where there are very few private rocket launches in Japan, there is an urgent need to commercialize rocket launches domestically.
AstroX is led by CTO Yutaka Wada (Professor, Space Transportation Engineering Laboratory, Chiba Institute of Technology) and executive officer Maemura, a leading expert on Japanese rocket development. We have built a strong development system led by Takashi. In fact, experiments to develop satellite launch vehicles have been successful.
Commercializing rockets is an extremely difficult mission. United has announced its intention to invest in AstroX, with the hope that AstroX, led by its representative Mr. Oda, who has a strong
development system and is skilled in business and the ability to move forward together with stakeholders, will become a driving force in Japan’s space industry. We have made a decision.
*2 https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/vision/vision.html
* ■Future outlook*
AstroX plans to use the funds raised this time to continue promoting the development of satellite launch vehicles. United will continue to support AstroX’s business expansion and further growth.
United will continue to actively invest in venture and start-up companies with promising business models.
* ■About United Corporation investment business*
United’s purpose is to “maximize willpower and accelerate the advancement of society,” and our three core businesses are investment, education, and human resource matching. In our investment business, we have invested in a number of venture and startup companies for over 20 years since the dawn of the Internet business, and have supported the growth and exit of the companies in which we have invested. Currently, our main investment targets are domestic seed to early stage venture and startup companies. All investments are made with our own funds, allowing us to make flexible and speedy decisions.
After investment, we provide business and organizational management know-how cultivated through many years of business management and investment experience, as well as provide financing and exit support. In addition, our hands-on support team, UVS*3, provides comprehensive support for business growth, from business strategy planning to execution.
*3 UVS (UNITED Venture Success): Hands-on support team made up of Capitalist team and Value Up team members
* ■Overview of invested company*
Investor name AstroX Co., Ltd.
Head office location 1-87 Honmachi, Odaka-ku, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture 979-2124
Establishment date: May 20, 2022
Representative Representative Director Shotake Oda
Business content Space transportation business
URL https://astrox.jp/
* ■Company profile*
United Co., Ltd.
Head office location: MFPR Shibuya Building, 1-2-5 Shibuya,
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002
Establishment date: February 20, 1998
Representative: Representative Director, President and Executive Officer Yoshinori Hayakawa
Business details: Education business, human resources matching business, investment business, ad tech/content business
URL: https://united.jp/