Like many industries, manufacturing has been undergoing a digital transformation. Emerging technologies and approaches are creating new opportunities to advance smart automation and reduce the carbon footprint of factories, and there has never been a more critical time to accelerate Industry 4.0.
Toyota Ventures is exploring these areas through both our Frontier Fund and Climate Fund, and we are excited to announce the 2022 call for innovation to find and fund early-stage companies that can help make the factory of the future a reality sooner.
In partnership with Toyota’s Manufacturing Project Innovation Center (MPIC) and Toyota Research Institute (TRI), the 2022 call focuses on finding scalable solutions to modernize manufacturing and advance sustainable production. Through May 31, 2022, qualified startups are encouraged to apply online for an opportunity to receive between $500,000 and $2 million in venture capital funding from Toyota Ventures.
To be eligible, your company’s technology needs to fit our investment thesis, and you must also meet the following criteria: (1) raised less than $10 million in funding; (2) can demonstrate a working prototype; and (3) have a viable business model that can deliver real value to customers. Our investment team is in search of entrepreneurs who are challenging the status quo in areas such as:
- 3D simulation
- AI and computer vision
- Adaptive robots
- Additive manufacturing
- Augmented reality
- Autonomous mobile robots
- Carbon footprint reduction
- Collaborative robots
- Cybersecurity
- Data analytics
- Electrification and battery manufacturing
- Energy efficiency
- Worker training and safety
As always, Toyota Ventures takes a founder-first approach to investing, partnering with entrepreneurs to help them bring disruptive technologies and business models to market more quickly. Our first call for innovation in 2018 sought out robotics startups, and led to us investing in Elementary. In 2020, our second call for innovation focused on smart, connected cities and we made an investment in YPC Technologies. We can’t wait to discover new companies through this third call for innovation!
It is important to note, however, that the call for innovation is not a competition or contest. It is an opportunity to get your startup’s solution in front of our team, and our partners at MPIC and TRI, knowing that we’re looking to invest in and work with startups in these areas. As with any investment we make, applicants will be evaluated based on the quality of the team, technology, business model, go-to-market strategy, overall market opportunity, and other factors that are critical for success.
Respond to the call today by applying online at the Toyota Ventures website.