What is I-space?
Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, I-space is at the forefront of developing robotic spacecraft, including landers and rovers, designed to compete for both transportation and exploration mission contracts from space agencies and private industry. The company's ambitious vision is to enable clients to discover, map, and utilize natural lunar resources, positioning itself as a key player in the future of space commercialization and lunar development. I-space's technological advancements aim to unlock the potential of the Moon for scientific research and economic activities.
How much funding has I-space raised?
I-space has raised a total of $217.7M across 4 funding rounds:
Series A
$90.2M
Series B
$28M
Series C
$46M
Share Placement
$53.5M
Series A (2017): $90.2M with participation from Japan Airlines Co., Development Bank of Japan Inc., Shimizu Corporation, Toppan Printing, Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Konica Minolta, KDDI, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Real Tech Fund, and Dentsu
Series B (2020): $28M led by Space Frontier Fund, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Incubate Fund, and Takasago Thermal Engineering Co.
Series C (2021): $46M supported by Katsunori Sago, SoftBank Group, and Incubate Fund
Share Placement (2024): $53.5M, investors not publicly disclosed
Key Investors in I-space
SoftBank Group
SoftBank Group Corp. is a global technology holding company driving innovation across telecommunications, internet services, artificial intelligence, smart robotics, IoT, and clean energy technologies. Through its diverse portfolio of companies and strategic investments, including leading semiconductor IP providers, SoftBank Group supports the development and scaling of transformative technologies worldwide.
Incubate Fund
Incubate Fund is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting ambitious entrepreneurs from the early stages of their challenges. They aim to contribute to economic development and create significant social impact through investment in startups. The company goes beyond traditional venture capital by building a support infrastructure that maximizes the growth potential of startups through both capital and human resources.
Japan Airlines Co.
Japan Airlines was founded in 1951 and became the first international airline in Japan. A member of the oneworld® alliance, the airline features 411 cities in more than 60 countries and regions together with its codeshare partners, with a modern fleet of 241 aircraft.
What's next for I-space?
With significant enterprise-level backing and a recent strategic investment, I-space is well-positioned to accelerate its development roadmap and pursue ambitious lunar missions. The company's focus on building a robust lunar ecosystem, from transportation to resource utilization, aligns with global trends in space exploration and commercialization. Future endeavors will likely involve scaling its technological capabilities, forging strategic partnerships, and executing key missions to demonstrate its lander and rover technologies. This sustained capital infusion signals strong confidence in I-space's long-term strategy and its potential to become a leader in the global space economy.
See full I-space company page
