March 19, 2021

KDDI Corporation

On March 3, 2021, KDDI invested in fermata inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Amina Sugimoto; hereinafter "fermata"), which is engaged in the business of solving and supporting women's wellness issues, through the "KDDI Open Innovation Fund III" (Operator: Global Brain Corporation, hereinafter "KOIF III"), which aims to co-create new businesses with promising startup companies.

fermata is engaged in "FemTech", which uses technology to solve women's health issues. fermata sells a wide range of products related to menstruation, pregnancy, and sexual wellness through the "fermata store", the world's first online store dedicated to FemTech, and its physical store in Nogizaka, Tokyo. In addition, fermata has obtained a Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) license to sell cosmetics and medical devices. They also sell FemTech products developed by overseas companies, as well as provide support for product development and market entry to overseas startup companies aiming to sell their products in the Japanese market. Furthermore, fermata is actively working to vitalize the FemTech market by making proposals to the Parliamentarians for the Promotion of FemTech, established in 2020, for the development of regulations and new standards.

Through this investment, KDDI will provide a variety of assets to support fermata's expansion of its customer base and business growth, as well as explore with fermata business development aimed at resolving women's health issues that have often been overlooked, with the aim of realizing and promoting women's social activities and their wellbeing.

As "the company that customers feel closest to," KDDI will continue to promote business co-creation through investment in promising startup companies, and create new business models together with customers and partners.

MUGENLABO Magazine
The Future of FemTech: Shifting Stereotypes from Taboo to Excitement - fermata inc.

(Reference)

• 1. About fermata

  • (1)

    Company name: fermata inc.

  • (2)

    Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

  • (3)

    Established: October 2019

  • (4)

    Business activities: Sales of FemTech products, creation and operation of communities to share wellness issues, and support for the FemTech market

  • (5)

    CEO: Amina Sugimoto
    URL: https://www.hellofermata.com/

• 2. About KDDI Open Innovation Fund

  The KDDI Open Innovation Fund is a corporate venture fund that provides broad support for startup companies. Currently active, KDDI Open Innovation Fund III has a total investment scale of approximately 20 billion yen, and focuses on entertainment, home, IoT, big data, financial technology, and other areas.