October 14, 2021

KDDI Corporation

KDDI has invested in TOUCH TO GO, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Tomoki Akutsu; hereinafter "TTG"), which provides retail-oriented labor-saving services that incorporate in-store customer tracking technology and unmanned payment system technology based on unique algorithms. The investment is implemented through KDDI Open Innovation Fund III (operated by Global Brain Corporation; hereinafter "KOIF III"), which aims to incubate new business co-creations with promising venture startups.

TTG aims to stimulate retail sales and distribution by achieving labor-saving operations for stores in micro markets (small-scale commercial areas), where user needs are growing due to social changes such as the shrinking population, declining birth rate, and aging society. TTG already operates its own "TTG-SENSE" convenience store-type unmanned payment system at the Takanawa Gateway train station, and practical implementation is expanding with the adoption of TTG's services by other convenience store and fast food operators.

Through this investment, KDDI will utilize its assets such as 5G in cooperation with TTG to strengthen their labor-saving service products, and will support the expansion of TTG's business by promoting the concept of new shopping experiences based on contactless and unmanned payment systems.

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.

(Reference)

• ■Overview of TTG

  • (1)

    Company name: TOUCH TO GO, Inc.

  • (2)

    Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo

  • (3)

    Date founded: July 1, 2019

  • (4)

    Business activities: Planning, design, development, maintenance, and sales of labor-saving systems and services such as unmanned payment systems

  • (5)

    Representative: Tomoki Akutsu
    URL: https://ttg.co.jp/

• ■About KDDI Open Innovation Fund

  KDDI Open Innovation Fund is a corporate venture fund that supports a broad range of venture companies. The currently active KDDI Open Innovation Fund III focuses on the areas of AI, IoT, data marketing, fintech, B2B SaaS, and entertainment with a total operating fund of 20 billion yen.