ANA HOLDINGS Inc. continues its commitment to pioneering innovation through its “ANA Future Frontier Fund,” with recent investments in two cutting-edge companies: Axelspace Holdings and NearMe Inc. These strategic investments aim to foster growth in both the space technology and mobility sectors.
Axelspace Holdings, a leader in microsatellite development through its subsidiary Axelspace Corporation, has made significant strides in the space industry. Founded in 2008, the company has developed, launched, and operated ten microsatellites, including a technology demonstration satellite for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Axelspace provides two core services: AxelGlobe, an Earth observation platform that offers high-frequency satellite imagery, and AxelLiner, a one-stop service that simplifies and streamlines microsatellite development for clients through a proprietary project management system.
The “ANA Future Frontier Fund” will acquire shares of Axelspace Holdings, acknowledging its expertise and innovative contributions to space technology. Dr. Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace Holdings, leads the company’s highly skilled team of microsatellite experts. ANA and Axelspace aim to co-create new value in the aviation and space industries by leveraging their combined strengths in technology and services.
In addition to space technology, ANA’s venture fund is expanding its reach into mobility innovation with a new investment in NearMe Inc., a Tokyo-based company founded in 2017. Specializing in ride-sharing services, NearMe focuses on solving mobility challenges through sustainable and efficient transportation solutions. Notably, its airport shuttle service has seen a massive growth in users, increasing from 300,000 to over 850,000 in the past 18 months.
NearMe’s collaboration with ANA’s Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) initiative, “Travel CUBE,” demonstrated its capability to improve transportation efficiency by maximizing idle assets and resources. Led by President Koichiro Takahara, NearMe’s focus on solving regional transportation issues has been key to ANA’s decision to invest in the company.
With these investments, ANA seeks to promote open innovation and foster groundbreaking solutions in both space and mobility, creating value that goes beyond traditional aviation services. ANA HOLDINGS Inc., recognized globally for its excellence in service and sustainability, continues to expand its influence into emerging industries, positioning itself as a leader in the future of technology-driven transportation and exploration.