Japan-based Whill, a start-up company based in Japan specialising in an ultra-modern EV and wheelchair design, has raised $1m in seed funding from Silicon Valley seed investor fund, 500 Startups (Dave McClure); Itochu corporate venturing unit, Itochu Technology Ventures; Eric Kwan (Facebook), Sunbridge Global Ventures, Wingle and other investors, to further develop its prototype vehicle. SunBridge Global Ventures is a Japan-based global seed-accelerator established in January 2012, that was spun off of the investment operations of SunBridge and Wingle is a Japan-based job training company specialising in placements for people with disabilities.
Whill is described as a business that creates and designs next generation personal mobility devices. It won the top award of SVForum’s Launch Silicon Valley held in June 2013 (http://yhoo.it/11idnc8). Thebusiness is now proceeding with product development and plans to launch its initial product in the US market in early 2014.
Whill’s President and chief executive officer Satoshi Sugie said that this round of fundraising provides the start-up with access to a valuable network of world class investors who can help propel the business to the next level.
“We intend to work harder to launch our product in the U.S. and reach a broad range of customers. By creating the next generation of personal mobility devices we aspire to change the world where the disabled and the elderly can get around in a fun and smart way,” said Sugie.