Japan-based, medical and nursing care-focused artificial intelligence (AI) technology developer ExaWizards raised ¥1.58bn ($14.7m) today in a series B round that featured recruitment firm Persol and insurer Sompo.
Persol invested through its corporate venturing unit, Persol Innovation, and four other investors also took part in the round, though only public-private partnership Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) was identified.
Founded in 2016, ExaWizards provides AI-powered solutions to Japan’s ageing society and decreasing workforce, applying robotics in areas such as nursing care and medical services.
ExaWizards has also partnered Persol to combine its AI capabilities with the corporate’s human resources knowledge and data.
ExaWizards president and representative director Kou Ishiyama has joined Persol as an adviser, while Persol’s temporary staffing service Tempstaff and career change service Doda will implement the startup’s technology to improve business processes and enhance employee productivity.
The company received $8.4m in March 2018 from Sompo as well as SMBC Venture Capital and MUFG Bank, subsidiaries of financial services firms Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.
VC firms D4V, iSGS Investment Works, Scrum Ventures and Idaten Ventures also participated in the round, as did INCJ.
