February 23, 2026 | 3DC Inc. (“3DC” or the “Company”) announced the successful completion of its Series A second closing, raising JPY 370 million from strategic and financial investors. This brings total Series A funding to JPY 2.82 billion, including JPY 1.82 billion in equity and JPY 1.00 billion in grants. Building on its August 2025 announcement, 3DC will accelerate the launch of the world’s first mass-production facility for Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS) and strengthen collaboration with its new shareholders to drive mass-scale production and business growth.
■ Purpose of this funding
3DC successfully completed its Series A first closing in August 2025 with the objective of commercializing Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS), a next-generation carbon material invented at Tohoku University. Following the fundraising, the company has commenced construction of the world’s first mass-production facility for GMS in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture. In parallel with the construction of the manufacturing plant, 3DC has begun supplying GMS samples to a wide range of domestic and international battery manufacturers. These evaluations are primarily focused on applications in high-power and high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, where GMS’s unique structural and electrical properties are expected to deliver significant performance improvements.
To rapidly establish a stable mass-production system for GMS and accelerate its adoption in commercial applications, 3DC recognizes the critical importance of strengthening its supply chain, including raw material procurement, as well as further advancing its production and application technologies. In particular, the integration of GMS with other high-value battery materials is expected to be a key driver of customer value. To address these challenges, the company has been actively engaged in discussions with a broad range of stakeholders regarding potential strategic collaborations.
Deep-tech startups are often confronted by the so-called “Valley of Death,” a phase in which the transition from technological innovation to commercialization presents significant financial and operational challenges. While proprietary core technologies provide a strong competitive advantage, validating their performance at scale and establishing mass-production capabilities typically require substantial capital investment and extended development timelines. Through this funding round, 3DC aims to overcome these barriers by forming strategic capital partnerships with leading industry players and promoting close technical collaboration, thereby accelerating both the mass production and practical application of next-generation carbon materials.
The proceeds from this financing will be allocated in line with the objectives of the Series A first closing, with a focus on:
(1) the construction of a mass-production plant and capital investment through the expansion of the pilot facility in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture;
(2) research and development of advanced battery materials and data-driven applications; and
(3) the strengthening of human resources, product supply systems, and international partnerships.
Following this financing, 3DC’s cumulative equity funding has reached JPY 2.84 billion, while cumulative grant funding totals JPY 2.81 billion, bringing total funding to JPY 5.65 billion.
Funds proceeds
· Capital investment for the construction of a mass production plant
· Research and development activities for GMS mass production
Strengthening the global supply system for GMS
Expanding R&D personnel and deepening overseas partnerships
■ Investors (Alphabetical Order)
Nippon Carbide Industries Co., Ltd.
TOAGOSEI CO., LTD.
ZER01NE Ventures (Advanced Technology Exploration Investment Vehicle of Hyundai Motor Group, Korea)
ASIZAWA FINETECH LTD.
Fidea Capital Co., Ltd. (CVC of Fidea Holdings Co., Ltd.)
■ Comments from Investors
NIPPON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES CO., INC. [Representative Director President ] [Takahisa Sugiyama]
We consider it highly meaningful to participate in 3DC’s Series A 2nd close. The Graphene Mesosponge (GMS) developed by 3DC is an innovative next-generation carbon material with the potential to further enhance battery performance, and we believe 3DC’s initiatives will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
Under our medium-term management plan, “NCI Kirari 2025,” we are working to create new growth opportunities through investments in strategic market sectors, and this investment is positioned as part of that initiative. Going forward, we will continue our dialogue with 3DC and jointly explore the possibilities for the social implementation of next-generation materials.
Toagosei Co., Ltd. [President, COO and Representative Director] [Hidenori Kobuchi]
We are truly pleased to participate in the mass production project of the next-generation carbon material “Graphene Mesosponge® (GMS),” which 3DC is undertaking.
We are confident that the development and mass production of GMS, a material expected to be highly innovative, will make a significant contribution to improving performance and extending the lifespan of batteries. As the social implementation and market adoption of GMS accelerate further, we anticipate even greater global industrial impact from this Japan-originated advanced material.
In support of 3DC’s challenge to bring new value to industries around the world, Toagosei will cooperate in various ways to help drive business growth and foster innovation.
Ashizawa Finetech Ltd. [President and Representative Director] [Atsuhiro Kato]
We deeply resonate with your philosophy of “contributing to the future of the world through materials originating from Japan.” We are convinced that the uniqueness and scalability of GMS hold significant potential to bring transformative change to industries worldwide.
We are proud to take part in this challenge together and will strongly support the further development of GMS and your company’s continued growth through our particle engineering technologies.
FIDEA CAPITAL Inc [Representative Director] [Yoshihisa Kitano]
3DC is a rare startup that boldly takes on the significant societal challenge of improving next-generation battery performance, leveraging its globally distinctive Graphene Mesosponge technology. We highly value the company’s material design capabilities, its business vision with a clear path toward mass production, the depth of its technical validation through industry-academia collaboration, and the leadership driving these initiatives.
We are confident that 3DC will establish a new standard in the battery industry, and we will provide our long-term support for its continued growth, albeit in a modest capacity.
■ About GMS
GMS is a "three-dimensional graphene" material with a sponge-like three-dimensional structure that is only one carbon atom thick. As an innovative material that combines multiple excellent properties such as flexibility, porosity, conductivity, and corrosion resistance, it is attracting global attention as a carbon material that can resolve the "trade-off problem where another property deteriorates when capacity is improved" in batteries.
■ 3DC company profile
Company Name: 3DC Inc.
Representatives: Takuma Kuroda and Hirotomo Nishihara
Established: February 2022
Headquarters: 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (Advanced Material Research and Development Center for Industry-Academia Collaboration, Tohoku University)
Kawasaki Office: AIRBIC A38 & A4, 7-7 Shinkawasaki, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture (Shinkawasaki Sozo no Mori District)
Business Activities: Development, manufacturing, and sales of carbon materials
Website: https://www.3dc.co.jp/ja
Contact Form: https://www.3dc3DC.co.jp/ja/contact
