[Press Release] Tohoku University-Affiliated Startup 3DC Raises 580 Million Yen in Pre-Series A Second Close

-Utilizing the total 830 Million Yen raised in Pre-Series A to bolster manufacturing capabilities-

3DC Inc. (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture; CEO: Takuma Kuroda, CSO: Hirotomo Nishihara), a company dedicated to the development, manufacture, and supply of innovative carbon materials ‘Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS)’ to accelerate battery evolution, announced that it has successfully raised 580 million yen in Pre-Series A second close between March and May 2024 through a third-party allotment with Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Takuro Kojima), ANRI Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Partner: Anri Samata) , Takasago Industry Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toki City, Gifu Prefecture; President: Tatsuya Suzuki), and others.

This brings the total raised in the Pre-Series A round to 830 million yen, with cumulative funding, including various grants, reaching 1.48 billion yen.

With the funds raised in our latest round of financing, 3DC is advancing the construction of manufacturing systems for “Conductive Additive GMS,” a conductive additive for lithium-ion batteries that utilizes our GMS. This initiative aims to improve the performance of existing lithium-ion batteries, with the goal of increased capacity, higher power and longer life.

■List of Investors (in no particular order, titles omitted)

• Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.  (Mitsubishi UFJ Capital IX, Limited Partnership)
• ANRI Corporation (ANRI-GREEN Investment Fund Limited Partnership No.1)
• Takasago Industry Co., Ltd.
• Sony Innovation Fund
• KSP, Inc. (NextG Investment Limited Partnership)
• CBC Co., Ltd.
• Akatsuki Inc. (Dawn Capital No.1 Investment Limited Partnership)
• SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (SMBC Venture Capital No. 7 Investment Limited Partnership)

■Purpose of Fundraising

As we strive for a sustainable society, the field of decarbonization has received considerable attention. Electrification of society is recognized as a key strategy to achieve decarbonization, and lithium-ion batteries play a pivotal role in this. Due to their compact size and longevity compared to other secondary batteries, lithium-ion batteries are critical to the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) and the expansion of renewable energy solutions. However, to truly realize a decarbonized society, further improvements in lithium-ion battery performance are needed.

Since the invention of lithium-ion batteries, extensive research has been (and continues to be) conducted to improve their performance, such as (but not limited to) increasing the amount of electricity they can store per charge. However, improving certain aspects often leads to compromises in other aspects, creating a persistent dilemma in battery research. GMS, developed by 3DC, is designed to help overcome these trade-offs.

In lithium-ion batteries, a material known as a conductive additive must be blended to be in contact with the active material to improve electrode conductivity. Since its inception, 3DC has been actively engaged in the research and development of conductive additive GMS for use in lithium-ion batteries. As a result, we have seen promising developments of ‘Conductive Additive GMS’, prompting us to pursue a full-scale manufacturing system with this new round of fundraising.

■Future Developments

Data has shown that the integration of Conductive Additive GMS into lithium-ion battery electrodes can solve the traditional trade-offs and significantly improve their performance. 3DC’s goal is to use ‘Conductive Additive GMS’ to fundamentally improve the capabilities of lithium-ion batteries, thereby creating batteries that make a significant contribution to a carbon-neutral society.

■What is GMS ?

GMS is a unique ‘three-dimensional graphene’ material, possessing a sponge-like structure with a thickness of just one carbon atom. Its most remarkable feature is its physical compliance, allowing it to elastically deform like rubber and easily adapt to the intense structural changes (swelling) associated with battery charging and discharging. 3DC is the sole developer of such a ‘elastically deformable carbon material’ globally. In addition to its flexibility, GMS also possesses porosity, conductivity and corrosion resistance due to its material and structure. These multiple superior properties make GMS an innovative material that is globally recognized for potentially solving the trade-off problem in lithium-ion batteries, where improving capacity often leads to detrimental effects of other properties.

■What is ‘Conductive Additive GMS’ ?

This product is a special version of GMS tailored for use as a conductive additive in lithium-ion batteries. 3DC’s ‘Conductive Additive GMS’ features a unique structure that efficiently forms high conductivity paths, enabling performance enhancement of high-voltage, high-rate cathodes and silicon-based anodes expected to achieve high energy density. This is achieved even with a lower addition rate than traditional conductive additives such as carbon black or carbon nanotubes.

■Comments from Investors

<Tanoshi Kikuchi (Deputy General Manager, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.)>
We are thrilled to have participated in 3DC’s funding round. 3DC is a highly impactful DeepTech startup that significantly enhances battery longevity and performance. We believe their innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize the entire battery industry, bringing widespread benefits. Moving forward, we are committed to leveraging MUFG’s resources to support 3DC’s continued growth and success.

<Yuta Motoshima (Principal, ANRI Corporation)>
This time, we were able to have many investors participate in the second close! Battery development is a long-term industry that cannot be achieved by one company alone. Not only investors but also business partners and researchers’ supporters are steadily increasing, and we are truly looking forward to the future. Let’s combine the strength of many people to deliver new batteries from Japanese technology to the world!

<Tatsuya Suzuki (President, Takasago Industry Co., Ltd.)>
3DC’s GMS is an innovative 3D structured carbon material that has excellent features not found in existing carbon materials, making it a groundbreaking material expected to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries and next-generation batteries. The company has been requested to provide samples by many domestic and international companies, and its future activities are highly anticipated. We are pleased to have the opportunity to be involved in the innovations brought about by GMS, which is attracting attention from around the world. We are confident that it will deliver excitement and growth.

<Kazuhito Hadano (CEO, Sony Ventures Corporation)>
3DC’s GMS, a new carbon material developed by the company, is expected to improve performance and longevity when used as a conductive additive in batteries, demonstrating its potential as a material. As battery demand continues to increase, we will support the company’s further development and growth.

<Tomohiro Otsuki (Incubation Manager, KSP, Inc.)>
We participated as a shareholder in 3DC, which was highly evaluated in the ‘Kawasaki Deep Tech Accelerator’ support program implemented by Kawasaki City and our company. We will strongly support the company, which fundamentally enhances the sustainability of storage devices with its electrically and mechanically superior materials.

<Jiro Ieda (Executive Officer, CBC Co., Ltd.)>
Like the pickaxe during the Gold Rush and GPUs in the era of generative AI, I am confident that 3DC’s innovative carbon material will become an indispensable key material for next-generation batteries and future industries. We are very excited to participate in this opportunity to once again showcase Japan’s presence in the materials field to the world through this investment. As a business partner of 3DC, we will fully support the social implementation of GMS.

<Yoshinori Yanagisawa (Dawn Capital Senior Associate)>
Lithium-ion batteries, widely used in electric vehicles and home appliances, are indispensable in supporting our daily lives. 3DC’s GMS is not only capable of improving battery performance but also extending their lifespan, making it an excellent battery material from a sustainability perspective. We believe in the team’s ability to create a product that will contribute to a major global industry from Japan. We are committed to providing our full support! Let’s achieve global success together!

<Junya Yasuda (General Manager, SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd.)><Hayato Magome (Manager, SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd.)>
As the world moves towards a sustainable society and electrification progresses, there is a growing demand for advanced carbon materials that can enhance battery performance. In this context, 3DC’s GMS stands out with its unique properties that differ from conventional materials, holding significant potential to accelerate battery innovation. We anticipate that GMS will become a crucial infrastructure supporting the lives of people worldwide. As part of the SMBC Group, we are committed to supporting this challenge to the fullest extent possible.

■Comments from Takuma Kuroda (CEO, 3DC Inc.)

The lithium-ion battery and materials industry has been a challenging frontier, with only a few startups worldwide successfully establishing a foothold. It is an extremely difficult endeavor. However, I believe that there is no other market with such a valuable untapped potential to contribute to the future of the world from Japan. It is a great honor to have the support of so many investors for this high-stakes yet critical venture. Together with our outstanding team, exceptional investors, and wonderful stakeholders, we are determined to create a business that will deliver immense value to the world!

■About 3DC Inc.

3DC is a venture company spun out of Tohoku University dedicated to the development of a new carbon material called Graphene MesoSponge (GMS). This innovative material is intended for use in the electrodes of essential energy storage and generation devices, such as lithium-ion batteries, next-generation batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells, which are critical for a decarbonized society.

3DC is actively collaborating with domestic and international battery manufacturers, battery material producers, capacitor manufacturers, and automotive OEMs to demonstrate the capabilities of GMS in preparation for full-scale market entry after 2026. The data collected to date, particularly for lithium-ion batteries, has demonstrated advantages over existing products, resulting in significant interest from battery manufacturers.

In January 2024, 3DC successfully raised 250 million yen in the first close of its pre-Series A funding round. Subsequently, in February 2024, we began shipping ‘Conductive Additive GMS‘, which enhances the performance of lithium-ion batteries, and are now vigorously preparing to establish a full-scale manufacturing system.

3DC is also conducting joint research with Yokohama National University, Osaka University and Konan University, in addition to Tohoku University. In the future, we plan to expand our collaborative research network to further demonstrate the effectiveness of GMS using cutting-edge university technologies.

Our long-term goal is to realize a society that is kind to both the environment and people, in which GMS plays a vital role in every aspect of electrical energy storage and use.

■Join Our Team!

3DC is on the lookout for individuals eager to join us in our mission towards achieving a decarbonized society. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute in the areas of “Battery Application Research,” “Materials Analysis,” “Technical Sales,” and “Business Development.”

If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us through the following channels:

Recruitment Form: https://www.3dc.co.jp/recruit/
Email: info@3dc.co.jp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3dc-inc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3dcinc

<Company Info>
Name: 3DC Inc.
Head office：Material Solutions Center 203 Laboratory, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, MIyagi Prefecture
Founders：Takuma Kuroda (CEO), Hirotomo Nishihara (CSO)
Established：February, 2022
URL：https://www.3dc.co.jp/en
Main Business：Development and manufacturing of carbon materials

<Contact Info>
Web:  https://www.3dc.co.jp/en/contact/
E-mail：info@3dc.co.jp

If you are interested in more information about GMS, joint research with 3DC, or an R&D job at 3DC, please feel free to contact us!!