MUSE Secures ¥570 Million Funding to Scale Autonomous Retail Robotics Platform

MUSE Inc., the Tokyo-based robotics startup behind the autonomous retail robot Armo, has secured ¥570 million in funding from a diverse group of venture capital firms, corporate investors and financial institutions, underscoring strong investor confidence in its mission to transform physical retail operations through robotic automation. The round marks a major milestone in the company’s growth as it expands commercially and accelerates development of its technology.

Founded in April 2022 by CEO Yasutaka Kasagi, MUSE aims to redefine the in-store experience with Armo, an autonomous, multi-purpose robot designed to assist with tasks ranging from stocking support to data collection and customer engagement. The newly raised capital is earmarked for scaling product deployments with retail partners, strengthening the company’s engineering and commercial teams, and enhancing data analytics capabilities for its platform.

The funding round was backed by a broad consortium of investors spanning venture capital, strategic corporate partners and financial institutions. Among the most prominent participants was Global Brain Corporation, a Tokyo-based venture capital firm with a track record of supporting technology and deep-tech startups across Japan and internationally. Global Brain played a leading role in the round through its innovation investment initiatives.

Several existing investors also deepened their commitment to MUSE. These included Incubate Fund Corporation, a venture capital firm focused on seed-stage technology startups, and XTech Ventures, Inc., which specializes in early-stage investments across emerging digital sectors. Both firms had previously supported MUSE in its early development stages and continued their backing as the company entered its next phase of growth.

The round also attracted participation from strategic and financial investors such as Spiral Capital Corporation, which provides capital and operational support to innovative startups, and Toshiba Tec Corporation, a technology company with a strong presence in retail and point-of-sale solutions. Their involvement reflects growing interest from established corporations in robotics solutions that can modernize store operations.

Additional financial backing came from Mitsubishi HC Capital Co., a global leasing and financial services company, as well as Mizuho Capital Co. and Yamaguchi Capital Co., both of which are active investors in Japan’s startup ecosystem. Venture firm Canal Ventures, Inc. also participated, further diversifying the investor base.

In addition to equity financing, the overall funding package included support from major financial institutions such as Japan Finance Corporation and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., highlighting confidence from lending partners in MUSE’s business model and long-term prospects.

Investor commentary surrounding the funding emphasized confidence in Armo’s ability to address persistent labor shortages in retail while delivering new value through data collection and operational insights. Supporters highlighted the speed at which MUSE has advanced from concept to real-world deployments, as well as the flexibility of its robotics platform for use across different store formats.

Following the funding, MUSE plans to expand pilot programs with retail partners, scale commercial deployments of Armo, and strengthen its internal teams across engineering, sales and customer support. The company also intends to further develop its data and analytics capabilities to help retailers better understand in-store activity and optimize operations.

The successful funding round positions MUSE to pursue broader opportunities, including potential international expansion, as interest in robotics-driven retail automation continues to grow. With strong backing from a mix of venture capital firms, corporate partners and financial institutions, MUSE is poised to play a growing role in shaping the future of technology-enabled retail.