News

JIC Venture Growth Investments (VGI) has acquired the share in NearMe Inc.(NearMe) through its JIC Venture Growth Fund 1 (VGF1).

NearMe aims to contribute to regional revitalization by providing a platform to realize a sustainable and vibrant future by matching all the "mottainai" in society with local assets and people's needs. NearMe is currently developing an AI-powered "Smart Shuttle®" that will provide inexpensive "door-to-door" service to destinations by sharing existing cabs, with a focus on airport transfers.

The significance of this investment is not only to promote DX in the cab industry through NearMe to improve worker productivity and reduce environmental impact by increasing cab utilization rates, but also to contribute to regional revitalization by solving local transportation and mobility issues. We hope that NearMe will become the "fourth public transportation system" following railways, buses, and taxis, and solve all kinds of issues related to people's mobility.

The investment will further strengthen NearMe business foundation and further accelerate the development of Smart Shuttle®, thereby helping to revitalize the cab industry as a whole and promote solutions to the mobility issues facing Japanese society.

^{The information contained in this notice is current at the time of publication and subject to change without notice.}