Raises an additional ¥150 Million in Series A funding
―Strengthening Financial Foundations and Expanding Connection with Financial Institution Networks―
MetroWeather Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Uji City, Kyoto; President and CEO: Jun-ichi Furumoto; hereinafter “MetroWeather”) develops and manufactures 3D wind measurement product (Doppler LiDAR*1) that visualize gusts and turbulence in real time—essential data for the safe and secure operation and takeoff/landing of drones and flying vehicles.
Metro Weather has raised a total of 150 million yen in funding through a third-party allocation of shares in its Series A Extension Round. The investment was made by four venture capital firms: SENSHU IKEDA CAPITAL CO.,LTD. (Head Office: Osaka, Osaka; President: Ko Tanaka), OKASAN CAPITAL PARTNERS Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative and CEO: Atsushi Fujino), Resona Capital Co.,Ltd. (Head Office: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Represetative: Naoya Aihara), and Kyoshin Social Capital Co.,Ltd. (Head Office: Kyoto, Kyoto;
Representative Director and President: Takehiro Kunimoto). This brings the total Series A funding to 1.2 billion yen.
The funds raised in this round will be used to strengthen the development structure for expanding use cases, particularly the application of Doppler LiDAR technology to detect suspicious drones and other objects. Additionally, the funds will support the expansion of Metro Weather’s business development capabilities in the United States, where the drone market is expected to grow rapidly.
The Doppler LiDAR developed by MetroWeather is gaining rapid attention not only for its ability to visualize wind conditions in real-time and in three dimensions, but also for its potential application in detecting suspicious drones and other airborne objects. It is increasingly expected to serve as essential infrastructure in a drone-centric society.
Furthermore, with the recent capital participation from financial institutions, Metro Weather aims to further strengthen collaboration with regional financial institutions. In addition to financial support such as loans to reinforce its financial foundation, the company will accelerate business development by leveraging a broad network of financial institutions to promote strategic partnerships.
MetroWeather’s Doppler LiDAR emits harmless infrared laser beams into the atmosphere, targeting microscopic airborne particles. By receiving the reflected signals, it enables three-dimensional measurement of wind direction and speed within a radius of 10 to 15 kilometers. These technologies were adopted by NASA in 2021 and have been deployed at NASA’s drone testing fields starting this fiscal year.
In light of recent developments such as the use of drones in warfare—particularly in the context of the conflict in Ukraine—there has been a rapid global increase in demand for solutions capable of detecting suspicious drones, which are difficult to identify using conventional systems. This trend reflects both the strengthening of global defense systems and a heightened awareness of security at the civilian level. MetroWeather aims to address these emerging societal challenges by leveraging Doppler LiDAR as a new solution.
By utilizing its core signal processing technology—designed to extract weak signals—and its technical resources, MetroWeather will continue to provide essential infrastructure for a safe and secure air mobility society.
Note 1: Doppler LiDAR is a product that measures wind conditions by observing frequency shifts caused by the Doppler effect.