# Closer

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/closer

- Industry: Industrial Machinery
- Headquarters: Tsukuba-shi, Japan
- Website: www.close-r.com
- Total disclosed funding: $0.7M
- Latest round: Seed (May 10, 2023)
- Investors on record: 2

## About

Based in Tsukuba, Japan, and founded in 2021, Closer, Inc. operates as a automation machinery manufacturer that provides robotics-as-a-service (RAAS) using AI robot technology to solve labour shortages and production capacity issues faced by manufacturing sites, mainly in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. The company was co-founded by Shota Higuchi and Nick Sugie. In December 2025, Closer, Inc. raised an undisclosed amount ?in?pre-series A funding led by new investor Angel Bridge, with participation from another new investor Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Returning investor Deepcore also participated in the round. The round was part of a larger JPY 420 million pre-series A and debt funding.

The company plans to use the December 2025 funding for development, manufacturing, sales, after-sales support, enhancement of its business foundation and the expansion of services.

## Funding rounds

- Seed, May 10, 2023, $0.7M — Deepcore, epiST Ventures

## Investors

- Deepcore (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/deepcore) — Seed
- epiST Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/epist-ventures) — Seed