Graphenary Co., Ltd., Creating a New Semiconductor Industry with Graphene Optical Devices, Raises 240 Million Yen in Seed Round
Graphenary Co., Ltd., a deep-tech startup from Keio University, has secured approximately 240 million yen in seed funding led by SBI Investment. The company aims to accelerate the commercialization of graphene optical devices that operate on semiconductors, targeting fields like opto-electronic convergence and sensing.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 03:11 (17h 39m after Collected)
Graphenary Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Rii Hirano), which aims to develop and manufacture graphene light sources and optical devices capable of operating on semiconductors, has announced the completion of a seed round funding of approximately 240 million yen. The round was led by SBI Investment Co., Ltd., with participation from Keio Innovation Initiative, Mobile Internet Capital Co., Ltd., Mizuho Capital Co., Ltd., Fidea Capital Co., Ltd., and DEEPCORE Inc.
Graphenary will use these funds to further accelerate talent acquisition and technical development, moving full-scale toward the world-first practical application of graphene optical devices.
[Business Overview]
Graphenary Co., Ltd. was established in October 2024 based on the research results of Professor Hideyuki Maki of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University, with the aim of commercializing the new material, graphene. Graphene is one of the most famous cutting-edge materials in the nanotechnology industry, winning the Nobel Prize in 2010 for its potential in electronics, communications, materials, and healthcare. In collaboration with Keio University, the company has successfully developed graphene optical devices by merging its unique graphene technology with advanced optical device expertise. The company is advancing its business toward the practical implementation of pioneering infrared light sources for semiconductors, analytical sensing, and the 'opto-electronic convergence' devices expected in data centers. Through this business, Graphenary aims to bring innovation to the rapidly evolving fields of semiconductors, telecommunications, AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
[Purpose of Funding]
In the year and a half since its founding, Graphenary has progressed in developing graphene optical devices, including infrared sources, and has built analytical technologies through collaborations with corporate partners. Furthermore, the company is expanding into the field of opto-electronic convergence, which has gained attention recently. This funding was executed to accelerate development, acquire talent, and strengthen the management foundation for global practical application. Graphenary aims to create a new semiconductor industry driven by graphene optical devices and cause social transformation through expansions into analysis, sensing, bio-medical, telecommunications, and opto-electronic convergence fields.
[Hideyuki Maki (Founder)]
"Currently, as semiconductors, opto-electronic convergence, AI, and bio-healthcare are designated as national strategic technologies, we believe our graphene optical device technology will become an innovative new technology in these fields. Based on the strong belief that startup power is indispensable for commercializing world-changing technologies, I launched Graphenary in October 2024. This funding is meant to establish a new semiconductor industry from Japan and promote all-Japan industrialization and global expansion involving industry, academia, government, and finance. Technical innovation is progressing rapidly, but semiconductor performance cannot keep up with this explosive development, leading to various social issues. We aim to solve these global human problems with graphene optical devices."
[Comments from Investors]
Ryuki Suzuki, Assistant Manager, Investment Dept., SBI Investment Co., Ltd.:
"Graphenary has the potential to sublimate the innovative material graphene into optical devices that can operate on semiconductors, providing new value that could not be reached through extensions of existing technologies. We believe their technology will become a crucial piece of the next-gen semiconductor industry, expanding from infrared sources for sensing to silicon photonics and opto-electronic convergence."
Ryo Otake, Principal, Keio Innovation Initiative (KII):
"KII has been supporting Graphenary since before its founding through the KSIP program. When I first heard of this project, I saw that their unique graphene optical device technology would bring innovation to the semiconductor domain, especially in optical analysis and opto-electronic convergence."
Graphenary will use these funds to further accelerate talent acquisition and technical development, moving full-scale toward the world-first practical application of graphene optical devices.
[Business Overview]
Graphenary Co., Ltd. was established in October 2024 based on the research results of Professor Hideyuki Maki of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University, with the aim of commercializing the new material, graphene. Graphene is one of the most famous cutting-edge materials in the nanotechnology industry, winning the Nobel Prize in 2010 for its potential in electronics, communications, materials, and healthcare. In collaboration with Keio University, the company has successfully developed graphene optical devices by merging its unique graphene technology with advanced optical device expertise. The company is advancing its business toward the practical implementation of pioneering infrared light sources for semiconductors, analytical sensing, and the 'opto-electronic convergence' devices expected in data centers. Through this business, Graphenary aims to bring innovation to the rapidly evolving fields of semiconductors, telecommunications, AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
[Purpose of Funding]
In the year and a half since its founding, Graphenary has progressed in developing graphene optical devices, including infrared sources, and has built analytical technologies through collaborations with corporate partners. Furthermore, the company is expanding into the field of opto-electronic convergence, which has gained attention recently. This funding was executed to accelerate development, acquire talent, and strengthen the management foundation for global practical application. Graphenary aims to create a new semiconductor industry driven by graphene optical devices and cause social transformation through expansions into analysis, sensing, bio-medical, telecommunications, and opto-electronic convergence fields.
[Hideyuki Maki (Founder)]
"Currently, as semiconductors, opto-electronic convergence, AI, and bio-healthcare are designated as national strategic technologies, we believe our graphene optical device technology will become an innovative new technology in these fields. Based on the strong belief that startup power is indispensable for commercializing world-changing technologies, I launched Graphenary in October 2024. This funding is meant to establish a new semiconductor industry from Japan and promote all-Japan industrialization and global expansion involving industry, academia, government, and finance. Technical innovation is progressing rapidly, but semiconductor performance cannot keep up with this explosive development, leading to various social issues. We aim to solve these global human problems with graphene optical devices."
[Comments from Investors]
Ryuki Suzuki, Assistant Manager, Investment Dept., SBI Investment Co., Ltd.:
"Graphenary has the potential to sublimate the innovative material graphene into optical devices that can operate on semiconductors, providing new value that could not be reached through extensions of existing technologies. We believe their technology will become a crucial piece of the next-gen semiconductor industry, expanding from infrared sources for sensing to silicon photonics and opto-electronic convergence."
Ryo Otake, Principal, Keio Innovation Initiative (KII):
"KII has been supporting Graphenary since before its founding through the KSIP program. When I first heard of this project, I saw that their unique graphene optical device technology would bring innovation to the semiconductor domain, especially in optical analysis and opto-electronic convergence."