Solaris, Developer of Earthworm-like Pipe Inspection Robot, Raises 500 Million Yen in 5th Round of Funding
Solaris Inc. has raised a total of 500 million yen through a third-party allotment from investors including Spiral Innovation Partners and UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. The company develops 'Sooha', an earthworm-like pipe inspection robot using soft robotics. The funds will be used to develop multiple models and strengthen recruitment, accelerating their growth in the smart maintenance market for small-diameter pipes.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 22, 2026 at 09:32 (47h 0m after Collected)
Solaris Inc. (President and CEO: Toru Ishibashi) has raised a total of 500 million yen through its 5th round of third-party allotment. The investors include Spiral Innovation Partners (via Yucho Spiral Regional Innovation Fund and KRAFTIA Innovation Fund), UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd., Abies Ventures, Mizuho Capital Co., Ltd., Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 114 Kyoso Investment Co., Ltd., and Hiroshima Venture Capital Co., Ltd.
Small-diameter pipes, widely used in factories and social infrastructure, require essential maintenance such as cleaning and inspection. However, many tasks still rely on manual labor, posing urgent challenges compounded by poor working environments and labor shortages.
In response to this issue, Solaris began offering the earthworm-like pipe-inspecting robot Sooha®—the world's only solution utilizing soft robotics—as a RaaS (Robot as a Service) starting in 2025. It is already being utilized in multiple factories. A major domestic semiconductor manufacturer has been using Sooha since February 2026 to achieve 'preventive maintenance' for complex semiconductor equipment piping, aiming for zero sudden troubles and a strengthened production system. (*1)
By utilizing Sooha, the cleaning and inspection of small-diameter pipes are realized. Furthermore, the company aims to implement digital mapping of pipes, visualization of the interior state, and future predictions. By creating a world where pipe conditions can always be monitored digitally, Solaris will solve the challenges faced by many factories and social infrastructure, starting with semiconductor plants.
With this funding, the company will promote the following initiatives:
1. Proceed with the development of multiple models of Sooha to expand applicable environments, such as accommodating larger pipe sizes.
2. Advance business alliances with various domestic and international companies—including sales, construction/maintenance, and manufacturing equipment firms—to expand the business.
3. Hire talented personnel, particularly engineers, to drive these initiatives forward.
Solaris aims to further accelerate its business through this fundraising and become a leading company in the new market of smart maintenance for small-diameter pipes.
Comments from Investors
Spiral Innovation Partners (Associate: Mikito Ishii)
In key industries like semiconductors, the stable operation of production lines and the efficiency of maintenance are critical issues that dictate industrial sustainability. We highly evaluate Solaris's exceptional technological prowess and its alignment with customer needs, as they tackle the difficult task of pipe maintenance—previously reliant on manual labor—with proprietary soft robotics.
'Sooha', which is already being adopted in semiconductor factories, is an effective product that accelerates on-site improvements. Through this investment, we will support the company in resolving unsolved challenges domestically and internationally, establishing a global standard.
UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (Investment Manager: Nako Kawashima)
We decided to invest in Solaris, highly evaluating the experienced management team in robotics as they pioneer the unique market of small-diameter pipe maintenance.
While the trend toward labor-saving is advancing across a wide range of industries, small-diameter pipes remain inaccessible to robots, necessitating manual maintenance. Especially in semiconductor manufacturing, contamination in small pipes can affect production, making it a major issue. Solaris is precisely addressing this problem right now in actual semiconductor factories.
We will strongly support Solaris so that they can become a niche top player in smart maintenance for small-diameter pipes.
Abies Ventures (General Partner: Sota Nagano)
Semiconductors are a core industry supporting national competitiveness, and the advancement and stabilization of their production infrastructure are essential. While pipe cleaning and inspection are indispensable tasks directly linked to continuous production, they still suffer from the structural issue of heavy reliance on manual labor. Solaris's 'Sooha' offers an implementable solution in this area through proprietary technology. The fact that proof-of-concept and adoption are already progressing at major domestic and international manufacturers demonstrates not only technological superiority but also commercial viability.
Through this investment, we will back the company's challenge to support the advancement and stabilization of manufacturing infrastructure, helping Japanese-born technology become a global standard.
Mizuho Capital Co., Ltd. (General Manager, Investment Dept. IV: Yuki Wakikado)
We are very pleased to be able to accompany Solaris's growth through our investment.
'Sooha', which simultaneously achieves cleaning and inspection inside pipes, is a one-of-a-kind technology.
Small-diameter pipes, widely used in factories and social infrastructure, require essential maintenance such as cleaning and inspection. However, many tasks still rely on manual labor, posing urgent challenges compounded by poor working environments and labor shortages.
In response to this issue, Solaris began offering the earthworm-like pipe-inspecting robot Sooha®—the world's only solution utilizing soft robotics—as a RaaS (Robot as a Service) starting in 2025. It is already being utilized in multiple factories. A major domestic semiconductor manufacturer has been using Sooha since February 2026 to achieve 'preventive maintenance' for complex semiconductor equipment piping, aiming for zero sudden troubles and a strengthened production system. (*1)
By utilizing Sooha, the cleaning and inspection of small-diameter pipes are realized. Furthermore, the company aims to implement digital mapping of pipes, visualization of the interior state, and future predictions. By creating a world where pipe conditions can always be monitored digitally, Solaris will solve the challenges faced by many factories and social infrastructure, starting with semiconductor plants.
With this funding, the company will promote the following initiatives:
1. Proceed with the development of multiple models of Sooha to expand applicable environments, such as accommodating larger pipe sizes.
2. Advance business alliances with various domestic and international companies—including sales, construction/maintenance, and manufacturing equipment firms—to expand the business.
3. Hire talented personnel, particularly engineers, to drive these initiatives forward.
Solaris aims to further accelerate its business through this fundraising and become a leading company in the new market of smart maintenance for small-diameter pipes.
Comments from Investors
Spiral Innovation Partners (Associate: Mikito Ishii)
In key industries like semiconductors, the stable operation of production lines and the efficiency of maintenance are critical issues that dictate industrial sustainability. We highly evaluate Solaris's exceptional technological prowess and its alignment with customer needs, as they tackle the difficult task of pipe maintenance—previously reliant on manual labor—with proprietary soft robotics.
'Sooha', which is already being adopted in semiconductor factories, is an effective product that accelerates on-site improvements. Through this investment, we will support the company in resolving unsolved challenges domestically and internationally, establishing a global standard.
UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (Investment Manager: Nako Kawashima)
We decided to invest in Solaris, highly evaluating the experienced management team in robotics as they pioneer the unique market of small-diameter pipe maintenance.
While the trend toward labor-saving is advancing across a wide range of industries, small-diameter pipes remain inaccessible to robots, necessitating manual maintenance. Especially in semiconductor manufacturing, contamination in small pipes can affect production, making it a major issue. Solaris is precisely addressing this problem right now in actual semiconductor factories.
We will strongly support Solaris so that they can become a niche top player in smart maintenance for small-diameter pipes.
Abies Ventures (General Partner: Sota Nagano)
Semiconductors are a core industry supporting national competitiveness, and the advancement and stabilization of their production infrastructure are essential. While pipe cleaning and inspection are indispensable tasks directly linked to continuous production, they still suffer from the structural issue of heavy reliance on manual labor. Solaris's 'Sooha' offers an implementable solution in this area through proprietary technology. The fact that proof-of-concept and adoption are already progressing at major domestic and international manufacturers demonstrates not only technological superiority but also commercial viability.
Through this investment, we will back the company's challenge to support the advancement and stabilization of manufacturing infrastructure, helping Japanese-born technology become a global standard.
Mizuho Capital Co., Ltd. (General Manager, Investment Dept. IV: Yuki Wakikado)
We are very pleased to be able to accompany Solaris's growth through our investment.
'Sooha', which simultaneously achieves cleaning and inspection inside pipes, is a one-of-a-kind technology.
FAQ
株式会社ソラリスはどのような製品を開発していますか？
ソフトロボティクス技術を活用したミミズ型管内走行ロボット「Sooha®」を開発しています。
ソラリス社の直近の資金調達額はいくらですか？
第5回目の第三者割当増資により、総額5.0億円の資金調達を実施しました。
「Sooha」はいつからどのような形態で提供されますか？
2025年からRaaS（Robot as a Service）形式での提供を開始しています。
調達した資金の主な使途は何ですか？
「Sooha」の複数モデル開発、国内外の企業との事業連携、およびエンジニアなどの優秀な人材の採用に活用されます。
「Sooha」はどのような企業で導入されていますか？
国内半導体大手メーカーで、複雑な半導体装置配管の「予防保全」や突発トラブルゼロに向けて2026年2月から導入されています。