Toho Acetylene Co., Ltd. Invests in 3DC, Inc. to Accelerate Mass Production of Next-Generation Carbon Material "Graphene MesoSponge®" and Business Collaboration in the Battery Sector

2026-03-30 | 3DC, Inc. (hereinafter "3DC" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has raised a total of 370 million yen in the second close of its Series A round, receiving an investment through a third-party allotment of shares from Toho Acetylene Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture; President: Hidetoshi Horiuchi; hereinafter "Toho Acetylene").

Background of the Investment This investment was realized based on the regional connection between companies headquartered in Miyagi Prefecture, with the goal of accelerating efforts toward the social implementation of new materials in the next-generation battery sector.

3DC is a startup originating from Tohoku University, headquartered in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, that aims to mass-produce the next-generation carbon material "Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS)" invented at Tohoku University, and is working to create new industries centered on material technology. Meanwhile, Toho Acetylene Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture, has supported the development of regional industry for many years through its industrial gas business.

As companies based in the same Miyagi Prefecture, both firms share the philosophy of creating new industrial value from the region to the world. With this investment as a catalyst, the companies will explore the potential for collaboration regarding the advancement of material development and manufacturing processes, while further promoting initiatives for the social implementation of next-generation battery materials.

Regarding the use of these funds, as with the Series A 1st and 2nd closes, the capital will be allocated to: (1) construction of a mass-production factory and capital investment through the expansion of the pilot plant in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture; (2) research and development of battery materials and data-driven applications; (3) strengthening of human resources and product supply systems, as well as deepening overseas partnerships. Following this Series A round, 3DC's cumulative equity financing has reached 2.84 billion yen, and cumulative grants received have reached 2.81 billion yen, totaling 5.65 billion yen.

Use of Proceeds ● Capital investment for the construction of a mass-production factory ● Various research and development for the establishment of a GMS mass-production process (ton-scale) ● Strengthening of the global supply system for GMS for customer evaluation and commercialization ● Expansion of R&D personnel and deepening of overseas partnerships, etc.

Comments from the Investor Toho Acetylene Co., Ltd. President Hidetoshi Horiuchi 3DC's GMS is a groundbreaking material capable of realizing higher efficiency, longer life, and improved safety for batteries, and we have high expectations for its future potential. Our company has contributed to the local community through industrial gas. Gas is an essential element in material manufacturing and battery production processes, and it is deeply involved in the sophistication of manufacturing processes and quality improvement. With this investment as a starting point, we will further strengthen our collaboration with 3DC to promote research and development, while actively working to expand our business into existing and growth sectors.

About Toho Acetylene Company Name: Toho Acetylene Co., Ltd. Representative: Hidetoshi Horiuchi Established: March 1955 Headquarters: 2-3-32 Sakae, Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture Business Description: [High-pressure gas related]... Dissolved acetylene, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and other gases [LPG related]... Liquefied petroleum gas, home appliances [Industrial equipment related]... Welding materials, welding and cutting tools, containers [Medical related]... Medical gases, medical equipment, medical gas piping construction [Ice machine related]... Ice machines, various ice storage and transport equipment [Espuma related]... Food-grade gas, beauty/hairdressing gas, Espuma Website: https://www.toho-ace.co.jp/

About GMS GMS is a "three-dimensional graphene" material that has a sponge-like 3D structure with a thickness of one carbon atom. Because it is an innovative material that combines multiple excellent properties such as flexibility, porosity, electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance, it is attracting global attention as a carbon material that can resolve the trade-off problem in batteries where "improving capacity causes other characteristics to decline."

About 3DC Company Name: 3DC, Inc. Representatives: Takuma Kuroda, Hirotomo Nishihara Established: February 2022 Headquarters: Tohoku University, Center for Innovative Materials and Research, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture Kawasaki Office: AIRBIC A38 & A4, Shin-Kawasaki Creation Forest, 7-7 Shinkawasaki, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Business Description: Development, manufacturing, and sales of carbon materials Website: https://www.3dc.co.jp/ja Contact Form: https://www.3dc.co.jp/ja/contact Email: info@3dc.co.jp