CartFit Selected for Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' FY2026 ICT Startup League; Promotes R&D of Add-on AI Autonomous Driving Kit to Instantly Robotize Existing Carts

Key facts

  • CartFit Selected for Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' FY2026 ICT Startup League; Promotes R&D of Add-on AI Autonomous Driving Kit to Instantly Robotize Existing Carts
  • CartFit Inc. has been selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "FY2026 ICT Startup League" with its research theme on an add-on AI autonomous driving kit to robotize existing carts. This program accelerates startup growth through R&D funding and support. CartFit will leverage this selection to improve the kit's applicability and advance its driving control, contributing to labor saving in transportation operations.
  • Source: PR Times
  • Date: June 13, 2026

Direct answer

CartFit Inc. has been selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "FY2026 ICT Startup League" with its research theme on an add-on AI autonomous driving kit to robotize existing carts. This program accelerates startup growth through R&D funding and support. CartFit will leverage this selection to improve the kit's applicability and advance its driving control, contributing to labor saving in transportation operations.

Citation
CartFit Selected for Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' FY2026 ICT Startup League; Promotes R&D of Add-on AI Autonomous Driving Kit to Instantly Robotize Existing Carts (June 13, 2026), PR Times
Source
PR Times
Date
June 13, 2026
CartFit Inc. has been selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "FY2026 ICT Startup League" with its research theme on an add-on AI autonomous driving kit to robotize existing carts. This program accelerates startup growth through R&D funding and support. CartFit will leverage this selection to improve the kit's applicability and advance its driving control, contributing to labor saving in transportation operations.

📋 Article Processing Timeline

  • 📰 Published: June 13, 2026 at 00:26
  • 🔍 Collected: June 12, 2026 at 15:36
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 16:52 (1h 15m after Collected)
CartFit Inc. (Representative: Sosuke Shimizu, hereinafter "CartFit") is pleased to announce its selection for the "FY2026 ICT Startup League," a startup support program launched in FY2023 based on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Support Program for Exploratory Research and Development of Startups." CartFit's research theme is "An add-on AI autonomous driving kit to instantly robotize existing carts." The ICT Startup League is a program that promotes accelerated growth for startups through R&D funding, mentoring, and media collaboration.

About the ICT Startup League

The ICT Startup League is a startup support program that began in FY2023, initiated by a project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. It operates as a system to foster business growth towards social implementation by providing not only R&D funding but also mentoring and information dissemination support.

About the Selected Theme

CartFit is developing an AI autonomous driving kit that can be retrofitted to existing mobile objects such as dollies and carts. Centered around its proprietary recognition module and control algorithm, the kit enables functional expansions like automatic following, autonomous driving, remote operation, and data collection, aiming to reduce labor in transportation operations and mobile object management in logistics, commercial facilities, airports, and factories.

Instead of completely replacing existing high-cost dedicated robots, CartFit's distinctive feature is its add-on kit, which can be introduced for tens of thousands of yen, allowing for phased functional additions while utilizing vehicles already in use on-site. By adopting a retrofittable design intended for application to a wide variety of existing carts, CartFit aims for more realistic robotics adoption while lowering the introduction hurdle.

Future Outlook

With this selection, CartFit will further advance the robotization of existing carts by improving the applicability of its add-on AI autonomous driving kit, enhancing driving control, and expanding demonstration opportunities across multiple use cases. While considering indoor and outdoor operations and compatibility with diverse mobile objects, CartFit will promote the social implementation of robotics that are easy to introduce on-site, contributing to labor saving in transportation and carrying operations.

About CartFit

CartFit is a startup developing add-on AI autonomous driving technology that intelligently evolves existing mobile objects. Rather than complete replacement with dedicated machines, CartFit aims to provide a new option that achieves labor saving, improved convenience, and enhanced safety by utilizing the carts and dollies currently in use on-site.

Company Overview

Company Name: CartFit Inc.
Representative: Sosuke Shimizu
Business Description: Development of an add-on AI autonomous driving kit for existing mobile objects such as dollies and carts.
URL: https://cartfit.ai/
Location: 5-13-12-702, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Established: April 2026
Keywords:

FAQ

What kind of carts can the CartFit AI autonomous driving kit be retrofitted to?

It is designed to be retrofitted to various existing mobile objects such as dollies and carts, aiming for application to a wide variety of carts.

What is the estimated cost of introduction?

Unlike expensive dedicated robots, it is planned to be offered as an add-on kit introducible from tens of thousands of yen.

In what types of locations can it be used?

It is expected to be utilized for transportation operations in various indoor and outdoor locations, including logistics facilities, commercial facilities, airports, and factories.

What are the benefits of introducing this technology?

Benefits include labor saving in transportation operations, improved work efficiency, reduction of human errors, and enhanced safety.

What kind of company is CartFit?

CartFit is a startup company developing add-on AI autonomous driving technology that intelligently evolves existing mobile objects.