[GMO AI & Robotics / GMO Various Robotics] Participating as Ecosystem Partners in 'Physical AI Thinka', an Entrepreneur Support Program Run by Firstlight Capital
GMO AI & Robotics and GMO Various Robotics have partnered with Firstlight Capital's 'Physical AI Thinka' program. They will support startups by providing access to the GMO Humanoid Lab in Shibuya and offering a zero-initial-cost robot rental service.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 11, 2026 at 00:25 (3h 25m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 03:37 (219h 12m after Collected)
GMO AI & Robotics, Inc. (Representative Director and President: Tomohiro Uchida, hereinafter GMO AIR), which handles the social implementation of AI and robotics, and GMO Various Robotics, Inc. (Representative Director and President: Daichi Yoshizawa, hereinafter GMO Various Robotics) will participate as ecosystem partners on April 9, 2026, in "Physical AI Thinka," an entrepreneur support program specializing in the physical AI domain operated by Firstlight Capital, Inc. (Representative Director: Osamu Iwasawa, hereinafter Firstlight), to provide support for humanoid startups.
As part of the support, selected startups will be able to utilize the development and verification environment using real robots at the "GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom," one of Japan's largest (*1) physical AI research and development centers opened by the GMO Internet Group in Cerulean Tower, Shibuya. In addition, through the robot rental service for startups, they can use expensive latest robots with zero initial cost on a monthly fee basis.
As a result, selected startups will no longer need to secure dedicated facilities, and will be able to conduct proof-of-concept experiments of their technologies and make proposals to customers while keeping initial investments down, such as avoiding robot purchase costs amounting to tens of millions of yen.
(*1) One of the largest in Japan in terms of area, number of models, and number of manufacturers. According to our own research (as of April 9, 2026)
**[Background and Purpose]**
With the evolution of AI and robot technology, the need for automation is rapidly increasing in a wide range of industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors. On the other hand, in the physical AI domain, the high cost of robot bodies and the lack of real-machine verification environments have become major factors hindering the business growth of startups.
In response to these challenges, the GMO Internet Group views this evolution as the "second half of the internet revolution" and positioned 2026 as "Humanoid Year One," opening the research and development center "GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom." (*2)
Through this program, by opening the "GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom" to external startups as well, we aim to form a core base for physical AI development in Japan.
(*2) April 7, 2026 [First in Japan] GMO Internet Group Opens "GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom," Japan's Largest Large-Scale R&D Center Dedicated to Humanoid Robots in Area, Number of Manufacturers, and Models
**[About "Physical AI Thinka"]**
As part of the support, selected startups will be able to utilize the development and verification environment using real robots at the "GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom," one of Japan's largest (*1) physical AI research and development centers opened by the GMO Internet Group in Cerulean Tower, Shibuya. In addition, through the robot rental service for startups, they can use expensive latest robots with zero initial cost on a monthly fee basis.
As a result, selected startups will no longer need to secure dedicated facilities, and will be able to conduct proof-of-concept experiments of their technologies and make proposals to customers while keeping initial investments down, such as avoiding robot purchase costs amounting to tens of millions of yen.
(*1) One of the largest in Japan in terms of area, number of models, and number of manufacturers. According to our own research (as of April 9, 2026)
**[Background and Purpose]**
With the evolution of AI and robot technology, the need for automation is rapidly increasing in a wide range of industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors. On the other hand, in the physical AI domain, the high cost of robot bodies and the lack of real-machine verification environments have become major factors hindering the business growth of startups.
In response to these challenges, the GMO Internet Group views this evolution as the "second half of the internet revolution" and positioned 2026 as "Humanoid Year One," opening the research and development center "GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom." (*2)
Through this program, by opening the "GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom" to external startups as well, we aim to form a core base for physical AI development in Japan.
(*2) April 7, 2026 [First in Japan] GMO Internet Group Opens "GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom," Japan's Largest Large-Scale R&D Center Dedicated to Humanoid Robots in Area, Number of Manufacturers, and Models
**[About "Physical AI Thinka"]**