Toyota Research Institute

Woven by Toyota exists to transform the future of mobility through cutting-edge software and innovation. As Toyota's mobility technology subsidiary, the company is driving the evolution of mobility to enhance safety, peace of mind, fulfillment and opportunity for all. By combining Toyota's decades of manufacturing expertise with modern software capabilities, Woven by Toyota develops next-generation technologies that will help Toyota deliver the safest, most intelligent mobility experiences and lifestyle for customers everywhere. The company's vision extends beyond traditional automotive software - Woven City serves as a real-world test course and living laboratory at the base of Mt. Fuji, designed to explore innovations in mobility, sustainability, and urban life. This 175-acre smart city enables the trialing of autonomous driving, robotics, and AI technologies in a controlled environment. Through the Arene platform, a state-of-the-art software development platform, Woven by Toyota is building the foundational technology stack that will power future Toyota and Lexus vehicles, accelerating Toyota's transformation into a mobility company that moves people, goods, and information more safely and efficiently.

The heart of Japan: the Tokai region. Here, we have some of the nation’s leading research institutions. A fertile ground for generating groundbreaking ideas. And world-class manufacturing companies renowned across the globe. By connecting these assets, we aim to create innovations that will transform the world. To bring exceptional technologies and ideas born in universities and startups into society as powerful businesses, our professional team supports everything from business launch to self-sustained growth.

XRC Labs runs programs that bring together entrepreneurs, investors, brands and retailers to foster rapid innovation and unlock new opportunities in retail. We select startups that are positioned to create significant change in the retail or consumer goods industries. Startups receive capital, mentoring, operational support, and exclusive access to a prestigious network of entrepreneurs, investors, and seasoned industry leaders. They graduate from XRC Labs with solid business plans and a priceless new network. Mission Our mission is to foster companies and products that innovate the face of retail and consumer goods fulfillment in a rapidly changing marketplace using design thinking as a key driving process. Vision The XRC Labs vision is to be at the forefront of change, disrupting the conventional system of supply chain, promoting the best experience for consumers and producers, and creating an ecosystem that matches partners for success. At XRC We… Embrace sustainability so the Earth we leave to future generations is a better place than when we inhabited it Advocate for moderate consumption to promote a flight to quality and legacy - less is more, for a longer period of time Endorse economic well-being that fosters a global improvement in the economic condition of participants in the global economy Demand integrity, honesty, and fairness in our internal and external relationships Recognize and nurture excellence in people, technology and products Mentor the next generation of innovators Share and exchange ideas in an open forum to generate new solutions Encourage solutions from multiple sectors, applied to retail and consumer products Why It Matters Design really matters. Consumers are buying products and shopping at omnichannel stores that deliver a great experience. Disruptive companies are more likely to be founded by designers than by hard-core technologists. Even though the retail world still dwarfs ecommerce in size it will be more and more influenced by software and great design. The old bricks vs. clicks question isn’t relevant anymore. Customers want a single, well-designed experience for the products they use and the shops they visit, both online and offline. The facts speak for themselves: 71 percent of consumers want access to in-store inventory when shopping online 50 percent of consumers expect to buy online and pick up in-store Nearly 50 percent of in-store retail sales are influenced or start online, representing nearly $2 trillion in commerce An omnichannel, ubiquitous, and well-designed experience is the new norm. As companies like Warby Parker, Bonobos, and Athleta demonstrate, an online experience is not sufficient for many customers. Customers expect a common, branded, and engaging experience, everywhere. The new rule is: one brand, one experience. Despite the size of the opportunity, both building a brand online and selling to retail offline is really hard. The brand has to engage, resonate, and compel people to buy, immediately. And yet the needs of each channel – online, mobile, offline – are very different. New entrants into consumer and retail markets need specialized expertise and light-speed innovation. Failing hyperfast and nanosecond reinvention are just table stakes.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Toyota Ventures is Toyota’s first standalone early-stage venture capital firm. Through the Toyota Ventures Frontier Fund, we invest in artificial intelligence, autonomy, mobility, robotics, cloud technology, smart cities, digital health, fintech, energy, and materials. As part of Toyota’s ongoing efforts to accelerate carbon dioxide reduction, we also invest in startups that are creating scalable solutions for carbon neutrality, as part of the Toyota Ventures Climate Fund. We are on a mission to explore what’s next by helping early-stage startups bring disruptive technologies and business models to market quickly. As we pursue this goal, we are committed to finding and funding the best entrepreneurs from around the world. We value different approaches and points of view, and believe diversity drives innovation. How we work Leveraging the deep technical expertise and global resources of Toyota, our team offers Toyota Ventures portfolio companies strategic support and operational guidance in business development, product, fundraising, marketing, executive coaching, and other areas. We are also dedicated to embracing and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within our portfolio and the larger VC industry through efforts like the Diversity VC Standard. The entrepreneurs who partner with us receive much more than money. Their success is our success, and we support them at every step of their journey - while giving them the freedom and flexibility they need to experiment and grow their businesses. We look for both financial returns and strategic value, and firmly believe that financial returns must precede strategic value. We look for innovators who have the courage, humility, and tenacity to tackle important challenges we have yet to solve. It’s the same spirit of innovation that inspired Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda and his team to devote themselves to transforming Toyota from a loom maker to an automotive manufacturer in the 1930’s. And it is this same vision that continues to drive Toyota today. If you are the founder of an early-stage company developing solutions in other areas we invest in and you’re looking for funding, you are also invited to complete our online pitch form. For those who are seeking growth-stage capital, we encourage you to visit our colleagues at Woven Capital, the growth-stage investment fund of Woven Planet.

We’ve invested in hundreds of companies throughout over a decade of experience, creating products that have generated billions in enterprise value. Need an operating partner for your seed-stage startup? Our unique launch & scale playbook makes us the best partner for founders at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey, driving them towards sustainable success. Product: Ensure your product is not only functional but also irresistible to users Engineering: Empower your product with innovative technology solutions Admin & Finance: Optimize your financial strategy for sustainable growth HR & Talent: Build with you exceptional teams and foster workplace creativity Business Development: Open strategic doors and forge alliances to accelerate your growth Fundraising / M&A: Connect you with investors and successfully manage fundraising Legal: Protect your company and overcome obstacles with our expert legal advice Business Operations: Optimise your operations to allow a focus on growing the startup

Black Dog Institute (BDI) is Australia’s leading mental health research institute focused on prevention and treatment of mental disorders. With deep domain expertise in mental health, BDI is now pioneering the first venture capital fund in Australia addressing mental health with evidence-based new ventures – Mind Ventures. Importantly, Mind Ventures is first and foremost a for-profit VC fund. The fund’s architecture has been guided by AirTree Ventures and the Mind Ventures team will be co-located at their office.