Aroma Bit Receives Additional Capital Investment Funding From Epson X Investment, Kyocera, and TechAccel Ventures
9.2.2021 09:00:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
Aroma Bit, Inc., (Representative Director & CEO: Shunichiro Kuroki, headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo), develops and markets compact odor imaging sensors and various related innovative services, has allocated additional shares to third-parties. The purpose of the funding is to acquire growth funds needed for future functionality enhancements of the company’s compact odor sensors and development of mass production capabilities, business development, and etc. EB-GB Limited Partnership funded by Epson X Investment Corporation (Representative Director: Yasunori Ogawa, headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), Kyocera Corporation (President: Hideo Tanimoto, headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto), and TechAccel investment limited partnership 1 (fund operated by TechAccel Ventures, LLC (Functional Manager: Masatoshi Ohba, headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo)) are the investment partners participating in this new capital investment.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005274/en/
Silicon CMOS type Smell Sensor Development Kit (Product ID: 5C-SSM) (Photo: Business Wire)
Aroma Bit, Inc.: http://www.aromabit.com
Purpose and background of the increased capital investment: Support for acceleration of the compact odor sensors’ mass production and expansion of the digital odor sensing market
Aroma Bit has developed the world’s first compact odor imaging sensor that digitizes odors with visualization patterns from various odor inputs, similar to an animal’s sense of smell. It differs from conventional gas sensors, which can only detect specific substances.
Despite COVID-19, Aroma Bit has seen an increase in business negotiations with customers both in Japan and internationally accelerated by emerging trends such as smart technology, contactless technology, and digital transformation (DX).
Furthermore, the device has a wide range of applications, including the food, agriculture, daily commodities, industrial machinery, mobility, healthcare, robotics, mobile information service, home electronics, and IoT industries. With market applications exceeding initial expectations, there is considerable potential demand for odor digitization using Aroma Bit’s innovative technology.
After this third-party allocation of new shares, Aroma Bit plans to collaborate with major electronic device companies with advanced manufacturing expertise to accelerate development and mass production of compact odor sensor technologies.
Additionally, Aroma Bit plans to strengthen development of new products and services that leverage the company’s proprietary odor databases, and expand its sales and marketing worldwide.
In the future, Aroma Bit will continue to pursue its vision of “Enrich Society by Creating a World where Odors and Aromas are Visualized through Digital Odor Sensing Technology.”
Release of development kit for silicon CMOS compact odor sensors
Aroma Bit launched its silicon CMOS sensor module development kit [5C-SSM-H1] in January of 2021. Those sensors feature 80 elements arranged on a 6 mm x 3 mm silicon chip (5 types of odor-sensitive membrane x 16 elements per membrane). Aroma Bit Silicon Sensor Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of Aroma Bit manages sales for these devices.
With the release of the silicon CMOS odor sensor, Aroma Bit anticipates increased demand in high-volume consumer applications such as mobile devices, mobility, and home electronics, where its other QCM odor sensor use was previously difficult due to factors such as price and usage environment.
About Aroma Bit
Aroma Bit is a company that plans, develops, and sells electronic devices such as compact odor sensors as well as innovative new services that use these devices.
|
[Company Profile] |
||
|
Company name: |
|
Aroma Bit, Inc. |
|
Location: |
|
Sagami Bldg. 2F, 7-13-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
|
Representative: |
|
Representative Director & CEO Shunichiro Kuroki |
|
Established: |
|
February 2014 |
|
Business: |
|
Development, production, and sales of electronic equipment and systems including compact odor imaging sensors |
|
|
|
Planning, development, and sales of products and innovative services that use the sensor products |
|
|
|
Other business related to the above |
|
URL: www.aromabit.com |
||
About Epson X Investment
Epson X Investment Corporation is a Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) firm wholly owned by information equipment and precision instrument manufacturer Seiko Epson Corporation. It established the “EP-GB Investment Limited Partnership” with independent venture capital firm Global Brain Corporation, which has strengths in CVC operations, as general partner and is conducting investment activities.
URL: https://www.epson-exi.com/
Kyocera Corporation (TOKYO:6971, https://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as “advanced ceramics”). By combining these engineered materials with metals and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of industrial and automotive components, semiconductor packages, electronic devices, smart energy systems, printers, copiers, and mobile phones. During the year ended March 31, 2020, the company’s consolidated sales revenue totaled 1.6 trillion yen (approx. US$14.7 billion). Kyocera is ranked #549 on Forbes magazine’s 2020 “Global 2000” list of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.
About TechAccel Ventures
TechAccel Ventures, LLC is a venture capital firm established and operated by Omron, Ricoh, and SMBC Venture Capital. It invests mainly in tech venture companies.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005274/en/
Contact information
[Inquiries regarding this announcement]
Aroma Bit, Inc.
Public Relegations Department (Matsumoto, Osamu)
TEL: +81-3-4455-4609 / Email: info@aromabit.com
Epson X Investment Corporation
Seiko Epson PR & IR Department (Muto, Nobuo)
TEL: +81-266-58-1705 or +81-3-5368-0961 / Email: info@press.epson.co.jp
KYOCERA Corporation
Corporate Communications (Usami, Masaru)
TEL: +81-75-604-3514 / Email: webmaster.cc@kyocera.jp
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
ProcureTEX Returns for Its Second Year, Bringing AI and Best-of-Breed Procurement Technology to Amsterdam14.10.2026 19:26:00 EEST | Press release
ProcureTEX, the community-driven event for best-of-breed procurement technology, returns for its second year on November 3, 2026, at Circa in Amsterdam. Following its London debut in 2025, the event sharpens its focus on how AI is reshaping procurement. It will bring together over 250 procurement leaders and digital transformation teams from large enterprises, with vetted best-of-breed technology providers, to see AI agents and interoperable tools working together on real enterprise challenges. Co-founded by Beroe, Keelvar and Zip, the event is built on the belief that the future of procurement isn’t a monolithic all-in-one suite, but an ecosystem of best-of-breed tools working together. It is designed for procurement and enterprise leaders seeking scalable, modern solutions, whether they’re driving transformation, frustrated with outdated tools, or looking to connect with peers solving similar problems and putting AI to work. Renowned technology analyst and former Andreessen Horowitz
eM Client 11 Launches: A European Outlook Alternative Bringing AI Freedom, Digital Sovereignty, and Next-Generation Productivity14.10.2026 19:16:00 EEST | Press release
eM Client, the European developer of the popular email and productivity application used by millions worldwide, today announced the release of eM Client 11, its most significant update yet. The new version introduces advanced AI capabilities, and major productivity improvements, strengthening its position as an independent alternative to Microsoft Outlook. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014945464/en/ eM Client 11 main window AI Without Vendor Lock-In eM Client 11 introduces a powerful AI Assistant that enables users to search, summarize, organize, and manage emails using natural language. Additional features include personalized AI writing, context-aware quick replies, automatic task and event detection, and AI-powered email rules. Unlike traditional AI integrations, eM Client 11 supports Bring Your Own Key (BYOK), allowing organizations to connect compatible AI providers and models of their choice. The re
iQmetrix and Stratus HR Partner to Give Wireless Retailers a Complete, Outsourced HR Department14.10.2026 18:15:00 EEST | Press release
Stratus HR, a full-service human resources outsourcing provider, today announced a partnership with iQmetrix, the Intelligent Commerce Operating System for telecom. As a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), Stratus HR becomes the complete, outsourced HR partner for wireless retailers on iQmetrix – payroll, benefits, compliance, and on-call HR experts – so retail teams stay focused on selling and serving customers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014178512/en/ Fully integrated with iQmetrix, Stratus HR’s custom-built technology connects the employee lifecycle to the store: new hires, terminations, rehires, position moves, and security-role updates flow straight into the point of sale (POS), while hours flow from the retailer’s iQmetrix system into payroll – eliminating double entry and pay errors, so every paycheck is accurate and every new hire hits the floor faster. Frontline teams get enterprise-leve
New Study Brings Ketogenic Therapy for Bipolar Disorder Directly to Rural Alabama Homes14.10.2026 18:00:00 EEST | Press release
Baszucki Group today announced funding for a clinical study to examine the impact of ketogenic therapy on people living with bipolar disorder in rural Central Alabama. This study, led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Montgomery Regional Campus, will partner with Heart of Alabama Food Bank (HAFB), sourcing Alabama-raised meats and produce to introduce metabolic psychiatry to a region characterized by a high prevalence of serious mental illness and severe shortages in psychiatric care. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014955753/en/ A new study led by Will Rutland of UAB Montgomery and funded by Baszucki Group aims to improve access to psychiatric treatment in rural areas. By partnering with a local food bank, researchers will evaluate both the psychiatric and metabolic effects of ketogenic therapy alongside existing treatment modalities for people with bipol
Ant International Obtains Key Licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE to Support Digital Payments in the AI Era14.10.2026 17:32:00 EEST | Press release
Ant International, a leading global provider of digital payments and financial technology, has secured a Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (Category II) (RPSCS) license and Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), aligning with the UAE’s broader agenda for innovation and digital transformation in the financial sector. “The RPSCS and SVF licenses mark a crucial milestone in Ant International’s efforts to support the UAE’s fintech ecosystem, aligning with the nation’s ‘We are UAE 2031’ digitalisation and fintech strategy,” said Leiming Chen, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of Ant International. “In accordance with the applicable CBUAE regulatory framework, we look forward to launching AI-powered global payment and account solutions to make cross-border payments and financial management more accessible." Obtaining the RPSCS license is an important step towards Antom, a leading merchant payment and digitisation services p
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom