nat (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: 劉 栄駿; hereinafter nat ) has completed a third-party allotment of new shares totaling 500 million yen, with DEEPCORE serving as the lead investor and TOPPAN Holdings Co., Ltd., Dual Bridge Capital, and Hirotaka Matsuoka, among others, as subscribers.
■Challenges That nat Solves
Until now, when people wanted to document spaces or job sites with precise measurements, the only tools that came to mind were a camera and a tape measure. Furthermore, in a business context, this often involved sending multiple experienced staff members to the site to measure every single spot one by one with tape measures and record the results on paper, or to take hundreds of photographs. With such manual, person-dependent documentation methods, it was impossible to avoid missing measurements or photos, leading to time-consuming, low-value-added tasks such as having to return to the site multiple times.Furthermore, when sharing information about a space with internal or external stakeholders, each person in charge relies on traditional tools such as fax, phone, paper, and photographs. However, accurately conveying a three-dimensional space to various parties without discrepancies is difficult, and this has become a clear challenge.
To address this challenge, nat proposed a new spatial recording method nat. To bring this vision to life, in January 2022, we officially released Scanat,” the world’s first 3D scanning app capable of millimeter-level measurement (*1) and curved surface measurement (*2). Since Scanat release, Scanat has been adopted by numerous companies and local governments, and based on feedback from users, we have continuously added new features and made improvements.It has been proven that “Scanat” allows for high-precision site documentation more easily than traditional cameras or measuring tapes, and—since it can even generate drawings—it can be utilized for simulations in BIM software, making it widely adopted across various industries.
(※1) Based on our own research of all 3D scanning apps available on the App Store as of October 2019.
(※2) Based on our own research of all 3D scanning apps available on the App Store as of March 2024.
■Purpose of Fundraising
We will use the funds raised this time to accelerate the development of Scanat.” While launching new business initiatives, we aim to further expand the adoption of our service across various business operations and enhance our market visibility by improving the value we deliver.
■Comments from Investors
DEEPCORE, Senior Director Toshiki Miyake
In industries such as construction and housing, precise and timely measurement and recording are required to visualize on-site progress. However, since the subjects of measurement—such as buildings and topography—are large and complex physical spaces that change over time, carrying out these tasks is extremely inefficient in terms of both labor and cost. Furthermore, labor shortages are exacerbating the problem.
We are confident that our product, Scanat,” offers a solution that will dramatically improve this situation, which is why we have decided to invest in it.This product’s high measurement accuracy and user interface—which thoroughly reduces the burden and stress on users and stakeholders—are the culmination of nat sincere nat, led by Bruce. We are deeply honored to be able to support them. We will do our utmost to support them so that productivity improvements can spread across various fields involving physical spaces.
Mr. Masaru Uchida, Strategic Investment Department, TOPPAN Holdings, Inc.
Scanat is a product built on solid technical expertise and a deep understanding of customer challenges. At the same time, it offers the advantage of being easy to use on devices such as smartphones. We are very pleased to be partnering nat to expand spatial communication.
By integrating with the TOPPAN Group’s services and products, we will contribute to nat business growth while driving the creation of new value.
Shun Ito, Managing Partner, Dual Bridge Capital
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to join nat as an investor.
I believe the company’s business—which aims to expand with measurement as its foundation—will build a platform centered on various “spaces,” starting with residential homes, and become an infrastructure that transforms both business operations and daily life.
By leveraging the expertise and assets of Dual Bridge Capita and the Midas Group, I look forward to supporting the company’s continued growth. I look forward to working with you all!
Hirotaka Matsuoka (Angel Investor, Former Member of the House of Representatives)
During his time as a member of the Diet, he served on the Committee on Economy, Trade and Industry and as Secretary-General of the Police Administration Research Association, dedicating himself to national politics with a focus on fostering new industries and supporting the launch of startups. Currently, while also serving as an advisor to companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and others, he is focusing his efforts on supporting startups as an angel investor.
When I reviewed the details of this project, I was deeply impressed by President Liu’s outstanding problem-solving skills and vision. This service is a groundbreaking solution that accurately addresses on-site challenges and needs. I am confident that it will have a significant impact not only on a wide range of fields, including the construction industry, but also on government operations—such as the activities of the planned Ministry of Disaster Prevention and on-site disaster response efforts. I believe this service will continue to expand in the future, and I look forward to supporting it going forward.
