Startup
WHILL
WHILL株式会社
#29 in the Japan Top 100 Startups
| Founded / HQ | 2012 · Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Cumulative raised | ¥19.2B “登記上の払込金額ベースで約192億円” Third-party figure (not company-stated) · as of 2026 · Compalyze (registry-derived) Third-party estimate from registry paid-in capital (includes a ¥2.5B convertible bond converted to equity). Company last stated >¥8B in 2018. |
| Latest public valuation | Not publicly disclosed (we do not estimate) |
| Unicorn | No |
| Website | whill.inc/jp |
From Japanese sources
Findings from Japanese-language filings, government records, trade press, interviews and job posts, with our English analysis. Items tagged Japanese-only had no English coverage when we checked quickly. Most insightful first.
| 2026-08-24 | Regulatory filingJapanese-onlyWHILL converted ¥2.5B of convertible bonds at ¥410/share, about half its last round price WHILL、25億円の転換社債を1株410円で株式化──赤字14.5億円でも純資産が16.5億円へ戻った理由 Registry filings show convertible notes issued in Sep–Oct 2025 converted into E1 shares at ¥410. The D/E rounds were priced at ¥810, a level unchanged since 2019. That implies a fully diluted value of about ¥27.1B, around 46% below the Series E level, while FY3/2026 still lost ¥1.45B. An undisclosed down round in effect. Source: Compalyze (statutory notices + commercial registry) |
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Overview
WHILL designs personal electric mobility devices, power wheelchairs styled as everyday vehicles, and runs sharing services for airports and other venues. Founded in 2012 by Satoshi Sugie, it has released a series of models from Model A in 2014 to Model R in 2024. Its 2018 Series C of about ¥5B brought cumulative funding above ¥8B at the time.
Built from: Company page
Company timeline
Founded
| Date | 2012-05· WHILL company page |
|---|---|
| Founders | Satoshi Sugie |
Funding
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead / key investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-05 | Series B | ¥1.925B 19.25億円 | FIRST CVC | |
| 2018-09-18 | Series C | ≈¥5B; cumulative >¥8B 約50億円 | WHILL release (PR TIMES) | |
| 2022-05-17 | Strategic | Undisclosed Woven Capitalからの資金調達 | Woven Capital | Company release (PR TIMES) |
Key hires & board
None compiled yet.
Milestones
| 2014 | ProductModel A launched· WHILL |
|---|---|
| 2024 | ProductModel R launched· WHILL |
| 2026-08-03 | ProductLong-life high-capacity battery launched· PR TIMES |
| 2026-08-19 | TractionOkinawa Churaumi Aquarium adopts WHILL· PR TIMES |
| 2026-08-31 | TractionSingapore Changi Airport adopts WHILL autonomous service· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-01 | TractionA-Z supermarkets in Kagoshima adopt WHILL· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-03 | ProductLaunches carbon folding WHILL Model C Lite· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-07 | TractionYunosato Ikemori ryokan adopts WHILL, first in Toyama· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-30 | TractionWHILL white paper: 1 million autonomous airport rides· PR TIMES |
| 2026-10-02 | TractionHimawari care facility adopts WHILL, first in Tokai· PR TIMES |
News
| 2026-10-02 | Himawari care facility adopts WHILL, first in Tokai 東海地域の老人保健施設で初！愛生館グループ運営の「ひまわり」、免許不要の近距離モビリティ「ウィル」を本格導入· PR TIMES |
|---|---|
| 2026-09-30 | WHILL white paper: 1 million autonomous airport rides WHILL社、WHILL自動運転サービスに関する白書を公開：累計利用100万回突破で見えてきた、国際空港における移動支援の新しい形· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-08 | WHILL exhibits new models at H.C.R. 2026 WHILL社、新型機種と「H.C.R. 2026国際福祉機器展＆フォーラム」に出展· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-07 | Yunosato Ikemori ryokan adopts WHILL, first in Toyama 富山県内初！ユニバーサルツーリズムを積極推進する温泉旅館「湯の里いけもり」で近距離モビリティ「ウィル」移動サービス導入· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-03 | Launches carbon folding WHILL Model C Lite WHILL社、カーボン素材で折りたためる高性能な近距離モビリティ「WHILL Model C Lite」発売· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-01 | A-Z supermarkets in Kagoshima adopt WHILL 九州のスーパーマーケットでは初！免許不要の近距離モビリティ「WHILL」を鹿児島県のスーパーマーケット「A-Z」3店舗に同時導入· PR TIMES |
| 2026-08-31 | Singapore Changi Airport adopts WHILL autonomous service “世界一”シンガポール・チャンギ国際空港でWHILL自動運転サービス採用· PR TIMES |
| 2026-08-25 | Haneda service area expands to Terminal 1 north satellite WHILL自動運転サービス、羽田空港第1ターミナル北側サテライト施設まで運行エリアを拡大· PR TIMES |
| 2026-08-19 | Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium adopts WHILL 水族館では全国初！沖縄美ら海水族館で近距離モビリティ「ウィル」導入· PR TIMES |
| 2026-08-03 | Long-life high-capacity battery launched WHILL社、航続性能を強化した長寿命・大容量バッテリーを発売· PR TIMES |
| 2026-07-08 | Exhibits at Nenrin Pic Tokyo tech experience WHILL社、ねんりんピック東京大会に向けた「ねんりん×テクノロジー」先端技術体験会に出展· PR TIMES |
| 2026-07-06 | Joetsu Myoko sightseeing with WHILL クルマ×近距離モビリティのシームレス移動で広がる上越妙高の新しい観光体験！駅すぐの商業施設フルサットで免許不要の「ウィル」貸出サービス導入· PR TIMES |
| 2026-06-22 | Selected as GREEN×EXPO 2027 personal mobility provider WHILL社、GREEN×EXPO 2027で「会場内パーソナルモビリティ」提供事業者に採択· PR TIMES |
| 2026-06-16 | WHILL service starts in Kurashiki Bikan district 歴史情緒あふれる町並みが残る倉敷美観地区で、免許不要の近距離モビリティ「ウィル」移動サービス開始· PR TIMES |
| 2026-06-15 | WHILL rental at Haneda Terminal 2 到着後すぐに借りられて、快適な観光へ！免許不要の近距離モビリティ「ウィル」貸出サービス、羽田空港第2ターミナルでも提供開始· PR TIMES |
| 2026-06-11 | WHILL sightseeing service in Kochi 四国最多のクルーズ寄港地・高知の観光客受け入れ体制を強化！市中心部で免許不要の近距離モビリティを活用した観光サービスを開始· PR TIMES |
| 2026-06-04 | WHILL autonomous trial starts at Heathrow 世界主要ハブ空港・ヒースロー空港でWHILL自動運転サービスが実証開始· PR TIMES |
| 2026-06-03 | WHILL rental at Fukushima memorial park 福島県復興祈念公園で免許不要の近距離モビリティ「ウィル」の貸出開始· PR TIMES |
| 2026-05-14 | WHILL rental at Ise-Shima barrier-free tour centre 日本が誇る観光地のアクセシビリティ強化の一環！伊勢志摩バリアフリーツアーセンターで近距離モビリティのレンタル開始· PR TIMES |
| 2018-09-18 | Series C: ≈¥5B; cumulative >¥8B· WHILL release (PR TIMES) |
Founder profiles: Satoshi Sugie
Funding rounds in 2026
No 2026 rounds in our database yet. Earlier funding is summarised above from the cited source.