Galdieria Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tadashi Tanimoto) aims to establish a circular economy and improve the global environment by developing the microalgae Galdieria. In light of this mission, the company has successfully raised a total of approximately 250 million JPY through a third-party allocation of shares to existing shareholders and new investors. In addition to this fundraising, the company is pleased to announce its selection into the Deep Tech Startup Support Program (PCA Phase) by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. Galdieria will receive approximately 300 million JPY in development funding through this program. With the newly acquired funds, the company plans to establish a new plant to enhance Galdieria’s production capacity, commercialize precious metal adsorbents, enter the food industry, and recruit talented individuals to support these activities.

[Overview of Fundraising]
Amount Raised: Approximately 250 million JPY
Fundraising Methods: Third-party allocation of shares, J-KISS-type new stock subscription rights
Participants in Fundraising (Abbreviated Titles):

[Existing Shareholders]
Miyako Capital
Individual Investors
[New Investors]
Environmental Energy Investment

[About NEDO’s Deep Tech Startup (DTSU) Support Program]
NEDO’s Deep Tech Startup Support Program focuses on innovative technologies that require long-term research and development and substantial funding to establish, commercialize, and implement. These technologies are expected to contribute to solving economic and societal challenges on a national and global scale, such as carbon neutrality, resource recycling, and economic security. The program provides support for research and development and commercialization in three phases.

[Use of Funds]
With the funds raised, the company plans to expand production capacity to a level suitable for food applications through the establishment of a new plant. It also aims to enhance its sales capabilities in the urban mining industry, improve research and development capabilities, and recruit personnel. The company intends to pursue the following goals:

Increase cultivation capacity and finalize the commercialization of precious metal adsorbents. It aims to establish a cultivation system capable of producing 10,000 liters per tank, building on its previous experience of 1,000 liters per tank.
Process Galdieria cultivated and harvested into suitable forms for use as precious metal adsorbents.

[Comment from Tadashi Tanimoto, CEO of Galdieria Co., Ltd.]
“With the mission of establishing the optimal ecosystem for the Earth and all living beings, our company has been conducting research and development on the sulfuric acid hot spring microalgae Galdieria since its founding in 2015. Over eight years, we have achieved highly efficient, low-cost mass cultivation through high-density cultivation of the world’s highest standard. Additionally, by utilizing the unique properties of Galdieria’s cell wall, we have developed a precious metal adsorbent with high sensitivity, selectivity, and low environmental impact that cannot be achieved with existing technologies. We are in the final stages of commercialization through more than 10 Proof of Concept (POC) projects both domestically and internationally, aiming to apply it to urban mining (precious metal recycling) and natural mining, as well as to identify and establish extraction methods for substances with excellent functions in food and other applications. We have obtained eight patents both domestically and internationally and have applied for more than 10 additional patents. Through this fundraising, we will establish a new plant to ensure a stable supply to our customers, launch the urban mining business, and strengthen our sales capabilities, including personnel enhancement. Regarding the use of Galdieria in food applications, we will work on comprehensive business planning and product development. In addition to acquiring success stories domestically, we will also expand into international markets. We would like to express our gratitude to Miyako Capital, existing investors, Environmental Energy Investment, and NEDO for their continued support through the SUI (Entrepreneurship Candidate Support Program) and STS (Research and Development-based Startup Support Program/Commercialization Support for Seed-stage Research and Development-based Startups) programs since our founding.”

[Comments from Accepting Parties]
[Mr. Hiroaki Okahashi, Partner/President & CEO of Miyako Capital Co., Ltd.]
“Miyako Capital has made additional investments in Galdieria following our Series A investment in 2020. Galdieria’s precious metal adsorbent, developed through the cultivation of algae, represents a groundbreaking technology that allows for the recycling of precious metals using biomass, unlike traditional chemical products. This investment will enable Galdieria to achieve production capacity suitable for commercialization, bringing it much closer to practical business applications. Therefore, we will continue to actively support Miyako Capital’s efforts, including facilitating collaboration between academia and industry, business development, and international expansion.”

[Mr. Kenyoshi Hosoya, Director/ Energy & Environment Investment, Inc.]
“We have been closely following Galdieria as a venture that is challenging high-density cultivation of the intriguing microalgae called Galdieria. Not only have they surpassed the hurdle of high-density cultivation, but they have also demonstrated the utility of their precious metal adsorbent. Moreover, the potential for applications in the food and cosmetics fields is promising. We invested in Galdieria in this Series B round, anticipating the realization of resource recycling using the potential of algae and contributing to the circular economy, improving the global environment, and addressing food-related issues. We will utilize our network to provide full support to Galdieria.”

[Recruitment Information]
To expand its business and promote research and development, the company is recruiting research positions such as researchers and research team leaders. They welcome applications from individuals who want to apply their expertise to address global challenges.

Recruitment Information: https://galdieria.com/recruit/

Members of the Tsurumi Lab are looking forward to your applications.

[About Miyako Capital Co., Ltd.]
Miyako Capital is an independent venture capital fund management company that supports investment in research and development startups and collaboration between academia and industry. Since its establishment in 2013, Miyako Capital has invested in and supported 53 companies through three funds, including the operation of the Kyoto University Collaborative VC Fund, with a total operating amount of approximately 22 billion JPY.

Company Name: Miyako Capital Co., Ltd.
Representative: President & CEO, Partner, Hiroaki Okahashi
Headquarters: 2F, International Science Innovation Building, Kyoto University, 36-1 Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606-8501
Established: September 26, 2013
URL: https://miyakocapital.com/

[About Energy & Environment Investment, Inc.]
Environmental Energy Investment Co., Ltd. is Japan’s only venture capital specializing in the environmental and energy fields. Established in 2006, the company has been investing in and supporting venture companies in the environmental and energy-related services and technology sectors.

Company Name: Environmental Energy Investment Co., Ltd.
Representative: President, Shuichiro Kawamura
Address: 5-11-1 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022, Japan
Established: March 3, 2006
URL: https://ee-investment.jp/

[About Galdieria Co., Ltd.]
Galdieria Co., Ltd. is dedicated to solving global societal challenges by conducting research and development on the microalgae Galdieria, which inhabits acidic hot springs. Galdieria possesses exceptional cultivation capabilities, even when compared to other microalgae, and leverages its ability to adsorb precious metals acquired through survival in extreme conditions. This technology is used for safe and efficient precious metal recycling in urban mining, as an alternative to mercury still used in natural mining, and in the food industry for high-quality ingredient production. Through these efforts, Galdieria aims to contribute to achieving a circular economy, improving the global environment, and addressing food-related issues.

Company Name: Galdieria Co., Ltd.
Representative: CEO, Tadashi Tanimoto
Headquarters: 2-4-2-709 Nihonbashi-Hamacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0007, Japan
Tsurumi Lab: 106, Leading Venture Plaza 2nd Building, 75-1 Onocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa 230-0046, Japan
Capital: 146,850,010 JPY
Established: October 1, 2015
URL: https://galdieria.com/