Press release -
Yamaha Motor Invests in U.S. Startup Company Veniam -First Investment Made through New Business Development Subsidiary YMVSV-
IWATA, February 16, 2015- Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 7272) announced today that it has made an investment of 2 million U.S. dollars into Silicon Valley startup company*1 Veniam. This investment represents the first opportunity explored by the subsidiary for new business development Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley Inc. (hereafter “YMVSV”), which began operations in Silicon Valley in August 2015.
Veniam is engaged in service provision and communication hardware development and sale regarding wireless mesh networking※2 that is suited to communication between moving vehicles, and between moving vehicles and stationary objects. Veniam has developed and commercialized algorithms which enable the determination of communication routes in wireless mesh networks for moving vehicles, which has been difficult to achieve to date. It has already begun operations in Portugal etc. mainly with transportation operators, and in addition to communication services, is rolling out its all-in-one solutions business including communication devices, data management, and security.
Yamaha Motor will link to planning and development of new technologies, products, and services related to “connected mobility” through the investment in Veniam.
Moreover, Yamaha Motor will continue to take initiatives through YMVSV which lead to new business model development such as theme exploration/fostering and promotion of commercialization for new business development, and will continue to make proactive strategic investments in promising startup companies.
*1 Startup company: A company in the initial stages since establishment in order to open up new business fields with a new business model
*2 Wireless mesh networking: A lattice (mesh)-shaped communication network formed by wireless devices communicating with each other
Veniam Company Outline
Company Name: Veniam, Inc.
Location: Mountain View, California, U.S.A.
Established: July 2012
Business Operations: Provision of wireless mesh networking services for
moving vehicles, sale of communication hardware, etc.
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Yamaha Motor (TOKYO: 7272) is a world-leading producer of motorcycles, marine products, power products and surface mounters. The company’s diverse business and wide variety of products are built around its proprietary technologies focused on small engines, fiberglass-reinforced plastics and electronic control. Yamaha Motor conducts global development, production and marketing operations through 140 subsidiaries and equity-method affiliates in 30 countries. About 90% of consolidated net sales are generated in more than 200 countries outside of Japan. The company is steadily restructuring its global engineering, manufacturing and marketing capabilities for sustainable long-term growth. Please visit http://global.yamaha-motor.com.
