Startup
SSkyDrive
株式会社SkyDrive
#6 in the Japan Top 100 Startups
| Founded / HQ | 2018 · Toyota, Aichi |
|---|---|
| Equity raised to date | ≥ ¥43B “累計資金調達額は430億円超” Company-stated cumulative · as of 2025-07 · SkyDrive |
| Last round | 21 Aug 2026 · Undisclosed · Undisclosed - |
| Latest public valuation | Not publicly disclosed (we do not estimate) |
| Key investors | Suzuki, JR East, JR Kyushu |
| Unicorn | No |
| Website | skydrive.co.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.
| 2026-04-15 | Regulatory filingJapanese-onlySkyDrive's statutory accounts: FY12/2025 net loss ¥5.03B, total assets down 38% 株式会社SkyDrive 第8期決算公告 The FY2025 notice shows a net loss of ¥5.03B, an accumulated deficit of ¥8.67B, and total assets down 38% to ¥7.89B. That is a short runway for an eVTOL maker still working toward certification. It explains the steady stream of smaller strategic raises (for example Resona AM) and the 2026 management reshuffle. Source: Kanpō financial notice (via 官報決算データベース) |
|---|
Overview
SkyDrive is developing a compact electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (a 'flying car') for short urban hops, and is working toward Japanese type certification. Its SD-05 is built at a Suzuki group plant, and partners such as JR East, JR Kyushu and Kansai companies are planning routes and vertiports, with plans in Korea and Taiwan too. The business model is selling aircraft and enabling operators' air-taxi services, aiming at commercial service around 2028. It has raised more than ¥43B in total (including grants and loans), most recently ¥8.3B in July 2025.
Built from: Newsroom · 2025 funding release
Company timeline
Founded
| Date | 2018-07· SkyDrive |
|---|---|
| Founders | Tomohiro Fukuzawa |
Funding
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead / key investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-08-28 | Debt | ¥3.9B 39億円 | PR TIMES | |
| 2022-09-26 | Series C | ¥9.6B (cumulative ≈¥14.7B) シリーズCラウンドで総額96億円 | Suzuki | SkyDrive |
| 2024-01-10 | Funding | Undisclosed スズキ株式会社よりの追加資金調達を実施 | PR TIMES | |
| 2024-08-27 | Series C (additional) | ≈¥8B cumulative additional シリーズC追加調達額は累計約80億円 | SkyDrive release | |
| 2025-07-04 | Pre-Series D | ¥8.3B 総額83億円 | Suzuki, JR East, JR Kyushu | SkyDrive |
| 2026-08-21 | Funding | Undisclosed SkyDrive、りそなアセットマネジメントからの資金調達を実施 | PR TIMES |
Key hires & board
| 2026-08-14 | HireFormer Airbus Japan president Stéphane Ginoux joins SkyDrive as adviser· PR TIMES |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | LeadershipManagement structure strengthened for global expansion· SkyDrive |
Milestones
| 2024-03 | ManufacturingSD-05 production starts at a Suzuki group plant· SkyDrive release |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-25 | PartnershipSkyDrive, Air India and Suzuki assess medical-logistics flying-car routes in India· PR TIMES |
| 2026-08-28 | RegulatoryMeets Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration on type certification· SkyDrive |
| 2026-09-17 | OverseasMOU with Korea’s Verty to start service in Korea by 2028· SkyDrive |
| 2026-09-17 | PartnershipSkyDrive signs MoU with Korea's Verty aiming to start service in 2028· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-24 | ProductSkyDrive unveils flying-car airframe design concept· PR TIMES |
| 2026-09-25 | AwardMinister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award, Japan Startup Awards 2026· SkyDrive |
| 2026-09-25 | RecognitionSkyDrive wins MLIT Minister's Award at Japan Startup Awards 2026· PR TIMES |
| 2026-10-06 | PartnershipJoint study with MUFG Bank and Kansai companies on commercial service in Kansai· SkyDrive |
| 2026-10-06 | PartnershipSkyDrive and Kansai firms including MUFG Bank begin joint study on commercial flying-car service· PR TIMES |
News
Founder profiles: Tomohiro Fukuzawa
Funding rounds in 2026
Amounts are the full announced figure. Grey amounts aren't counted in equity totals. † includes debt, grants or other non-equity (hover for detail).
| Date | Company | Stage | Amount | Investors | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Aug 2026 | SSkyDrive | Undisclosed | — | Resona Asset Management | Industrial Software |