Kyoto University and University of Tokyo both participated in a series B round for the artwork-focused blockchain technology developer.
Startbahn, a Japan-based developer of blockchain technology to certify the authenticity of art pieces, has raised ¥1.12bn ($10.5m) in a series B round backed by Kyoto University and University of Tokyo.
The two institutions participated through respective venture capital arms Miyako Capital and University of Tokyo Edge Capital (Utec).
The round also included broadcaster TBS’s Innovation Partners, real estate software producer Ops, ISGS Investment Works and private investors Yoshihisa Nakano, Miwa Taguchi and Seiichiro Yamamoto.
Startbahn has created technology called Cert that relies on an IC tag attached to artwork to prove its authenticity, restoration and appraisal history, and to allow it to be traced.
The tag has a purported lifecycle of 200 years and its data is also stored on the blockchain in case it is damaged. The tag is irreparably when it is peeled off from an artwork to prevent it from being attached…
Thierry Heles
Thierry Heles is the editor of Global University Venturing, host of the Beyond the Breakthrough interview podcast and responsible for the monthly GUV Gazette (sign up here for free).
