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JIJ Raises US$5.2 Million in Funding Led by Global Brain

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Funding to scale enterprise optimization deployments, advance JIJ’s AI-enabled optimization platform and quantum middleware, and accelerate global expansion

TOKYO, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JIJ Inc. (“JIJ”), developer of a quantum- and AI-enabled optimization platform, today announced that it has raised JPY 840 million, approximately US$5.2 million, in equity financing, with Global Brain Corporation (“Global Brain”) serving as the lead investor. The financing was provided through multiple funds managed by Global Brain[1] and a fund managed by Fujitsu Ventures Limited[2].

JIJ will use the proceeds to advance its AI-enabled optimization platform, expand enterprise deployments of mathematical optimization, develop technologies for gate-based quantum computing, and accelerate its global growth.

[1] GB-VII & GB-VIII Follow-on Growth Fund Investment Limited Partnership, KDDI Open Innovation Fund III, ME Innovation Fund L.P., ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P., and KURONEKO Innovation Fund II L.P.

[2] Fujitsu Ventures Fund LLC.

*The US-dollar amount is provided for reference only and is based on an exchange rate of JPY 161 per US$.

Why JIJ Is Positioned to Scale

JIJ has developed more than 60 use cases across energy, manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, logistics, and other sectors. Its core strength lies in understanding real-world operational constraints, translating them into computable mathematical models, and implementing solutions for ongoing use in business operations.

Through its JijZept software suite, JIJ supports the optimization lifecycle from problem formulation and development to execution and continuous improvement. Its development tools, solvers, and execution environments help organizations expand the use of optimization across more business functions.

JIJ is building a technology foundation to support optimization across classical and emerging quantum computing environments.

The company also develops open-source technologies, including OpenJij for combinatorial optimization and Qamomile, an open-source quantum programming language. Alongside these efforts, JIJ is developing middleware through a Japanese government-backed research and development program administered by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). JIJ also participates in quantum industry ecosystems including Q-STAR, the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC), and UKQuantum.

Use of Proceeds

JIJ will use the proceeds to advance research, engineering, and product development across AI, mathematical optimization, and quantum computing. The funding will also support the expansion of its technical and business development teams as the company scales the adoption of its technologies across industries and global markets.

Advancing JijZept AI

Launched in beta in early 2026, JijZept AI is evolving into a cloud-based AI agent service for mathematical optimization. Its AI-assisted modeling capabilities and dedicated sandbox environment enable AI agents to carry out an iterative process of defining requirements, building mathematical models, and running numerical experiments based on user requests.

JIJ also provides an SDK that gives access to the solvers and file system within JijZept AI, enabling integration with AI agents running in users’ local environments. The service will also support quantum programming. Ahead of its official release, JIJ will continue expanding its capabilities to address current mathematical optimization problems while supporting research and development for future applications of quantum technologies.

Scaling Enterprise Deployment of Mathematical Optimization

Across a wide range of industries, companies need to make high-quality planning, allocation, and control decisions under increasingly complex constraints.

JIJ will strengthen its ability to deploy mathematical optimization solutions across more business functions and organizations. By expanding its support beyond research and development projects, the company aims to accelerate the practical adoption of optimization technologies.

Developing Middleware for Gate-Based Quantum Computing

Building on Qamomile and its broader work in quantum software, JIJ is developing infrastructure for gate-based quantum computing.

Putting quantum computing into practical use will require more than advances in algorithms and hardware. It will also require a software layer that connects quantum computers with high-performance computing environments and classical optimization technologies.

JIJ will continue combining cutting-edge research with implementation expertise, strengthening its work on gate-based quantum computing and advancing practical applications of hybrid quantum-classical computing in industry.

Expanding Globally

JIJ established its UK subsidiary, JIJ Europe Ltd., in 2025 and its German subsidiary, JIJ GmbH, in 2026. The company also began scaling its business activities in the United States in 2026.

In Europe, JIJ is working with local partners and research institutions on both practical applications of optimization technologies and research and development projects in quantum technology. Building on a team with diverse nationalities and areas of expertise, JIJ will accelerate its growth across Europe, the United States, and other international markets.

Strengthening Technical and Business Development Teams

JIJ will expand its research and engineering teams across quantum computing, mathematical optimization, and software engineering. It will also strengthen its business development capabilities to connect advanced technologies with industrial challenges and create new business opportunities.

The company will continue recruiting people who can contribute to both advanced research and practical implementation, strengthening the organization needed to bring quantum and mathematical optimization technologies into wider use.

Comment from Yu Yamashiro, Founder and CEO of JIJ

“Since JIJ was founded, we have worked at the intersection of quantum computing and mathematical optimization to address complex challenges across industries. Technologies developed through our research are now being deployed in day-to-day enterprise operations, and we believe this financing reflects confidence in both our technology and our ability to bring it into practice.

JIJ began with my desire to ‘see the future through computation.’ I believe that making complex challenges computable creates better choices and helps society move forward.

With this financing, we will advance our AI-enabled optimization platform and prepare for integration with gate-based quantum computers. By drawing on both mathematical optimization and hybrid quantum-classical computing, we aim to make a greater contribution to solving complex industrial challenges. By combining cutting-edge research with implementation expertise and bridging academia and industry, we will continue to advance our mission: “Making society computable to unlock humanity’s potential.”

Participating Investors

The following investors participated in the financing:

GB-VII & GB-VIII Follow-on Growth Fund Investment Limited Partnership (Follow-on investment)KDDI Open Innovation Fund III (Follow-on investment)ME Innovation Fund L.P. (First-time investment)ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P. (First-time investment)KURONEKO Innovation Fund II L.P. (First-time investment)Fujitsu Ventures Fund LLC (Follow-on investment)

KDDI Open Innovation Fund III, ME Innovation Fund L.P., ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P., and KURONEKO Innovation Fund II L.P. are corporate venture capital funds managed by Global Brain. GB-VII & GB-VIII Follow-on Growth Fund Investment Limited Partnership is Global Brain’s flagship fund. Fujitsu Ventures Fund LLC is a corporate venture capital fund managed by Fujitsu Ventures Limited.

Investor Comments

Yasuhiko Yurimoto, President & CEO, Global Brain Corporation

“We are deeply honored to lead this round once again, following our previous investment. Since our initial investment in 2023, JIJ has established a strong track record of adoption across a wide range of industries, addressing real-world business challenges. JIJ’s technology has also earned high acclaim globally, and we are truly excited to see them leverage this capital to accelerate their expansion both domestically and internationally. Global Brain remains fully committed to supporting JIJ as they rapidly grow as a leading player in the quantum optimization field.”

Shunpei Tatebayashi, General Manager, KDDI Corporation

Investment through KDDI Open Innovation Fund III

“As international competition in quantum technologies continues to intensify, accelerating commercialization and industrial adoption has become a key policy priority in Japan.

Against this backdrop, JIJ Inc. has steadily expanded its business in the field of mathematical optimization since our initial investment. In 2025, KDDI further strengthened its collaboration with JIJ by entering into a strategic partnership focused on the development and commercialization of quantum computing technologies. Quantum technologies are expected to create value across a wide range of industries in the years ahead. By combining JIJ’s quantum optimization technology with KDDI’s AI and quantum computing platform, we aim to accelerate the industrial application of quantum computing and unlock new value across diverse industries.”

Komi Matsubara, Executive Officer (Vice President, Business Innovation), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Investment through ME Innovation Fund L.P.

“JIJ has many talented people with advanced expertise in using quantum technologies for optimization purposes. It is also providing a development environment that enables diverse users to solve complex, real-world business challenges through mathematical optimization. By combining Mitsubishi Electric’s quantum computing technologies with JIJ’s quantum and mathematical optimization platform, we expect to accelerate the development of even more robust solutions for customers.”

Yoshiaki Tsuda, Executive Vice President, Director of Future Creation, ANA HOLDINGS INC.

Investment through ANA Future Frontier Fund L.P.

“ANA operates approximately 1,000 flights a day, dealing with vast amounts of data across various scenarios in our pursuit of optimal operations. When I was previously in charge of flight scheduling, the optimization model we used took an entire night just to process a single scenario, which made daily operations quite challenging.

We decided to make this investment with high expectations that JIJ’s quantum technology-enabled mathematical optimization platform will be widely implemented in society as solutions for such complex planning tasks. While our collaboration has already begun—including the selection of our joint proposal under the Space Strategic Fund—we aim to mutually enhance the corporate value of both companies through the optimization of airline operations.”

Kenji Mori, Manager, Innovation Promotion, Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.

Investment through KURONEKO Innovation Fund II L.P.

“We made this investment in recognition of JIJ Inc.’s exceptional technological capabilities as a leader in Japan’s quantum annealing research, as well as their end-to-end support—from strategy to implementation—for complex challenges. We expect their technology to play a major role in optimizing the Yamato Group’s business resources. Going forward, we plan to support their growth by sharing our logistics expertise. At the same time, we look forward to exploring various collaborative opportunities—ranging from enhancing frontline operations to optimizing the entire supply chain—as we jointly unlock the potential of quantum technology in logistics.”

Hideaki Yajima, President & CEO, Fujitsu Ventures Limited

Investment through Fujitsu Ventures Fund LLC

“JIJ combines deep expertise in mathematical optimization and quantum technology with the ability to take advanced computing technologies from foundational research and middleware development through to deployment in industrial settings. This breadth of capability sets JIJ apart, even among companies operating globally in the field.

JIJ also holds a distinctive position at the intersection of academia, industry, and technology ecosystems around the world. We believe the company will play an increasingly important role in turning advanced technologies into practical value for industry.

Mathematical optimization and quantum technology are also closely aligned with the Fujitsu Group’s strategic areas of focus. Since our initial investment, collaboration between JIJ and the Fujitsu Group has continued to expand. Through this follow-on investment, we look forward to deepening that relationship and working together to create new value.”

About JIJ

JIJ Inc. develops a quantum- and AI-enabled optimization platform that helps organizations turn complex planning, allocation, scheduling, and control challenges into computable mathematical models and solutions for real-world operations.

Combining mathematical optimization, AI-assisted modeling, and quantum computing technologies, JIJ supports the full optimization lifecycle, from problem formulation and model development through solution execution, deployment, and continuous improvement.

The company has developed more than 60 use cases across manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, energy, logistics, materials development, and the public sector.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tokyo, JIJ has teams and entities in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany and is expanding its presence in the United States. The company is also active in global quantum industry ecosystems, including Q-STAR, the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC), and UKQuantum.

Website: https://www.j-ij.com/en/

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SOURCE JIJ Inc.

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Hong Kong Shopping Festival Marks Malaysia Debut with 100 Brands and Over 350 Products to Discover

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September 21, 2026

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today announced the launch of its inaugural Hong Kong Shopping Festival in Malaysia, marking the first time the event has expanded into an ASEAN market.

The festival runs from 21 to 27 September 2026, spotlighting some 100 brands and more than 350 featured products from Hong Kong across Beauty & Personal Care, Fashion, Food & Supplement, Fun & Smart Living, and Senior Wellness Essentials. Malaysia consumers can explore participating brands and products through Shopee, Lazada and the official Hong Kong Shopping Festival website.

Themed “Hong Kong Highlights, One Click Away”, the campaign brings the energy and variety of Hong Kong SAR‘s shopping scene closer to Malaysia consumers. From familiar household names to emerging brands and new finds, it offers shoppers a fresh way to experience the breadth of Hong Kong products while reconnecting with favourites they already know and love. Participating brands include Lee Kum Kee, CATALO, Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang, Wai Yuen Tong and Chicks, alongside a wider selection of brands and products.

Malaysia marks the first step into ASEAN

The Malaysia launch forms part of the initiative’s first expansion into ASEAN, with Malaysia and Singapore serving as its initial target markets. Following previous editions focused on the Chinese Mainland, the move marks a new phase for the programme as HKTDC looks to connect Hong Kong businesses with new consumers and markets across the region.

Supported by the HKSAR Government, the event gives consumers a trusted way to explore a curated selection of quality Hong Kong products. Throughout the week, shoppers can enjoy limited-time discounts of up to 50%, shopping vouchers and exclusive livestream offers as they discover participating brands across various online platforms.

Mr. Leung Kwan Ho, Regional Director, Southeast Asia & South Asia, HKTDC, said, “Hong Kong SAR has always had a strong connection with Malaysia consumers, from the brands they grew up with to the new products they continue to discover. Through the Hong Kong Shopping Festival, we hope to bring that experience closer to shoppers here, giving them an easy way to rediscover familiar favourites, uncover new brands and experience the diversity of what Hong Kong has to offer today.”

Bringing the shopping experience to life

Beyond browsing, the online shopping event will feature more than 30 hours of livestream shopping content led by popular livestream hosts and influencers in Malaysia and Singapore, giving consumers a more interactive way to engage with participating brands.

Through product demonstrations, first-hand reviews and real-time interaction, viewers can get a closer look at featured products and learn more about the brands behind them, while selected livestream sessions will also feature exclusive offers.

Dedicated campaign pages on Shopee and Lazada will also bring selected products and promotions together in one place, while the official festival website will feature participating brand information, promotional offers and curated recommendations throughout the week.

The Hong Kong Shopping Festival is the flagship annual event under HKTDC’s E-Commerce Express programme, which aims to help Hong Kong companies expand their cross-border e-commerce business and reach new markets. Through collaborations with leading e-commerce platforms, livestream promotions, and integrated marketing activities, HKTDC aims to help participating businesses enhance market visibility, gain practical cross-border e-commerce experience, and explore opportunities arising from the continued growth of ASEAN’s digital economy and e-commerce market.

The Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN) runs from 21 to 27 September 2026. For more information about the event, please visit Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN).

HKTDC’s Malaysia Office
Kenix Chua
Tel: (603) 2381 1061
Email: kuala.lumpur.office@hktdc.org

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SOURCE Hong Kong Trade Development Council

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01F Group Announces Investment in DANA, Indonesia’s Leading Digital Financial Company, Reinforcing Long-Term Confidence in Asia’s Fintech Opportunity

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September 21, 2026

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 01F Group through its growth-stage fintech private equity arm, 01Fintech, today announced its investment in DANA, Indonesia’s leading digital financial platform. The investment reflects 01F Group’s commitment to supporting resilient, locally rooted technology infrastructure that advances financial inclusion and supports Indonesia’s real economy. It also strengthens the Group’s presence in Asia’s fintech sector and reflects its conviction that Indonesia remains one of the region’s most dynamic digital-payments markets, underpinned by high digital adoption, a large consumer base and growing demand for technology-enabled financial services.

As Southeast Asia’s largest digital economy evolves, digital payments have become an essential part of everyday commerce for consumers and small businesses. Indonesia’s digital economy continues to expand rapidly, with digital payments projected to approach USD1 trillion by 2030.

DANA is a leading Indonesian digital e-wallet and digital financial services platform that serves consumers, merchants and financial institutions through a single, integrated ecosystem. Its scale and reach underscore the strength of its platform, including metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions and supports millions of users and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially across Tier 2 to Tier 4 regions.

01F Group invests in category-defining platforms distinguished by sustainable unit economics, strong local execution, and meaningful utility for the communities they serve. Through this partnership, 01F Group leverages 01Fintech’s sector expertise and regional network to support DANA’s continued growth and the expansion of its financial-services offering.

Kenny Man, Founder and Managing Partner of 01F Group, stated:

“Our investment in DANA is grounded in three core convictions: the platform’s exceptional operational discipline, its essential role in empowering local MSMEs, and the team’s unwavering resilience. We are not just capital providers; we look forward to being a long-term partner to DANA as it continues to strengthen Indonesia’s digital financial infrastructure and broaden access to trusted financial services.”

Vince Iswara, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of DANA, said:

“We are pleased to welcome 01Fintech to DANA’s journey. Beyond capital, 01Fintech brings specialized fintech expertise, strategic regional connectivity, and a shared commitment to sustainable growth. Together, we remain focused on strengthening our core platform, supporting everyday merchants, and providing trusted financial tools to communities across Indonesia.”

Unlocking Ecosystem Value & Strategic Synergy

The investment strengthens 01F Group’s footprint in the regional fintech value chain. 01Fintech and DANA will explore opportunities to create value across the broader ecosystem, including:

Expand Credit & Capital Access: Connect MSMEs on the DANA platform with scalable lending and working capital solutions.Broaden access to financial services: Supporting access to products such as micro-insurance, digital savings and wealth-building tools for underserved users.Support regional connectivity: Leveraging 01F Group’s network to explore more efficient cross-border payment solutions for Indonesian merchants and consumers

01F Group and DANA share a commitment to using technology to support the real economy and create durable value for Indonesian businesses and consumers.

About 01F Group

01F Group is a global investment platform that backs visionary founders and CEOs building next generation technology leaders. The Group combines specialised capital with deep operational partnership to help companies bridge innovation and execution, making digital ecosystems more accessible and scalable. Through a family of focused funds, 01F Group supports companies at different stages of their growth journey: 01Fintech, a growth-stage, Asia-focused private equity strategy that empowers fintech entrepreneurs to innovate and scale, with a particular emphasis on digital financial inclusion; 01F GPS (Global Partner Solutions) scales proven technologies into global market leaders through execution-focused partnerships and joint ventures; and the 01F Intelligence Fund, an investment platform focused on trusted AI systems for the global economy.

Together, 01Fintech, 01F GPS and the 01F Intelligence Fund reflect the Group’s long-term approach to technology value creation: backing category‑defining companies, commercialising proven technologies globally and participating in the next wave of growth across fintech, AI and the wider digital economy.

For more information, please visit www.01fgroup.com.

About DANA

DANA (PT DANA Digital Group) is Indonesia’s leading digital financial platform, playing a pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion and accelerating the country’s digital economy through secure, trusted, and innovative financial services. Since 2018, DANA’s integrated ecosystem, including digital payments, QRIS, money transfers, and AI-powered financial solutions, empowers millions of users, businesses, and financial institutions. DANA continues to advance AI innovation, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention, delivering secure financial experiences while helping improve the financial wellbeing of Indonesians.

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SOURCE 01F Group

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NETMARBLE WRAPS UP TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 WITH THREE UPCOMING TITLES

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September 21, 2026

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Second consecutive TGS appearance featured three upcoming titles, with hands-on demos, live stage programs and interactive experiences

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality games, successfully concluded its second consecutive appearance at Tokyo Game Show (TGS). The company showcased three upcoming titles: Shangri-La Frontier: The Seven Colossi, Solo Leveling: KARMA and Pearl in Blue.

Following its TGS debut in 2025 with MONGIL: STAR DIVE and The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, Netmarble returned with three titles this year, while its booth grew from 56 units to 63 units. Attendees were able to experience each game through hands-on demos alongside live stage programs and other on-site activities.

HANDS-ON DEMOS AND LIVE PROGRAMS ACROSS THREE UPCOMING TITLES

Shangri-La Frontier: The Seven Colossi, the first-ever game adaptation of the hit Shangri-La Frontier IP, was presented in playable form for the first time at TGS 2026. Attendees experienced its tag-based collectible RPG gameplay, while stage programs featuring the development team and members of the anime voice cast highlighted the game’s combat and strategic elements.

Solo Leveling: KARMA offered an early hands-on look at its fast-paced roguelite action and original story set within the Solo Leveling universe. Players battled through the Dimensional Gap using different combinations of weapons and buffs, while live gameplay challenges featured members of the anime voice cast and popular gaming creators.

Pearl in Blue was also presented in playable form for the first time, introducing its original world and characters through hands-on gameplay and an immersive themed booth. Voice performances and character-focused stage programs further highlighted the game’s character-driven storytelling and anime-inspired cinematic presentation.

A STRONG RESPONSE ACROSS THE SHOW

The three titles drew steady interest throughout TGS 2026, giving players an early opportunity to experience the games ahead of release and share direct feedback with the development teams.

More information on the three titles will be announced through their respective official channels.

© Katarina, Ryosuke Fuji/KODANSHA © Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble Nexus Inc. All Rights Reserved.

©Solo Leveling Animation Partners ©Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble Neo Inc. All Rights Reserved.

©Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble N2 Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Netmarble Corporation

Founded in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading global game developer and publisher. Through acclaimed franchises and strategic partnerships with top-tier IP holders, the company delivers innovative and engaging gaming experiences to audiences worldwide. As a parent company of Kabam, SpinX Games, Jam City, and a major shareholder of HYBE and NCSOFT, Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling:ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

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SOURCE Netmarble

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