Turing Secures 3 Billion Yen in Pre-Series A First Half FundingAccelerating Recruitment of ML Engineers and Construction of Large-Scale GPU Clusters

Alan Turing once said, “We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” The challenge of implementing Level 5 autonomous driving in society is incredibly daunting. But after nearly three years, it is clear which mountain is next for Turing, and all that remains is for them to scale it. No matter how many times we hear “it’s impossible” or “it can’t be done,” we at ANRI fully support Turing, who always aims higher and never gives up.

AI’s rapid evolution makes fully autonomous driving inevitable, and it is crucial for Japanese automobiles to develop domestic autonomous driving technology to maintain their global competitiveness. Turing has committed to using AI to revolutionize autonomous driving and possesses the technological capability to make it possible. I expect that Turing will bring a new dimension to Japan’s autonomous driving technology development. Digital Hearts Holdings will support fully autonomous driving in Japan with our solutions.

Moved by the management team’s ability to meet development milestones and the exceptional team they have assembled, I continued my investment from the previous seed round. Autonomous vehicle startups proliferate in the United States and China, and Turing aims to surpass them using Japanese technology to create a convenient and safe automotive society. I look forward to seeing them achieve their lofty goals.

Achieving fully autonomous driving through generative AI, as envisioned by Turing, is an incredibly challenging task. But after meeting the founders and their talented team members, I am convinced that Turing can achieve it. I anticipate autonomous driving’s societal implementation through Turing’s technology. We are delighted to have the opportunity to invest in Turing through the Mizuho Lease CVC fund.

Turing’s approach differs from the previous research on autonomous driving due to their use of generative AI. It is not an easy path, but I believe that Turing’s excellent team will eventually create a vehicle without a steering wheel. The Mizuho Group is fully supports Turing’s grand challenge.

Foreign companies dominate the automotive industry as it shifts towards CASE, but Turing captured our interest with their innovative concept of fully autonomous driving. We are impressed by their determination and decided to invest. Since meeting Mr. Aoki in the summer of 2022, I have witnessed the rapid development from their initial work analyzing commercial vehicles in Shin-Kawasaki, and I believe that Turing can achieve fully autonomous driving. The NTT and NTT DOCOMO Group looks forward to creating new value through this investment and changing the world with Turing.

I am honored that our management fund is participating in Turing’s Pre-Series A round as a first investment case. It is rare to find startups with Turing’s ambitious goals, and I have hoped to work with them since our first meeting. We believe that CEO Yamamoto and his outstanding team will be the pioneers of fully autonomous driving. and I am excited to see them reach new heights.

I am genuinely excited to have the opportunity to join Turing in their challenge to bring a fresh breeze to the automobile industry, a central focus of Japanese companies. Even as a paper driver myself, I am looking forward to a world where Turing makes it possible for everyone to drive safely. I am committed to supporting Turing with all my might, together with ZVC!