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Robot maker · registered
Groove X
LOVOT companion robot (~$3,000 plus subscription) founded by ex-Toyota/Pepper development lead Kaname Hayashi: 50+ sensors incl. thermal camera and touch sensing, autonomous wheeled navigation with self-docking, and an emotion engine that develops attachment behaviors. Sold through LOVOT retail stores and DTC in Japan since 2019.
HeadquartersTokyo, JP
Founded2015
Consumer fundingNot disclosed
Team11-50
Deployments2
Open roles0
01
Company overview
Identity and operating footprint
Company typeRobot maker
Market segmentConsumer
StageAcquired
FoundersKaname Hayashi (Founder & CEO)
Regions servedJapan
Countries deployedNot listed
Service footprintNot listed
Last reviewed2026-07-05
LinkedInView profile
MX
Robot models
Specifications remain vendor-claimed
Machinecare
LOVOT
- Companion robot with emotional AI, thermal/touch perception and autonomous navigation, announced Dec 18, 2018 with first shipments 2019
Autonomous home companion robot
Claim source
DP
Deployment log
Announced and cited only
CA
Funding history
Publicly announced rounds
Series A
Investors undisclosed
Round sourceInvestors on recordYusaku MaezawaAmTRANOSG CorporationDai-ichi Seiko
TL
Company timeline
Milestones and announcements
2022-04-08Acquired by billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, continuing operations as Groove XCNN Business
2022-04-08Eccentric Japanese billionaire now betting that 'emotional' robots can heal your heart ↗CNN Business
2018-12-18Unveiled LOVOT; first shipments to Japanese consumers followed in 2019PR Newswire
SC
Source ledger
4 unique public sources
01
ABOUT | GROOVE X (Series A: 4.35 billion yen, 2017)Groove X · retrieved 2026-07-05
02GROOVE X Introduce a New Companion Robot, LOVOTPR Newswire · retrieved 2026-07-05
03GrooveX now offering Lovot to overseas customers with the help of BEXRobots Around The House · retrieved 2026-07-05
04Eccentric Japanese billionaire now betting that 'emotional' robots can heal your heartCNN Business · retrieved 2026-07-05