Space Quarters Wins at IVS 2026 LAUNCHPAD

Space Quarters Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Shogo Onishi; hereinafter "Space Quarters") is pleased to announce that it has received the "Startup Kyoto International Award," the first-place prize, at "IVS 2026 LAUNCHPAD," Japan's largest startup pitch event.

Space Quarters won the "Startup Kyoto International Award," equivalent to first place, at "IVS 2026 LAUNCHPAD," Japan's largest startup pitch event.

IVS LAUNCHPAD is a startup pitch contest that attracts attention from both within and outside Japan, where companies with innovative technologies and services gather to compete with their business plans. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event, which has produced numerous unicorn and exit companies since its inception in 2007. The cumulative number of entries has exceeded 5,000. Of the companies that have previously presented, over 60 have achieved exits, and over 100 have raised more than 1 billion yen in funding. This year saw a record-breaking number of applications, with over 500 companies (approximately 20% of which were overseas companies).

About the Space Construction Robot System DAIQ

This system realizes all processes required for space construction, from material extraction to installation and joining, using multiple proprietary specialized robots. DAIQ and construction materials are loaded onto a satellite as a single payload, launched by rocket, and construction of large structures begins upon arrival at the construction site in space.

DAIQ is a completely new system with an entirely in-house developed concept that achieves the space construction of large structures, something humanity has not yet been able to accomplish with conventional technologies.

Step 1. Transport and Extraction Robot - Tree

Consists of multiple shelf-like units and a mobile small arm for extracting construction materials. Construction materials in panel form are loaded in divided sections onto the shelves, and are extracted from the bottom of the deployed shelves. This allows for stable and efficient loading and extraction of panels with various curvatures.

Step 2. Transport and Installation Robot - Ant

Consists of multiple distributed cooperative small robots that move using rails pre-installed on the edges of the panels and cooperatively transport and install construction materials.

Unlike fixed robot arms, this system's characteristic of expanding its movement range by using the construction materials it installs as scaffolding means that the robots do not need to increase in size even if the construction target or the materials being handled become larger. Positioning work for the edges of adjacent panels is performed by deploying multiple robots, matched to the number of adjacent edges, which pull the construction materials towards their own base for installation.

Step 3. Welding Robot – Spider

Consists of a self-propelled small robot that moves construction materials to the scaffolding, and energy-saving, small electron beam welding technology.

By straddling the construction material and gripping multiple rails simultaneously, the robot precisely positions the materials to within micrometers and achieves precise and strong joining using its onboard electron beam gun. Since it adheres to and moves along the construction target, the small robot can perform construction even if the structure becomes larger, and the relative position to the construction target, which is crucial for welding, remains stable.

About Space Quarters Inc.

Space Quarters is a startup developing space construction technology with the mission of expanding human possibilities and making space a living sphere for humanity.

To pioneer the field of space construction, a technology area not yet established by humanity, and to build innovative space infrastructure that supports human space activities, we are developing the space construction robot system DAIQ and the structures built using it.

- Established: June 2022 - Representative Director CEO: Shogo Onishi - Employees: 20

- Locations Tokyo Headquarters: 5-53-67 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Cosmos Aoyama South 501 Kawasaki Lab: 7-7 Shinkawasaki, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, KBIC Main Building Room 101 California Office: 214 Homer Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA

- HP: https://space-quarters.com/jp

Contact for Inquiries

Space Quarters Inc. Public Relations

E-mail: [email protected]