CVC Fund 'INNOVATION V Capital' Invests in Shikomel Foodtech Co., Ltd., Which Provides Preparation Outsourcing and Management Support Services for Food Businesses

Innovation Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard, Securities Code: 3970, Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and President: Naoto Tomita; hereinafter 'the Company') announces that through its corporate venture capital fund 'INNOVATION V Capital' (hereinafter 'IVC'), co-established with Innovation Engine Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Mutsunori Sano), it has invested in Shikomel Foodtech Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and President: Suguru Kawamoto). Shikomel Foodtech offers the management support service 'Shikomel', which outsources the preparation work of restaurants and food providers, enabling completion from ordering to delivery via an app.

Shikomel Foodtech's outsourcing platform and DX know-how hold great potential to fundamentally transform restaurant operations in the food service and food processing industries, which face severe labor shortages and operational efficiency challenges.

Through this investment, combining the company's innovative solutions with the strengths of the Innovation Group is expected to accelerate the creation of unknown innovations in the B2B field. As a pioneer in food tech and supply chain transformation, the group will jointly drive the resolution of labor shortages, management efficiency, and productivity improvement in the food service industry.

IVC is a CVC fund established to realize the Innovation Group's mission of 'Changing the Way We Work' by investing in startups that can change work styles and industrial structures with cutting-edge digital technologies and innovative business models. Going forward, in addition to investment activities, the fund will contribute to the 'startup ecosystem' through multifaceted management support.

About Shikomel Foodtech Co., Ltd.

Shikomel Foodtech Co., Ltd. is a food tech company with the mission of 'Creating Mechanisms That Generate 'Delicious!''. It aims to fundamentally solve the challenges of the food service and food processing industries by changing the conventional wisdom of 'preparation' and bringing transformation to the 'food supply chain'.

The 'Shikomel' service provided by the company is a management support platform that enables small-scale operators without central kitchens to outsource preparation work and complete ordering to delivery via an app. It contributes to resolving chronic labor shortages, improving management efficiency, and enhancing customer satisfaction for restaurants and food providers, thereby greatly contributing to the construction of a sustainable food infrastructure that dramatically increases corporate productivity.

Shikomel Foodtech Co., Ltd.

Representative: Representative Director and President Suguru Kawamoto

Established: December 2019

Head Office Location: B1F MFPR Shibuya Building, 1-2-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Corporate Website: https://corp.shikomel.com/

About CVC Fund 'INNOVATION V Capital'

Name: INNOVATION V Capital Investment Limited Partnership

General Partner: Innovation Engine Co., Ltd.

Major Limited Partner: Innovation Inc.

Date of Formation: May 2025

Investment Amount: 1 billion yen

Operation Period: 10 years (with a 2-year extension possible)

Investment Targets: Startups providing innovative solutions and services that promote digital technology

- Themes: #BtoB business, #Sophistication and efficiency of operations using AI/software, #Transformation of business practices - Business content: #Labor shortage, #Operational efficiency, #AI/software utilization, #DX promotion, #HR tech, #SaaS, #Diverse working styles, #Well-being, #Automation, #Reskilling, #Productivity improvement - Stage: Early to middle stage

*Planned to invest mainly in startups meeting the above investment targets, but investments in startups outside the scope are also possible.

About Innovation Inc.

Representative Director and President: Naoto Tomita

Location: 3-10-13 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo TOKYU REIT Shibuya R Building 3F

Established: December 14, 2000

URL: https://www.innovation.co.jp/

About Innovation Engine Co., Ltd.

Representative Director: Mutsunori Sano

Japan Office Location: 3F Shiba Abitation Building, 2-3-12 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Established: January 2001

URL: https://www.innovation-engine.co.jp/

To Startup Representatives Considering Fundraising

We are widely accepting inquiries from startups wishing to receive investment and support from this fund.

We will sincerely consider whether we can contribute not only to your immediate growth but also to your continuous development. Please feel free to contact us.

<Contact for Startups>

- Inquiry form: https://forms.gle/wstiXBi5PmdAXXvk6 - Inquiry email: [email protected] - Contact: Innovation Inc., Incubation Unit, Investment Management Group