Groove X
Groove X is a Tokyo robotics company established on 2 November 2015 by Kaname Hayashi, who previously worked as an aerodynamics engineer at Toyota, contributing to the Lexus LFA and Formula One cars, and then led development of SoftBank's Pepper humanoid. Its mission is to unlock humanity's full potential through robotics, and its product is Lovot, a household companion robot designed not for chores but to make people feel affection. Lovot 3.0 has touch sensors across its body, layered OLED eyes, a warm skin temperature and more than 50 sensors, including horn-mounted cameras for mapping the home and detecting people. Groove X raised more than 1.4 billion yen in 2016 and 4.35 billion yen in a Series A in December 2017, led by the Mirai Creation Fund and INCJ. It had 288 employees, including contract and part-time staff, and Lovot was named Best Robot of CES 2019 by The Verge.
💡Notable Achievement: Lovot was named Best Robot of CES 2019 by The Verge.
What Does Groove X Do?
Groove X, founded by former Pepper lead Kaname Hayashi, makes Lovot, a household robot designed to be loved rather than to do chores.
“A companion robot built to evoke affection.”
Emotional Design
Warm skin, OLED eyes and touch sensing.
50+ Sensors
Lovot 3.0 maps the home and detects people.
Well Funded
4.35 billion yen Series A in December 2017.
What Can Groove X Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Emotional home companion.
Companionship
Lovot is designed to combat loneliness.
Groove X Robots
Showing 1 of 1 total model
Lovot
Manufactured by Groove X
Lovot is a companion/social robot designed to nurture human emotions and combat loneliness by providing affectionate interactions without performing practical tasks. Key features include a warm, fuzzy body with touch sensors throughout, expressive LCD eyes displaying six-layered emotions, 13 degrees of freedom for lifelike movements like hugging and following owners, and AI-driven behaviors such as face recognition, voice responses, and autonomous charging. It uses depth and 360-degree half-sphere cameras for navigation and interaction, microphones for sound detection, and sensors for touch, posture, obstacles, temperature, and humidity. Use cases focus on home companionship, emotional support for elderly or isolated individuals, family entertainment, and fostering social bonds by begging for attention, playing music as a Bluetooth speaker, and accelerating communication between people through its endearing, pet-like personality.
Groove X Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Groove X founded
Kaname Hayashi founds Groove X in Tokyo to create a robot that evokes an instinct to love.
Source: groove-x.com
Over 1.4 billion yen raised in seed funding
Groove X raises more than 1.4 billion yen through convertible equity at seed stage.
Source: groove-x.com
Series A of 4.35 billion yen
Groove X raises 4.35 billion yen in Series A financing led by the Mirai Creation Fund and INCJ.
Source: groove-x.com
Lovot named Best Robot of CES 2019
The Verge names Lovot Best Robot of CES 2019.
Source: groove-x.com
Cool Japan Award 2019
Groove X wins the Cool Japan Award 2019 for Lovot.
Source: groove-x.com
Groove X Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes Groove X Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Distinctive design and strong awards.
- ✓Substantial funding and a 288-person team.
Core Strategic Focus
Growing Lovot adoption at home and in care settings.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •High price for a non-functional companion.
- •Niche market.
Groove X vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Category / Focus
- Groove X Lovot
- Emotional companion robot
- Casio Moflin
- AI pet robot
- Yukai Qoobo
- Tail cushion robot
- KEYi Loona
- Robotic pet
Primary Use
- Groove X Lovot
- Home companionship
- Casio Moflin
- Emotional companionship, loneliness alleviation
- Yukai Qoobo
- Stress relief for office workers
- KEYi Loona
- Family companionship
Weight
- Groove X Lovot
- Approximately 4.3 kg (9.4 lbs)
- Casio Moflin
- 0.26 kg
- Yukai Qoobo
- 1.0 kg (2.2 lbs)
- KEYi Loona
- 1.1 kg (2.42 lbs)
Release Year
- Groove X Lovot
- 2018
- Casio Moflin
- 2020
- Yukai Qoobo
- 2018
- KEYi Loona
- 2022
| Strategic Dimension | Groove X Lovot | Casio Moflin | Yukai Qoobo | KEYi Loona |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category / Focus | Emotional companion robot | AI pet robot | Tail cushion robot | Robotic pet |
| Primary Use | Home companionship | Emotional companionship, loneliness alleviation | Stress relief for office workers | Family companionship |
| Weight | Approximately 4.3 kg (9.4 lbs) | 0.26 kg | 1.0 kg (2.2 lbs) | 1.1 kg (2.42 lbs) |
| Release Year | 2018 | 2020 | 2018 | 2022 |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Mirai Creation Fund and INCJ
Led the 4.35 billion yen round in December 2017.
Ownership & Acquisition History
Led the 4.35 billion yen round in December 2017.
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Groove X Headquarters
HQTokyo, Japan
Articles & Industry News
Showing 1 recent article and news updates about Groove X
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Groove X
What is Groove X?
Groove X is a Tokyo robotics company founded in November 2015 by Kaname Hayashi. Its product is Lovot, a home companion robot designed to evoke affection rather than perform chores.
What is Lovot?
Lovot is a household companion robot built to create emotional connections and reduce loneliness. It is designed to be loved by its owner instead of being useful for tasks.
What sensors does Lovot 3.0 have?
Lovot 3.0 has touch sensors across its body, layered OLED eyes, a warm skin temperature and more than 50 sensors, including horn-mounted cameras for mapping the home and detecting people.
Who founded Groove X?
Kaname Hayashi founded Groove X and is CEO. He worked at Toyota on the Lexus LFA and Formula One aerodynamics, then led development of SoftBank's Pepper robot.
How much has Groove X raised?
Groove X raised more than 1.4 billion yen in 2016 and 4.35 billion yen in a Series A in December 2017. One database puts total funding at about US$110 million.
Has Lovot won awards?
Yes. The Verge named Lovot Best Robot of CES 2019 in January 2019, and Groove X won the Cool Japan Award 2019 in May 2019.
How big is Groove X?
Groove X had 288 employees, including contract and part-time staff, according to its own about page, and is based in the Nihonbashi-Hamacho area of Tokyo.
Who bought a Lovot in the news?
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa was reported by CNN in 2022 to be betting that emotional robots such as Lovot can heal people's hearts.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Groove X datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.