Tokyo, Japan – January 16, 2025 – MUSE Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yasutaka Kasagi) was selected as a finalist in the Robotics, Web3, Voice & Extended Reality category for the 17th annual SXSW Pitch.
SXSW Pitch, presented by KPMG, is the marquee event of South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference & Festivals (March 7 - 15, 2025), where leading startups from around the world showcase some of the most impressive technology innovations to a panel of hand-picked judges and a live audience. Out of the 589 companies that applied to present at SXSW Pitch 2025, MUSE was selected among the 45 finalists, spanning nine separate categories.
The two-day event will be held the first weekend of SXSW Conference & Festivals, Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, at the Downtown Hilton Austin. The event will then culminate with the 2025 SXSW Pitch Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, March 9, where winning startups from each category and a Best in Show winner will be announced and honored in Salon H on the sixth floor of the Hilton Hotel.
SXSW Pitch will feature finalists across the following nine categories: AgTech & Food, Enterprise, Smart Data, FinTech & Future of Work, Entertainment, Media, Sports & Content, Robotics, Web3, Voice & Extended Reality, HealthTech, MedTech, BioTech & Accessibility, Innovative World Tech, Security, GovTech & Space, Smart Cities, Transportation & Sustainability, and Student Startups.
MUSE will present among four other companies in the Robotics, Web3, Voice & Extended Reality category on March 9.
"I am incredibly honored and excited that MUSE has been selected as a finalist for the SXSW Pitch. This recognition validates our mission to revolutionize the retail industry with cutting-edge robotic solutions. Participating in such a prestigious event provides us with a unique opportunity to showcase our innovation on a global stage and connect with visionary leaders, investors, and collaborators. We look forward to sharing our journey and making meaningful contributions to the future of retail."
- Yasutaka Kasagi, Founder & CEO of MUSE
“SXSW Pitch has been dedicated to championing the startup community since its establishment in 2009. Since its inception, SXSW Pitch has strived to support the early-stage venture ecosystem, providing the resources and exposure necessary to help start-ups not only succeed but thrive,” said SXSW Pitch Event Producer Chris Valentine. “The 45 companies selected as finalists for the 2025 program serve as the next ambassadors of innovation across the globe. We are looking forward to having these startups take the stage in March to present their technologies to our panel of expert judges.” For more information about SXSW Pitch and to view the complete list of finalists, visit: https://www.sxsw.com/pitch
- SXSW
■ About SXSW
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film and television, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music, and comedy showcases, film and television screenings, exhibitions, professional development, and a variety of opportunities to meet and connect with people. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and individuals come together. SXSW 2025 will take place March 7–15 in Austin. Learn more at sxsw.com. To register for the event, please visit sxsw.com/attend.
SXSW’s expansion into the Asia Pacific region, with SXSW Sydney starting in 2023 and Europe with SXSW London in 2025, provides new possibilities at this iconic experience. These events, each with their own distinct flavor, make South By an indispensable three-stop tour for the global creative community.
SXSW 2025 Driven by Rivian.
■ About the Store Robot Armo
"Armo" is a robotics platform designed to address labor shortages and revitalize store environments in retail businesses. By just switching expansion units, Armo can perform multiple tasks, from supporting transportation for shelf stocking to collecting image data of store shelves.
The image data collected by "Armo" is visualized and stored on the cloud service "Eureka Platform." This enables retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers to access real-time images and analysis results (such as stockouts or planogram compliances), helping streamline operations and optimize shelf plans.
While traditional robots have been specialized for specific tasks like transport, security, or cleaning, store workers typically handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This has made it challenging to reduce labor costs with robots focused on just one task. Armo, however, has been designed to address this issue. By reducing the robot’s base cost and offering the ability to switch expansion units, Armo efficiently performs various daily task with a single unit.
Furthermore, valuable data regarding consumer behavior and purchasing patterns accumulate within stores. Armo efficiently collects and stores this information. This data can also be used as a powerful analytical tool for sales and marketing in the distribution industry, providing additional value to retail businesses.
■ About MUSE
MUSE Corporation was founded with the mission of "Inspiring people around the world through robotics." We focus on the people who use robots, aiming to inspire the innate human qualities of creativity, insight, kindness, and communication. We strive to create products that offer additional value, beyond merely reducing labor or cutting costs, which has traditionally been the primary purpose of robot implementation.
Company Profile
Company name: MUSE, Inc.
Headquarters: 3-6-18 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo,
Tokyo Tatemono Kyobashi Building 4F, xBridge-Kyobashi
Founder/CEO: Yasutaka Kasagi
Business activities: Development and sales of robots for retail stores
Establishment: April 2022
Web site: https://www.muse-gr.com
Product video: https://youtu.be/PffXiMDTzl0