600

600, Inc. operates in the retail technology sector, providing unmanned and cashless convenience store solutions tailored for hyper-local commerce. The company was established in June 2017 by Kei Kubo, a serial entrepreneur with a notable background in the technology and payments industry.

Kubo's journey into tech began during his studies at Carleton College in the U.S., where he double-majored in political science and computer science. His entrepreneurial path includes founding fluxflex, inc. in San Francisco in 2010 and later, WebPay Inc. in Japan, which was subsequently acquired by LINE Corporation. He played a pivotal role in the launch of LINE Pay, leaving after it reached 30 million users to start 600, Inc. His experience in payment systems directly informs the company's cashless-first approach.

600, Inc. targets a "50-meter radius" commercial area, a market segment smaller than that of traditional convenience stores, focusing on locations like office buildings and residential complexes. The core of its business is the "Store600," a compact, unmanned retail unit that utilizes technology to offer a seamless shopping experience. These refrigerator-sized units are equipped with cashless payment terminals, and products inside are fitted with RFID tags, which allows for automatic calculation and payment when a customer takes an item. This setup eliminates the need for cash and checkout lines, aiming to save customers' time.

The company's business model involves two primary streams: operating its own network of unmanned stores and providing its technology as a service to other businesses. For its own stores, revenue is generated from the sale of goods. A key feature is the customizable product lineup; using purchasing data and direct user feedback via platforms like LINE or Slack, 600, Inc. tailors the inventory of each unit to the specific demands of its location, offering a "100 companies, 100 ways" approach. The product range can include everything from snacks and beverages to stationery and daily necessities. The company has also expanded its offerings to include specialized units like "Store600 BAKERY" for frozen bread and "Store600 FROZEN" for frozen foods.

Additionally, 600, Inc. has developed "Vending Hero," an AI-powered system for optimizing vending machine operations. This service, which includes a cashless payment and online inventory management terminal, is offered to other vending machine operators. This venture has seen significant adoption, with a contract for 100,000 units and a major deal to supply 30,000 units to Kirin Beverage.

Keywords: unmanned retail, cashless convenience store, retail technology, Kei Kubo, Store600, Vending Hero, RFID payment, office convenience store, smart vending machine, automated retail, last-mile retail, IoT retail, Japanese startup, hyper-local commerce, workplace amenities, residential amenities, unattended retail solutions, smart store, AI inventory management, cashless solutions