Kobo e-reader

Kobo was founded in Toronto, Canada, in 2009 as a spin-off from the Canadian book retailer Indigo Books & Music. It quickly became a significant global competitor in the digital reading space, offering both a comprehensive eBook store and a range of E-ink devices. The brand focuses on providing an open platform for readers, supporting various file formats and local library integration.

In 2012, the brand was acquired by the Japanese e-commerce and technology conglomerate Rakuten. Since then, Kobo has been integrated into the Rakuten ecosystem, now operating as Rakuten Kobo. While the brand maintains its creative and operational headquarters in Toronto, the hardware is primarily manufactured in China to leverage global electronics supply chains. Today, Rakuten Kobo continues to expand its reach through partnerships with book retailers worldwide.