| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | AA | AB | ||
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1 | This List was Created by Scaling Japan Podcast | Investment History | Investment History | Stages Funded | Industries Funded | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Company/Fund name with link | Types of Investment Done (1) | Types of Investment Done (2) | Contacted | Responded | Has Invested in Foreigner Founding Team | Has Invested in Foreigner + Japanese Founding Team | Lead Investor | Stage : Pre-Seed | Stage : Seed | Stage : Early | Stage : Middle | Stage : Late | Finance/Fintech | Logistics & Supply Chain & Smart Cities | Health/bio | Lifestyle | Technology | Education | Media | Saas | DX | Sustainability | Mobility | Foreigner Led Companies in their Portfolio | Where does company need to be incorporated in | Additional Details | ||
4 | ABBALab | Accelerator | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Qurate, Chiptip Technology, | Couldn't find contact form on the website. Reached out through Linkedin -- 3/13/23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 31 Ventures | CVC | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | SpeakBUDDY, ViSenze | ||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | GMO Ventures | CVC | Yes | No | Yes | Agatha | |||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | SMBC Venture Capital | CVC | Yes | No | Yes | Zehitomo, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | GREE Ventures | CVC | Yes | No | Yes | Scene | |||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Bonds Investement Group (BIG) | Other | Yes | No | Yes | Remote. it, integrate, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | World Innovation Lab (WiL) | Other | Yes | No | Ambie | Email address does not exist -- 3/13/23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Airbus Venture | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Infostellar | ||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Coral Capital | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Zehimoto, Infostellar | We invest $500K – $5m from Seed to Series A, then follow on up to $20m | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | DG (Digital Garage) Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Copado | |||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | East Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Connectfree, Scene | |||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | EEI | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Tellus | |||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | Eight Roads Japan Venture | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Peatix | |||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | Global Brain | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Luxola | |||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | ICMG Partners | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Infostellar | ||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | Miyako Capital | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Tellus | |||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | Mobile Internet Capital | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | One Capital | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Tonari, Aghata, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | SG Capital | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Ambii, holotch, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | Skyland Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Holotch | |||||||||||||||||||||||
24 | TIS Inc | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Credify | |||||||||||||||||||||||
25 | Universal Materials Incubator | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | BMG inc., Citrine Informatics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
26 | DroneFund | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | SkyScape | ||||||||||||||||||||||
27 | Apricot Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Scene | |||||||||||||||||||||||
28 | Headline Asia | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Zaiko, Bokksu | |||||||||||||||||||||||
29 | Monex Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Zaiko | VC focusing on seed-stage and early-stage startups worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
30 | Bitkraft Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | playbrain and 555 Comics | Invests in gaming, Web3, and immersive technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||
31 | Strive Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Zenport | We work with startups in seed, series A, series B, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
32 | Yazawa Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
33 | Miraise | Venture Capital | Yes | No | Yes | Gig-A | |||||||||||||||||||||||
34 | Hikevc | Venture Capital | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
35 | Mistletoe | Venture Capital | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 | Sony Innovation Fund | Venture Capital | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
37 | Cyber Agent Capital | Venture Capital | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
38 | G-Startup | Venture Capital | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
39 | Arts & Biz Fund | Venture Capital | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 | 500 Global | Accelerator | Yes | Yes | No Investment | No Investment | Accelerator program does accept foreign lead companies | 500 Global does not financial invest in accerlerator participants | |||||||||||||||||||||
41 | Antler | Accelerator | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Tempo | Japan | Day 0 investor (applicants don't need a team or company yet to get in), runs a 10-week incubation/acceleration program twice a year with investment at the end (based on investment committee decision), investment amount during residency program as of September 2024 is JPY 28mm for 12% equity (JPY 233mm valuation) | |||||||||||||||||||
42 | Founder Institute | Accelerator | Yes | Yes | No Investment | No Investment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
43 | Open Network Lab | Accelerator | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Giftpack, Tupac Bio, Locarise | We carry out training and investment programs for overseas entrepreneurs. For startups who want to localize to Japan, collaborate with Japanese companies and work with Japanese people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
44 | Plug and Play Japan | Accelerator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | EdgeCortix | Plug and Play does not financial invest in accerlerator participants > it is free, no equity need to be given They also accept early - later stage companies as they can help with making partnerships with Japanese corporations Has specific accelerators : mobility, smart cities, new materials, fintech, energy, Food&beverage, Fintech, Insurtech | |||||||||||||||||||||
45 | Yakumi | Angel Syndicate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | PlayCo, Bokksu, Finless Foods, Naro, Aquila, TupacBio, Braid, ListenField, and Kalkul | No additional comments | |||||||||||||||||||||
46 | Ryota Matsuzaki | Angel Investor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Section L (based in Tokyo but run by an international management team) ModuleQ (Bay Area) Flown (UK) Paidy (Acquired by PayPal) and CrowdWorks (IPO) | LP in 500 Global (fka 500 Startup) and HCVC (fka Hardware Club) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
47 | Colin Magne | Angel Investor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Median check-size: US$10k Finless Foods, Amai Proteins, Kalkul, Phase, Revealit, 555comic, Divigas, Pulse Industrial, Mirai Foods, Yasai, EnergyX, Braid, Naro, etc. (over 40 companies so far) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
48 | Deepcore | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Aquila Systems, Credify, Noetic Digital, YStory, Uplift Labs Builder.ai, PREVU3D, Senseye, ambi Robotics, integral ai, salezilla | Japan Delaware > strongly prefer Japan | We invest in pre-seed, seed, and early stage companies looking to transform their markets using AI and related technologies. Any business area is welcome. We support entrepreneurs in the following three ways. - Venture capital investment Normal investment. Please use the contact form or write to Capitalist. - KERNEL Global Startup Camp Accelerator program to support entrepreneurs aiming for the global market from Japan https://deepcore.jp/posts-1/en-20220922 - KERNEL Membership AI x entrepreneurial community for those who plan to start a business, are preparing to start a business, or are in the early stages of business https://deepcore.jp/posts-1/en-20230530 If you do not yet have a fundraising plan, please consider KERNEL membership. | ||||||||||||||||||||
49 | MUFG Innovation Partners | CVC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Toggle AI, Symphony | Looking to invest in companies that can provide a financial return and a strategic return for the parent company. This includes FinTech solutions like credit tech, wealth asset management, trading, but will also consider investing in companies that provide digital transformation solutions and companies connected with their ESG and SDGs goals. For example, startups that can help them improve their operations or offerings to clients. They can also aid with re-selling the service in Japan. Has 3 funds. Sweetspot is series A and B (has done some later stage investment, and very few early stage) Check sizes of $1 - 10 million US (has gone up to $20 million) + Rarely leads a round | |||||||||||||||||||||
50 | ITOCHU Technology Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | SentinelOne, TriNetX, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
51 | Monozukuri Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | EdgeCortix, Load & Road Inc (Teplo Tea, https://teplotea.com) | Venture capital firm specializing in hardware and manufacturing tech in Japan and North America, supporting prototyping to mass production and business development, in order to contribute to the creation of new industries through startups. We’re focused on funding entrepreneurs in the fastest growing industries: robotics, AI, clean energy, wearables, space tech, IIoT, healthcare and more. We co-invest with incubators, accelerators and VCs, and have a due diligence process that results in funding a first round of manufacturing. We also provide business management consulting and advisory services to those in whom we invest. You can raise capital with us if you are a seed/early stage hardware startup incorporated either in Japan or in the US. We provide financing services such as equity investment and debt financing. For example, we invest in common stock, preferred stock, convertible note, SAFE and KISS. | |||||||||||||||||||||
52 | Plug and Play Japan | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Open to all industries but has many in insuratech, fintech, e-commerce, and those that want to expand globally | |||||||||||||||||||||||
53 | Lifetime Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ekei labs and AquaAge | Japan (non-OIST grads) Delaware (OIST grads only) | The fund has a strategic partnership with Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology where >80% of PhDs and >60% of Faculty are foreigners. The fund also invests in non-OIST-related startups. | ||||||||||||||||||||
54 | Scrum Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | see right | Has invested in 15 Japanese founders in Japan. Have not invested in foreign lead companies in Japan, but are open to it. US VC network + Connections with most big Japanese corporations + major US VCs (~200) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
55 | Shizen Capital | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ai.detect, Aquila Systems, Authentic Indication, Braid, Callback, Guide Robotics, ModernZen, Naro, Nozomi MedAlliance, Seya, Signtime, Smartpay, Totemo, Viila, Vouch, ZooKeep | Japan | We've invested in more than 30 foreign-led startups in Japan. The co-founders of Shizen Capital are former entrepreneurs with successful exits globally. Shizen Capital is also one of the most prolific Lead VC funds in Japan. https://markbivens.com/m/archives/our-investment-sweet-spot-redux | ||||||||||||||||||||
56 | SOSV | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bisu, Streimo, Lexxpluss | |||||||||||||||||||||||
57 | UTEC | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | International Companies with Japan Presence : Tellus, 908 Devices, Fyusion, Tricog Health, Bugworks Research, Oxford Quantum Circuits & Eureka Robotic, Founded in Japan : Mujin, ACSL, Wassha, | One of Asia's largest deep tech fund : invests in domestic and international companies aiming to break into Japan An independent VC firm linked with academic institutes such as The University of Tokyo, investing in Japanese and global deep-tech startups. UTEC has raised 5 funds and backed 140+ startups with 18 IPOs and 15 M&As. Supports researchers through some the gains from the fund. Actively serves as a lead, can help with gaining corporate venture capital, can help with go to market strategy with corporate partnerships, and has connections with Japanese and foreign governments. | |||||||||||||||||||||
58 | Chiba Dojo Fund | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Panalyt, Shaka Guide, Day One Tech, Manabie, Curvegrid | Japan May consider other country if there is a very strong Japan case for their business | Chiba Dojo Fund has a two unique entity based in Tokyo. 1) Entrepreneurial Community - CHIBA DOJO: - Japan‘s leading entrepreneurial community of more than 80 startups. The community has built strong relationships among entrepreneurs through strict confidentiality and a spirit of peer support, and has produced several exits, including M&A and IPOs. Through biannual training camps and regular study sessions, we provide entrepreneurs with the best learning environment. 2) Community based Venture Capital - CHIBA DOJO FUND: - Japan's only entrepreneurial community fund, managed mainly by people with entrepreneurial experience. As a fund by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, it provides close support. Aiming for solid returns by investing not only in seed and early stage startups, but also in later stage companies with high growth potential and high IPO probability among the startups participating in CHIBA DOJO. | ||||||||||||||||||||
59 | D4V(Design for Ventures) NEW | Venture Capital | 555 Comics, Evolany, more | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
60 | Finesse Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dream Drive, 3DPC, Factorize, tapco | 10,000,000 - 50,000,000 yen investment in seed / early stage. Makes 3 - 5 investments a year but very hands on supporting companies to grow and scale | ||||||||||||||||||||||
61 | Incubate Fund | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Braid Technologies, Visual Alpha, Woodstock, | Japan Delaware Open to other countries, but Japan case must be strong | Has multiple funds within them and it affects the total | Pre-seed : $500,000 - $3 million / $5 million They have a team of more than 40 staff | on their 5th fund | Leads and co-lead rounds Experts at B2B businesses, but they will accept a few B2C companies | Very hands on approach, meets weekly | | |||||||||||||||||||||
62 | UB Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Realm, Cloudpick, Precious Technologies, Veer | UB Ventures is a venture capital firm that specialises IOT, SAAS, Metaverse - open to preseed but depends on the team | - all of their team members have operational experience in startups, so they can help in the 0 > 1 phase | They are very strong in Asia as the GP has a lot of connections and experience to go overseas but also in Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||
63 | KDDI Green Fund | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
64 | Minami | Venture Capital | VC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Scene | Japan Delaware / New York > maybe open to other US cities | We usually do not lead rounds | Evaluation period : about 1 month | 5 - 10 million yen ticket size | Board set not needed Main business is a driving school and learning solutions for driving | Also invests in businesses Education / Hardware / Robotics / Mobility in the driving space are their strength to support and invest | |||||||||||||||||||
65 | Genesia Ventures | Venture Capital | VC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | International Companies with Japan Presence : Docquity, Anime Metaverse, amplified.ai Founded in Japan : Linc, Zenport, Meetscare, Yourniture, PSYGIG, dreamstock, FUNEE, Tensor Energy, Funfo | |||||||||||||||||||||
66 | Podcast episode on Accelerators - Click here | Accelerator | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
67 | Podcast episode on Angel investors - Click here | Angel Investor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
68 | Podcast episode on CVCs - Click here | CVC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
69 | Let me help you scale your business in Japan (a 500 Global Resident Mentor) > see advisory & marketing tabs | Venture Capital | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
70 | Episode on Investments - Click here | Venture Capital | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
71 | Article on Venture Capital - Click here | Venture Capital | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
72 | Below are VCs we heard have invested in foreign founder but have not been able to confirm this because they have not respondeed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
73 | Inclusion Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
75 | Helpful links | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
76 | Japan Lead Investors | Shows list of leading investment made by VCs in Japan in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
77 | Seminar Recordings for Running a Business in Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
78 | Startup Investment in 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
79 | Podcast : Disrupting Japan Podcast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
80 | Podcast : Scaling Japan Podcast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
83 | https://hoxin.vc/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
84 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
85 | Gotō Ventures | Venture Capital | Yes | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||