Top 50 Automotive VC Funds & Investors in Japan (August 2026)

Portfolio highlights

• Yondemy — Yondemy is an online platform for children reading books.
• Yokohama Vanilla — Yokohama Vanilla is a Company which operates Yokohama-based gift sweets brand.
• Zeal Boxing Fitness — Zeal Boxing Fitness combines power of sports with the power of technology to provide a service that allows to enjoy fitness.

Portfolio highlights

• CMerTV — CMer TV is a platform that connects advertisers with newspapers, magazines, and specialized media by video
• Link Therapeutics — Link Therapeutics specializes in developing therapeutic methods for targeting autoantibodies and identifying pathogenic autoantibodies.
• Pixie Dust Technologies — Pixie Dust Technologies is a developer of computational technologies, including its ultrasonic phased array system with which one can generate force in mid-air; transport things in mid-air without touching anything; target and deliver different sounds from person to person in a crowd; direct guide-dogs; and even apply this in agricultural farming.

Portfolio highlights

• ASUENE — Asuene involves in clean power retail business, retail SaaS business, etc.
• Flosfia — FLOSFIA is a spin-off from a research of Kyoto University, specializing in film-formation by mist chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Making use of physical properties of gallium oxide (Ga2O3), FLOSFIA has devoted to development of low-loss power devices.
• TWO — TWO is a health and wellness company that offers innovative lifestyle solutions 2foods, a line of healthy and delicious food products.

Portfolio highlights

• Triorb — The corporate website of TriOrb Inc., revolutionizing production lines with our ball-driven omnidirectional mobility platform.
• FullDepth — FullDepth is a company that creates marine drones to aid with underwater monitoring. The company's drones work in tandem with marine navigation technology, which monitors and captures aquatic life, communicates data to connected devices, and provides infiltration information that can be freely used with a cloud service, allowing customers towitness and study marine life for educational and recreational purposes.FullDepth is a company that creates marine drones to aid with underwater monitoring. The company's drones work in tandem with marine navigation technology, which monitors and captures aquatic life, communicates data to connected devices, and provides infiltration information that can be freely used with a cloud service, allowing customers to witness and study marine life for educational and recreational purposes.
• Sunflower Labs — Fully autonomous AI-powered drone security with thermal imaging and real-time threat detection for commercial, industrial, and residential properties.

Portfolio highlights

• DennoKotsu — Denno Kotsu is a Taxi dispatch system development and provision, taxi company contract dispatch service

Portfolio highlights

• Lean Mobility — Lean Mobility is a motor vehicle manufacturing company that manufactures and supplies electric motorcycles and motorcycle parts.

Portfolio highlights

• Carstay — Carstay Comfortable Overnight in car or tentdo itCar tripWith guests who want to enjoy.
• Redcliff — Redcliff is a drone management company that organizes aerial shows and events for private and public organizations.
• AROUSAL Tech. — AROUSAL Tech is a consulting company that offers a wide range of AI consulting services. It provides digital training, AI reskilling, AI consulting, and AI integration services.

Portfolio highlights

• Kinish — Kinish is a company leading a revolution in dairy products. To achieve environmentally friendly and delicious dairy products, we are developing a special rice variety that produces milk proteins.
• Kwahuu Ocean — Kwahuu Ocean develops sustainable squid farming systems.
• Spine Chronicle — Spine chronicle is a medical device manufacturing firm that specializes in developing orthopedic medical equipment.

Portfolio highlights

• DennoKotsu — Denno Kotsu is a Taxi dispatch system development and provision, taxi company contract dispatch service

Portfolio highlights

• CaTe —
• OOYOO — OOYOO Co., Ltd. is a DeepTech venture that combines international entrepreneurial spirit, and a 'Made In Japan' excellence, to bring the latest innovations in clean technology to society for a smarter, cleaner, and more mobile world.
• KG Motors — KG Motors is an automotive firm that manufactures electric vehicles that can be moved comfortably and safely by one person.

Portfolio highlights

• Carstay — Carstay Comfortable Overnight in car or tentdo itCar tripWith guests who want to enjoy.
• Owner's — Owner's is a group of professionals who are close to the wishes of corporate owners and support their realization.

Portfolio highlights

• BEFFY — Babiew is Japan's first ranking and review site focused in baby products.
• Ecmile — Not just girly, MODERN girly . Official Instagram : https://t.co/324igscUok
• Kanji Ice — Kanji Japan Co., Ltd. is an entertainment company that develops, produces, and sells "Kanji Ice Cream" (ice cream shaped like characters) using its own patent-pending technology. Starting with kanji characters, they create ice cream in various forms of characters and promote its appeal both in Japan and internationally. In addition totheir specialty store "KANJI ICE Kamakura," they sell Kanji Ice Cream products throughout Japan. They are committed to providing a unique ice cream experience with carefully selected flavors and textures. Wholesale and business inquiries are also welcome.

Portfolio highlights

• Kakutoku — Nitlon Inc. provides crowdsourcing management services. The company was founded by Seiya Mitsuda on February 02, and is headquartered in Beppu, Japan.
• AlarmBox — AlarmBox develops services that make use of professional knowledge of technology and corporate screening, and changes common sense of risk management of enterprise.
• NexusAdvisors — NexusAdvisors operates AvaCareer, an AI-powered recruitment platform that leverages intelligent AI agents to support both companies and job seekers by streamlining hiring processes, enhancing candidate matching, and improving recruitment efficiency.

Portfolio highlights

• Any Style — Any Style develops a messaging app from voice actors that regularly sends messages via subscription. It also engages in the planning and production of audio content and the VTuber production business.
• Chaintope — Chaintope is specializes in blockchain technology with a focus for FinTech and non-FinTech sectors.
• Smile Robotics — Smile Robotics provides Service Robots in Japan.

Portfolio highlights

• Spike Studio — Spike Studio Inc., established in November 2023, is a Tokyo-based company specializing in generative AI and large language models. Their mission is to enhance Japan’s labor productivity tenfold by integrating advanced AI solutions into client operations and services. The company offers customized AI solutions, system integration, data analysis,predictive modeling, and training programs to help clients leverage generative AI effectively. Co-founded by CEO Shigeru Kuroyanagi and COO Hirohide Sano, Spike Studio aims to address challenges such as declining international competitiveness, an aging population, and labor shortages in Japan.
• Yosemite — Yosemite is a wellness company that provides health and wellness products, supplements, skincare, and personal care items.
• Innovative Space Carrier — Innovative Space Carrier is a aerospace company that offers space transportation systems, planning, drafting and technology strategies.

Portfolio highlights

• APTJ — Automotive Platform Technology Japan (APTJ) primarily engages in the development, sale, and licensing of automotive software and hardware products. It was founded on September 16, 2015.

Portfolio highlights

• NanoVita — Nanotechnology for the next human upgrade. AI-driven DeSci. RWA-backed health data.
• Voran — Voran is a decentralized computing platform that develops an AI compute and intelligence ecosystem.
• Fortune Protocol — Fortune Protocol brings the age- old tradition of fortune cookies to the modern prediction market.

Portfolio highlights

• CBcloud — CBCLOUD is offers outsourcing services. The Company provides light cargo crowdsourcing and other services.
• Re:Build — Re:Build is to create the world where we can help each other. Re:Build company was born from the desire to help those who challenge.Our mission is to create a world where help and support circulate throughout the business .
• Aplaca.Lab — Aplaca.Lab is a driver substitution platform that provides an unprecedented new driving experience. They released a driving agency application for providing comfortable driving experiences. It enables driving agencies to optimize their resources and clients' safety, prevent accidents, and receive assistance in areas with limited transportationoptions.

Portfolio highlights

• WOTA — WOTA specializes in the development of small-scale decentralized water recycling systems and autonomous control systems for water treatment. The company has established a cyclical model in which wastewater is reimagined as the most accessible water source and is recycled on-site for repeated domestic use. WOTA has created an innovative householdsolution known as a small-scale decentralized water recycling system, which transforms the seemingly unattainable goal of water recycling at the household level into a reality, utilizing our core technology powered by autonomous water treatment managed through sensors and data science.
• Gaxi — Gaxie is an IT firm that provides a cloud management system and manages scholarship sites for business.
• EUV Photon — EUV Photon is an irradiation services company that conducts processing, evaluation, and measurement of materials for EUV lights.

Portfolio highlights

• ZutaCore — The ZutaCore waterless direct-to-chip liquid cooling solutions is a smart, sustainable alternative to conventional air and water cooling for data centers.
• Array Labs — Array Labs is working to provide high-quality 3D imagery on a global scale.
• LuMing Robotics — Lumos Robotics integrates R&D, production, and sales to deliver intelligent robotic products and solutions worldwide.

Portfolio highlights

• EF Polymer — EF Polymer Private Limited providing 100% Organic and fully Biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymer cum Fertilizer to reduce Water and Fertilizer requirement for your plant. Let's grow organically.
• HerLifeLab — HerLifeLab is healthcare consulting company working for women health and empowerment.
• Think Nature — Think Nature is a researcher startup that specializes in the solutions related to the sustainability of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Portfolio highlights

• Amidex — Amidex is a dental care facility that treats dental problems with contemporary tools and technology.
• KUROFUNE — KUROFUNE specializes in services such as human resources, income compensation insurance, low-fee overseas remittances.
• Compass — Compass is a Solve problems in the local labor market with Consultation x Technology

Portfolio highlights

• Kowro (株式会社) — KOWRO is an AI entertainment startup studio that builds entertainment experiences using generative AI, focusing on AI-powered character chat services and AI translation to export Japanese entertainment content globally. The company was established as a new entity following the restructuring of Algorithmatic Co., Ltd., a DMM Group company, andoperates with a philosophy of launching multiple projects and focusing on profitable ones while exiting unprofitable ventures.
• Mantra — MANTRA is a developer of machine translation technology.
• MyAnimeList — Welcome to MyAnimeList, the world's most active online anime and manga community and database. Join the online community, create your anime and manga list, read reviews, explore the forums, follow news, and so much more!

Portfolio highlights

• PeakAI — AI-powered crypto distribution OS. From TikTok to everywhere. Peekaboo early signals. Spark micro-intel. Turn attention into capital.
• HolmesAI — Clone your intelligence to build the closest AI Agent to the real you. https://t.co/JFpIsFBHPb
• Superpower — the economy layer where agents make money

Portfolio highlights

• WHILL — WHILL designs and creates personal mobility products for indoor and outdoor applications. WHILL is making transportation enjoyable and smart for everybody. It aims to change the perception of mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters through advanced technology and smart design.
• Cofame — Before you bring something to the table.Cofame is your companion to enable you to manage your contacts and meeting history, and improve your business process.New style of contact exchange: Cofame is the next generation of exchanging business card and contacts. You no longer need to bring your paper business cards. If they do not haveCofame? no worries, you can send a part of contact information over Text and Email. Unlike your current paper business card, with Cofame, you can exchange yours with number of people at a same time. Meeting management: Cofame also enables you to manage meetings, and replicate those meetings on your smartphone. When, who, and where you met these people, who's sitting where, and what you discussed. You never lose your memory.
• VIVID Technologies — Vivid transforms traditional audio-only IVR, (that annoying robot voice you hear every time you call "customer service"). They have created an interactive visual experience, where all the relevant information is displayed in an intuitive way, rather than the painstaking audio IVR. Vivid presents the information in a clutter-free,simplified and more consumable manner, on your smartphones and tablets, which in turn leads to a significant reduction in traffic and dramatic efficiency gains. It also simultaneously increases the ease and effectiveness of communication between individuals and businesses' customer support department, while also cutting costs.Vivid was founded in October 2013 and is headquartered in England, United Kingdom.

Portfolio highlights

• Boings.AI — Boings.AI is a Web3 value collaboration network designed for the AI era.
• OptiView — Optiview is a Web3-native Intelligent Asset OS that transforms fragmented multi-chain reality into sovereign intelligence using a four-layered architecture.
• Fortune Protocol — Fortune Protocol brings the age- old tradition of fortune cookies to the modern prediction market.

Portfolio highlights

• The/Studio — Manufacture high-quality custom products in small batches with fast turnaround and free shipping online from The/Studio. Browse our custom products, here.
• Mizzen+Main — Look great. Feel even better. Mizzen+Main combines performance fabrics with modern silhouettes to create comfortable clothes that come with confidence.
• littleBits Electronics — LittleBits is an open source library of over 60 electronic modules that snap together with magnets allows users to view, download, and share designs and make their own Bits through the use of prototypes. Deluxe kit, Smart home kit, Arduino coding kit, Synth kit, hardware development kit, and workshop set are some of the electronics learning modulesprovided by littleBits.LittleBits was launched by Ayah Bdeir in 2011 and is operated from New York, United States.

Portfolio highlights

• LOGZ Group — LOGZ Group offers employment support for people with disabilities.
• Atlast health — Atlast Health provides high-quality psychological care to patients through technology.
• Better Place — Better place vision is to create a world in which kind people can continue to be kind, as well as a society in which people can work in their own way without worrying about money.

Portfolio highlights

• RABO — RABO is a Cat-Tech Company that "watches cat life with technology.
• MICOLY — MICOLY is a operator of a website aimed at publishing and selling creative video lessons. The company hosts lectures that are presented by the creators of all categories who are keen on sharing their techniques and philosophies in areas of nail art, Japanese calligraphy, flower arrangement, knitting and many more, as well as interacting with theirpassionate fans, enabling users to take creative lessons and start a new hobby.
• Asoview — Asoview is an online booking website that provides booking services for tour, activities and attractions/experiences.

Portfolio highlights

• JPYC — JPYC is a financial institution that issues the community stablecoin JPYC, which is pegged to the yen of Japanese. They want to create a society where everyone can develop by fusing the real world with the world of cryptocurrencies and increasing the liquidity of capital to achieve their goal of overcoming the social conundrum. It will promotecapital's liquidity and create an environment that helps in development for all.
• Torihada — Torihada is a creative firm specializing in influencer marketing, creating content, and digital marketing.
• Experisus — Experisus provides Website production, development and management, and software.

Portfolio highlights

• CoA Nexus — CoA Nexus develops and operates a skillshare matching platform for human resource research and development.
• bestat — bestat is a developer of platforms for 3D data creation, management, and utilization using AI and offers digital twins services.
• Openverse Global — Openverse operates as a Layer 0 hub, providing a foundational framework for decentralized applications and services.

Portfolio highlights

• ASUENE — Asuene involves in clean power retail business, retail SaaS business, etc.
• Recompound — Recompound is a financial services startup that acts as a personal investment advisor for individuals to grow their stock market portfolios.
• Testsigma — Powerful cloud-based test automation platform that lets you automate tests for web, mobile, desktop apps, and APIs in minutes. Sign up now!

Portfolio highlights

• APTJ — Automotive Platform Technology Japan (APTJ) primarily engages in the development, sale, and licensing of automotive software and hardware products. It was founded on September 16, 2015.

Portfolio highlights

• LSP Finance — Decentralized Liquidity/Yield-Asset Exchange. Elevate Staking, Maximize Earnings, Capture the Next Alpha
• Zerobase — Trust layer of global finance. A proving network for real yield, with verifiable execution for capital, settlement, and risk. https://t.co/Y71G4wo3H9
• Fortune Protocol — Fortune Protocol brings the age- old tradition of fortune cookies to the modern prediction market.

Portfolio highlights

• SkyDrive — SkyDrive is a start-up for development,manufacturing,sales of the “Flying cars” established by CARTIVATOR members.

Portfolio highlights

• IDOM CaaS Technology — IDOM CaaS Technology provides a free car life that is not limited to buying and selling cars.

Portfolio highlights

• Space BD — Space BD aims to become a one-stop shop to respond to all issues related to industrialization of space, and alleviate the work of businesses that are developing new technologies.
• KUZEN — KUZEN provides enterprise-grade chatbot technologies, especially the bot framework and NLP, via a visual UI without coding. The company is utilizing technology to develop a system that broadens the scope of dialogue. They use technology to provide their customers with next-generation standard procedures that broaden the possibilities ofconversation, resulting in unprecedented business practices.
• Neusignal Therapeutics — Neusignal Therapeutics is a medical company that develops therapeutic medicines for dementia and psychiatric illnesses.

Portfolio highlights

• AlgaleX — AlgaleX is a food technology and biotechnology company that develops AI-powered algae fermentation technology to produce sustainable food ingredients, nutritional compounds, and bioproducts. The company leverages proprietary AI-driven cultivation and fermentation systems to convert underutilized food byproducts into high-value microalgae rich innutrients such as DHA, umami compounds, and other functional ingredients. Its mission is to build a circular bioeconomy by reducing food waste while providing sustainable alternatives to marine- and animal-derived ingredients.The company's core technology is Touji-24, an AI-powered algae cultivation and fermentation control system that automates and optimizes microalgae production. Using proprietary fermentation processes and food byproducts such as awamori lees, AlgaleX cultivates algae that can be used to produce Umamo, a plant-based ingredient combining seafood-like umami flavor with high concentrations of DHA. This approach reduces reliance on wild-caught fish as a source of omega-3 fatty acids while upcycling food industry byproducts into valuable nutritional ingredients.
• CBcloud — CBCLOUD is offers outsourcing services. The Company provides light cargo crowdsourcing and other services.
• emade — emade is an electric mobility manufacturer involved in the development, production, and maintenance of numerous custom carts, as well as electric vehicle-related development contracts.

Portfolio highlights

• Aplaca.Lab — Aplaca.Lab is a driver substitution platform that provides an unprecedented new driving experience. They released a driving agency application for providing comfortable driving experiences. It enables driving agencies to optimize their resources and clients' safety, prevent accidents, and receive assistance in areas with limited transportationoptions.

Portfolio highlights

• Fidra Energy — Fidra Energy is committed to supporting renewable energy generation through efficient battery energy storage production. Learn more.
• Avaada — Business and sustainability can go hand-in-hand. Their unique strategy interweaves business goals with environmental sustainability and social responsibility, producing mutually beneficial results. By contributing to community’s socio-economic development in the short-term, they foresee delivery of continual value to their shareholders. Throughtheir community engagement initiatives, they are contributing to uplift the lifestyle of communities they work with.
• Caliche Development Partners — Caliche Development Partners acquires, develops, and operates subsurface hydrocarbon storage assets and associated pipelines. Caliche Development Partners team brings over 175 years of combined midstream asset development experience, including project finance, facility design, permitting, construction, marketing, and operations.CalicheDevelopment Partners focuses on the development and operation of midstream storage and transportation assets needed to meet the changing demands of the global energy landscape.

Portfolio highlights

• Vuzix — As a pioneer in wearable computing, augmented reality, waveguide optics, and display engines, Vuzix has been delivering solutions to customers for 25 years.
• Rigetti Computing — Practical quantum computing. Delivered over the cloud.
• Quantinuum — Quantinuum, created to transform quantum computing from theoretical to commercial, is accelerating quantum computing to help solve the world's most pressing challenges.

Portfolio highlights

• Sukedachi — Sukedachi had focused on the unique business habit in the Japanese construction industry that construction workers are order receivers as workmen themselves and are also orderers as small enterprises, and the firm started this service. Sukedachi allows workpeople specialized in construction works receive to notification of recruitment ofconstruction jobs which meet their pre-registered conditions including residence and occupation. With this service, construction workers who are seeking jobs can contact directly to each desired construction site, and constructors suffering from chronic manpower shortage can recruit workers on almost ideal on-demand conditions.
• Mantra — MANTRA is a developer of machine translation technology.

Portfolio highlights

• ADiXi — Adixi is a tech-driven business that supports the idea that people and technology may work together. It strives to open doors by utilizing cutting-edge technology, such as artificial intelligence, to promote long-term, sustainable corporate and societal progress.
• Alxtal — Alxtal is a tech company who optimize the development, design, and manufacturing processes of the manufacturing industry with IT and AI.
• Yokohama Vanilla — Yokohama Vanilla is a Company which operates Yokohama-based gift sweets brand.

Portfolio highlights

• Akari Hosho — Akari Hosho provides a group of trusted professionals, including lawyers and judicial scriveners. Akari Hosho provides a guarantee service.
• Black Cat Carnival — Black Cat Carnival Inc. is a communication service development company.
• Carbon CryoCapture — Carbon CryoCapture specializes in the carbon dioxide separation systems aimed at creating economically viable, energy-efficient, and genuinely sustainable CO2 separation and recovery technologies. The company is dedicated to deploying cost-effective, efficient systems for CO2 capture that integrate smoothly with current infrastructures, all whileenhancing energy consumption and production. This enables clients to attain zero emissions throughout the development and application of resources.

Portfolio highlights

• DennoKotsu — Denno Kotsu is a Taxi dispatch system development and provision, taxi company contract dispatch service

Portfolio highlights

• Linough — It is a system development company specializing in real estate. Development of real estate management for the system and the application, real estate utilization site operator manufacturing and sale of real estate management for hardware.
• Medigle — Medigle is a consulting firm that provides medical consulting and B2B services.
• KG Motors — KG Motors is an automotive firm that manufactures electric vehicles that can be moved comfortably and safely by one person.

Portfolio highlights

• KAICO — KAICO is a pharmaceuticals, diagnostic drugs production company.
• PXP — We are Japanese green tech startup company established in 2020 aiming to realize clean energy that can be used freely by anyone, anywhere and anytime.
• Flat Collaboration — Flat Collaboration provides neutral, white-label hotel management for a diverse portfolio of luxury and lifestyle properties.

Portfolio highlights

• Readyly — Introducing Readyly, the only AI-driven customer service platform built specifically for fast-growth companies.
• KG Motors — KG Motors is an automotive firm that manufactures electric vehicles that can be moved comfortably and safely by one person.
• Digital Clamp — Digital Clamp is a construction company that specializes in renovation, estimation judgment systems, drones, and media business.

Portfolio highlights

• Tradoor — Tradoor protects traders, LPs, and the protocol against unforeseen market fluctuations by using clever math and safety measures to enable traders to trade with confidence.
• Fireverse — Fireverse is an AI-powered musical and Web-3 platform.
• Mango Network — Multi-VM Omni-Chain Infra Network | Integrates the core advantages of OPStack & #Move | EVM & MoveVM support https://t.co/CCQMfVARnv

Portfolio highlights

• Direava — Direava is a medical device company that manufactures, sells, leases, and maintains medical equipments along with consulting services.
• Local Motors — Local Motors were known for their open-source motor vehicle designs, their cutting-edge expertise in 3D-printing cars, and their impressive self-driving vehicle technology.
• Nanofiber Quantum Technologies — Discover how NanoQT builds the foundation for scalable quantum computing with nanofiber cavity-QED technology and high-fidelity quantum connectivity.