Top 25 Digital Media Startup Investors in Japan
A list of 25 angel investors and VC funds that invest in Digital media startups based in Japan. We rank investors based on the number of investments they made in Digital media companies from Japan. We update this investor list every month.Top 25 Digital Media Startup Investors in Japan
Investor | Digital Media Japan investments |
---|---|
Seiko Electric | 2 |
Vector | 2 |
UNITED | 1 |
JIG-SAW | 1 |
SEPTENI HOLDINGS Japan | 1 |
Kiyoshi Nishikawa | 1 |
Richard Lo | 1 |
FFG Venture Business Partners | 1 |
ANRI | 1 |
Kiyohiro Sugashita | 1 |
B Dash Ventures | 1 |
Wavemaker Partners | 1 |
Regional Economy Revitalization Support Organization | 1 |
Incubate Fund | 1 |
Toyoshi Ryuichiro | 1 |
QTnet | 1 |
DFR Asia | 1 |
Shinichi Misawa | 1 |
SG INCUBATE | 1 |
NetAge | 1 |
Goshi Yamaguchi | 1 |
Nissay Capital | 1 |
FGN ABBA Lab | 1 |
Nobuhiro Ariyasu | 1 |
GREE | 1 |
Seiko Electric has contributed to society with the best products and services. They have continued to develop technologies that usher in new eras based on sound management and human resource development. They will work to develop new products and businesses using original information and control technology and contribute to the construction ofenvironmentally friendly, safe, and comfortable social infrastructure.
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Investment focus
- Photography, Digital Media, Artificial Intelligence
- Seed, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- HMS — HMS develops AI smart camera that integrates image input and processing.
Vector is a Japan-based PR agency that provides PR planning and implementation services for its clients. The agency also offers other services covering areas such as management, finance, accounting, human resources, administration, internal controls, and audits.
Vector was founded in 1993.
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Investment focus
- Media and Entertainment, Software, Marketing
- Funding Round, Seed, Corporate Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
UNITED, Inc. is developing the smart phone app and the advertising technology business.
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Investment focus
- Media and Entertainment, Content, Information Technology
- Funding Round, Seed, Series A
- Japan, Nigeria, United States
Portfolio highlights
- REVORN — REVORN is a fragrance AI and DX research and development company. They develop products such as odor sensors that can respond to odor issues and needs. They provide consultation at a range of levels, from identifying issues to developing solutions.
- Pinpin Kirari — Pinpin Kirari is a web platform that supports the region of the elderly.
- Mirai no Genba — Mirai no Genba is an IT company that offers AI form creation, input assist, data analytics,and visualization services.
JIG-SAW (San Jose) offers neqto, an all-in-one solution for IoT. As an all-in-one, fully managed solution for IoT, neqto provides: hardware, embedded and edge software, communication mechanisms, and cloud. Through neqto, easy and secure bidirectional communication for transmitting, collecting, and controlling things and systems via IoT is madepossible.With their core competencies in monitoring services, cloud technologies, mobile communication modules, embedded systems, and IoT equipment they hope to support and accelerate the automation and decentralization of the next generation of technology companies.
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Investment focus
- Content, Marketing, Digital Media
- Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- DoubleL — Doublel is a general trading company of pop culture that develops Japanese manga, anime, and games internationally. The company was founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan.
Septeni Holdings started as a recruitment consulting company and become an internet advertising company in the year 2000. The company was established in October 1990 and is based in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Content, Marketing
- Series A, Funding Round, Corporate Round
- Japan, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Sproot — Sproot engages in the media and entertainment business.
- Gokko Club — Gokko Club operates in the digital entertainment industry, focusing on content creation, public relations, and video production. The company is known for its short drama productions, which are characterized by their condensed content and fast-paced development. Gokko Club handles all aspects of these productions in-house, including scriptwriting,directing, production, and editing. The company also has a strong presence on social media platforms like TikTok, where it has amassed a significant following. In addition to its entertainment offerings, Gokko Club also provides music streaming services.
- Brave group — Brave group engages in IP development, marketing and support services.
After working at KDD Corporation (Currently known as KDDI Corporation), Kiyoshi Nishikawa next went to work at Arthur D. Little Inc. in the United States, where he became inspired to start his own company. After returning to Japan, he established a Japanese corporation of the world’s largest Internet company, America On Line, LLC. Later andbased on this experience and the relationships he developed, he founded the first Internet business incubator, NETAGE, Inc. After serving as the President and CEO of NETAGE Group, he later became and still serves as the Chairman of ngi group, inc. Kiyoshi was one of the main entrepreneurs responsible for proposing and realization of “Shibuya Bit Valley Concept†and is well known for his various speeches and writings. He is a graduate of the Department of Education at Tokyo University.
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Investment focus
- News, Social Media, Big Data
- Seed, Funding Round, Pre-Seed
- Japan, United States
Portfolio highlights
- PoliPoli — PoliPoli is a next-generation politics co-creation platform where you can participate like a game. Politicians from all over Japan post their policies in an easy-to-understand manner, and those who sympathize can enjoy working on the "missions" necessary to realize the policies.
- Astroscale — Astroscale is the first private company with a vision to secure the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations, and the only company solely dedicated to on-orbit servicing across all orbits.
- TECHFUND — TechFund is a venture capital firm specializing in incubation and seed stage investments. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
Richard Lau serves as Head of Wealth and Personal Banking Risk at Hang Seng Bank.
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Investment focus
- Content, Marketing, Digital Media
- Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- DoubleL — Doublel is a general trading company of pop culture that develops Japanese manga, anime, and games internationally. The company was founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan.
FFG Venture Business Partners is a large-scale enterprise that offers in traditional regional bank venture capital.
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Investment focus
- Software, Artificial Intelligence, Content
- Funding Round, Series A, Seed
- Japan, United States
Portfolio highlights
- F.MED — F.MED is a manufacturing company that designs and develops robotic microsurgical devices for the healthcare industry.
- Domuz — Domuz is a firm that wants to utilize technology and design to create a lifestyle that makes potted plants and flowers more comfortable.
- Pathos Logos — Pathos Logos is an HR co-creation platform that specializes in sales of SaaS and supply of human resources for corporations.
ANRI is a Japanese venture capital firm that mainly invests in seed and early-stage startups.
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Investment focus
- Health Care, Information Technology, Software
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan, United States, India
Portfolio highlights
- Dioseve — Dioseve is providing novel possibilities for all life.
- 3DC — 3DC develops and manufactures a new carbon material, graphene meso sponge (GMS), for electrodes in next-generation batteries, capacitors, fuel cells and other energy storage and generation devices.
- Mirai no Genba — Mirai no Genba is an IT company that offers AI form creation, input assist, data analytics,and visualization services.
Mr. Sugashita joined Polaris as Advisor in May 2011. He is Director and CEO of Sugashita Partners, Ltd since 1998 and provides consulting services to financial institutions and ventures in and outside of Japan. Prior to that position, he was CEO of Lazard Japan Asset Management from 1991 to 1998. His business career also includes positions at DaiwaSecurities and Merrill Lynch Securities, Tokyo Branch. On the academic front, Mr. Sugashita received a BA in Economics from Ritsumeikan University and since 2009 is Special Advisor for the Dean of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.
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Investment focus
- Marketing, Travel, Media and Entertainment
- Seed, Series A, Funding Round
- Japan
B Dash Ventures does seed to late stage tech investments in Japan, Asia Pacific, and the U.S. LPs include Japan's largest technology companies and financial institutions including NTT Docomo, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, GREE, NEC BIGLOBE, Fuji Television, and the Japanese government. B Dash Ventures also operates an incubation space inpartnership with Mori Building Co. and holds the invitation-based B Dash Camp conference.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Information Technology, E-Commerce
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan, Taiwan, India
Portfolio highlights
- G.U. Group — G.U. Labs provides cloud tools and solutions, security technologies, and R&D capabilities to respond to the various social changes caused by blockchain. G.U.Labs provides cloud tools and solutions, security technologies, and research and development capabilities to respond to the various social changes caused by blockchain.
- Fixx — Fixx is an automobile company that provides on-site car maintenance and other mechanic services.
- Ascend — Ascend is a logistics company.
Wavemaker Group is a cross-border venture capital firm founded in 2003 and one of the most active early-stage investors across multiple funds.
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Investment focus
- Software, E-Commerce, Information Technology
- Seed, Series A, Funding Round
- United States, Singapore, Philippines
Portfolio highlights
- BayaniPay — The convenience of full online banking services and market-leading forex rates for sending money to the Philippines. Open an account today!
- Vigo Retail — Vigo Retail is an e-commerce platform that provides retail services by connecting suppliers, brands, and distributors.
- Lhoopa — Making homeownership achievable for every Filipino family.
The Regional Economy Revitalization Support Organization supports small and medium-sized companies.
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Investment focus
- Photography, Digital Media, Artificial Intelligence
- Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- HMS — HMS develops AI smart camera that integrates image input and processing.
Incubate Fund is an independent early-stage venture capital that specializes in providing capital to technology startups at the seed stage. The firm built a portfolio of over 300 companies in Asia, taking 12 companies to public and 20 companies to M&A exit since 2010.
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Investment focus
- Software, Information Technology, E-Commerce
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan, United States, India
Portfolio highlights
- Mycel — Mycel is a decentralized cross-chain asset management platform with an intent-based token transfer layer.
- MaterialGate — MaterialGate focuses on single-molecule dielectrics, developing technologies for devices with better electronic characteristics.
- Mechano Cross — Mechano Cross is a mechanical company that offers mechanochemical organic synthesis technology for solution reactions.
Toyoshi Ryuichiro - CEO @ Misoca
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Investment focus
- Apps, mHealth, Internet
- Pre-Seed, Funding Round
- Japan
QTnet is a telecommunication and internet service provider.
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Investment focus
- Artificial Intelligence, Medical, Software
- Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- HMS — HMS develops AI smart camera that integrates image input and processing.
- Medmain — To create a world where medical services can be accessed with technology anywhere,anytime-As a supporting partner to medical practitioners throughout the world, Medmain develops and operates PidPort, an analytical system for pathological image diagnosis that makes use of Deep Learning, as well as Medteria, a specialized cloud-based service for medical students.
DFR is a digital media venture studio.
DFR conceives, builds, and assumes ownership and execution responsibility for new ventures from inception.
DFR is the first company in the world to deploy the emerging studio model in Asia, and the first venture studio dedicated exclusively to digital media.
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Investment focus
- Video, Digital Media, Media and Entertainment
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Breaker — Breaker is Japan's global digital studio.
Shinichi Misawa - Director @ Zappallas
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Investment focus
- Content, Marketing, Digital Media
- Series A, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Kudan — Kudan has been providing proprietary Artificial Perception technologies based on SLAM to enable use cases with significant market potential and impact on our lives such as autonomous driving, robotics, AR/VR and smart cities
- DoubleL — Doublel is a general trading company of pop culture that develops Japanese manga, anime, and games internationally. The company was founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan.
SG Incubation was born as an investment company for the formation of corporate venture capital (CVC), which invests in Kyushu's first startup company.Regardless of the stage of growth, the startup company that will be the investor will first value the “human nature” of the manager, determine whether it is a company that should support thefuture, and provide capital and management back up. The Seibu Gas Group will continue to aim for new business areas.
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Investment focus
- Software, Logistics, Information Technology
- Series A, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- HMS — HMS develops AI smart camera that integrates image input and processing.
- YeLL Japan — YeLL is a company that help transform the organization by making the real sound of employees visible.
- OPTEMO — OPTEMO develops and supplies sales technology that allows businesses and customers to connect through a website.
netage, inc. is a venture capital firm specializing in startup and incubation investments. They invests in internet business. netage is located in Tokyo, Japan.
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Investment focus
- News, Local, Big Data
- Pre-Seed, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- JX Press — The JX PRESS Corporation is Japan’s“virtual news agency.”JX PRESS’s “FASTALERT” service provides breaking news bulletins for urgent information on accidents, natural disasters, and other incidents detected by AI to all six of the major television broadcast stations in Japan, including NHK, and the majority of the 100+ local broadcast stations.FASTALERT works with more companies than any other service that utilizes information gathered from social networking sites for news reporting in Japan.The version offered to ordinary consumers, an app called “NewsDigest,” is the biggest news bulletin app in Japan, boasting over 1 million downloads. It is gaining popularity because of its ability to use AI to automatically detect and deliver news bulletins on information worth reporting. Alongside FASTALERT, it is also gaining more widespread use by news reporters as a standardized service for information.Stakeholders in the JX PRESS Corporation include KYODO NEWS, the leading news agency in Japan, two of the leading commercial broadcast stations (TV Asahi and Fuji TV), and the Nikkei Group. We are a new kind of news agency that provides computerized news reporting to all of the major media groups in Japan.Bloomberg - This Media Startup Is Beating the Competition With a Newsroom Run by Robots https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-27/the-airline-geek-trying-to-build-a-media-giant-with-no-reporters
- Oceans — Oceans Inc. was incorporated on September 16th, 2010 as an internet service company with the expressed goal of making the Internet more useful, more local, more here and now. Specialists from the fields of user interface, user experience, creative, programming and monetization gathered to make this possible. Currently, these development and serviceoperations professionals operate Eyeland(http://eyeland.in), a popular local communications platform.
Goshi Yamaguchi
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Investment focus
- Food and Beverage, Digital Media, Apps
- Seed, Pre-Seed, Corporate Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- ReadHub — ReadHub is a Information technology , Planning, development and management of Internet media and applications company.
- Pan For You — Pan For You is a Food & Beverage Company. We deliver delicious bread from all over the world with our unique freezing technology and propose a lifestyle where you can enjoy freshly baked bread anytime.
- ZAZA — ZAZA is focus to make the world where people can respect each other even thought they have a different culture and belief.
Nissay Capital is a venture capital Company specializing in seed, start-up, growth capital, middle stage, and later stage investment.
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Investment focus
- Health Care, Medical, Internet
- Funding Round, Seed, Series A
- Japan, Ethiopia, United States
FGN ABBA Lab is an investment fund that mainly supports pre-seed to series A early stage startups.
In this FGN ABBA Lab fund, they will support startups with the idea of creating “things and things” that make the world exciting without limiting the genre, investment, training, and social implementation.
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Investment focus
- Software, Aerospace, Information Technology
- Seed, Pre-Seed, Funding Round
- Japan, Hong Kong
Portfolio highlights
- neuet — neuet develops and operates a smartphone application that offers bike-sharing services.
- HMS — HMS develops AI smart camera that integrates image input and processing.
- Sorano Me — Sorano Me is a content creation and media company that provides space related content, space data and consulting services.
Nobuhiro Ariyasu is the CEO at Coach United.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Content, Finance
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan, Singapore
Portfolio highlights
- Issues — Issues provides development and management of web service issues that solve the problems.
- PeopleX — PeopleX encourages and assists employees in their professional development.
- Collectest — Collectest specializes in integrating AI into trading card appraisal procedures that show current market pricing and verify authenticity.
Gree is a Japanese internet media company that provides mobile social networking, and mobile technology services for its users. Gree shares development and operational expertise across all its studios as Gree always works to create new game models for its customers.
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Investment focus
- Mobile, Gaming, Internet
- Seed, Series A, Funding Round
- Japan, United States, Canada
Portfolio highlights
- Oasys — Oasys is an eco-friendly blockchain built for the gaming community, offering the best user experience with fast transactions and zero gas fees.
- Oasys — Oasys is an eco-friendly blockchain built for the gaming community, offering the best user experience with fast transactions and zero gas fees.
- Bankers Holding — Bankers Holding controls the bankers group companies that provide financial services via internet.
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