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Top 50 Hardware Angel Investors in Japan in November 2024

Last updated: Nov 2024 A list of 50 angel investors that invest in Hardware startups based in Japan. We rank investors based on the number of investments they made in Hardware companies from Japan. We update this investor list every month.

Top 50 Hardware Angel Investors in Japan in November 2024

Investor	Hardware Japan investments
Kotaro Chiba	7
Kotaro Chiba	7
Yusuke Sato	4
Hironao Kunimitsu	4
Hirofumi Miki	3
Ayataro Nakagawa	3
Masao Ito	3
Mamoru Taniya	2
Cheng Tao	2
Kazuhiro Ishikura	2
Yasumasa Manabe	2
Taizo Son	2
Kiyoshi Nishikawa	2
Narita Shuzo	2
Matsuo Koichiro	2
Shigeru Urushibara	2
Hideki Hayashi	1
Yusuke Konishi	1
Suzuki Yuto	1
Yusuke Murata	1
Jun Nishikawa	1
Shota Horii	1
Shogo Kawada	1
Kensuke Furukawa	1
Hidetoshi Takano	1
Yuki Sato	1
Miyajima Yuji	1
Oki Matsumoto	1
Taiga Matsuyama	1
Shuhei Morofuji	1
Hiroaki Watatani	1
Bart Joseph Broadman	1
Yasuhide Uno	1
Yo Shibata	1
Ryosuke Matsumoto	1
Hao Yan	1
Yasuyuki Kin	1
Kotaro Yamagishi	1
Shuuichi Wada	1
Masahiko Homma	1
Takao Ozawa	1
Masanori Sugiyama	1
Kenji Kasahara	1
Yoshitsune Ido	1
Keisuke Honda	1
Otomi Tomohiro	1
Shunsuke Oyu	1
Toru Shimada	1
Teruhide Sato	1
Yu Akasaka	1

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Investor list

Kotaro Chiba is the founder of ChibaDojo Fund. Kotaro Chiba attended Keio University.

Investment focus

Travel, Internet, Software
Seed, Funding Round, Series A
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

MI-6 — MI-6 is a research, development, consulting, and project management for material development using IT. We will promote materials informatics in the field of material development with our technological capabilities and a wealth of project knowledge that challenge the world's most advanced technologies .
ELESTYLE — ELESTYLE are promoting mobile payments and providing high value-added services for users to realize a cashless society.
Luup — Luup is an Internet Company.

Kotaro Chiba is the founder of ChibaDojo Fund. Kotaro Chiba attended Keio University.

Investment focus

Internet, Drones, Software
Seed, Funding Round, Series A
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

MI-6 — MI-6 is a research, development, consulting, and project management for material development using IT. We will promote materials informatics in the field of material development with our technological capabilities and a wealth of project knowledge that challenge the world's most advanced technologies .
ELESTYLE — ELESTYLE are promoting mobile payments and providing high value-added services for users to realize a cashless society.
Luup — Luup is an Internet Company.

Yusuke Sato is the Co-Representative and Co-Founder of Pulit.

Investment focus

Internet, Content, Food and Beverage
Seed, Funding Round, Angel
Japan, Indonesia, United States

Portfolio highlights

Kaymak — Kaymak is a recruitment platform that focuses on creating a recruitment website, planning a recruitment strategy, and managing candidates.
Paytner — yup is providing services to support freelance people's funding.The freelance population in Japan has been shown to continue to increase in many Chosa. While working styles are diversified, they are not able to respond to the development of the working environment, and they will develop their business to change the situation where problemssuch as funding, credit, sexual harassment, and power harassment are accumulated.
Meetscare — Meetscare provides correct information and supports the self-awareness of all people involved in care. The company provides a wealth of information to ensure optimal care and create a mechanism for the realization. Users can make a telephone consultation and web diagnosis and search for free information using the system.Meetscare was founded on2016 and is headquartered in Arakawa, Tokyo.

Hironao Kunimitsu was born in Hyogo, Japan. After graduating from Okayama High School, he spent several years traveling around the world. He visited over 30 countries including the US, China, India, Canada, and others in Central and South America.In 1996 he entered Fudan University in China, and then later went on to study at Santa MonicaCollege in the US. In 2004 he entered Atmovie Inc. where he produced movies and televised dramas, and was appointed company director in the same year. In 2007 he founded gumi Inc., and it started listing on first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December, 2014.

Investment focus

Virtual Reality, Content, Media and Entertainment
Funding Round, Seed, Angel
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

1SEC — 1sec is a virtual influencers in Japan,develop in-house and management. IMPACT to CEKAI in 1 second. Based on the concept of making CEKAI happy in one second, US based in Los Angeles and Japan, based in Tokyo, virtual influencers × AI, fashion & music & The company will develop a number of CEKAI's first and first projects in Japan inthe field of enter teignment.
Gatari — Gatari is developing an AR audio platform, including the AR camera app Vismuth, which can call avatars in reality.
Thirdverse — Thirdverse (formerly known as Yomuneco Inc) is engaged in Virtual Reality content and services planning, development, sales and management.

After JTB Co., Ltd. and CYBIRD Co., Ltd. as an initial member of Glee Co., Ltd. is responsible for business development. Currently, he is mainly engaged in venture support in the Internet area, investing in venture and venture capital, and served as management advisor for dozens of companies. Hands-on business development, growth strategydevelopment, financing advice, HR organization design support, partner referral and Recruit Support. He is also engaged in business support for ventures in the healthcare and university venture fields. He served as Digital Health Meetup Advisor, NEDOTCP Mentor and Future 2016 Mentor.

Investment focus

Content, Marketing, Internet
Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
Japan

Portfolio highlights

aceRNA Technologies — AceRNA contributes to regenerative medicine and drug discovery through the discovery of novel miRNA functions. It began operation in April 2018, with its headquarters in Kyoto in Japan.
Epicbase — Epicbase is an AI-based automatic voice transcription service based on voice recognition technology.
Go Visions — Go Visions engages in the edutainment tech for children and human resources services.

2011 At university, participated in the founding period as a director of Atcole Co., Ltd., and started the web service experience.2012 Founded Peroli Co., Ltd., which operates a curation platform for women "MERY" .2014 Founded Peroli Co., Ltd. Sold to DeNA 2015 Jointly established Tokyo Founders Fund as an angel investor and startedinvesting in startups in Japan and overseas 2019 Appointed outside director of FIREBUG Co., Ltd.

Investment focus

Internet, Software, Content
Seed, Angel, Funding Round
Japan, Hong Kong, United States

Portfolio highlights

For you — For you is a comprehensive Advertising agency business specializing in SNS.
Meetscare — Meetscare provides correct information and supports the self-awareness of all people involved in care. The company provides a wealth of information to ensure optimal care and create a mechanism for the realization. Users can make a telephone consultation and web diagnosis and search for free information using the system.Meetscare was founded on2016 and is headquartered in Arakawa, Tokyo.
SPORTS CROWN — SPORTS CROWN engages in the development and operation of fantasy sports.

Masao Ito is a Founder & CEO at User Local.

Investment focus

Content, Information Technology, Social Media
Seed, Series A, Angel
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Illusil — Illusil is a service that makes it easier for anyone to generate slide materials and reduces the amount of time needed to do it. Additionally, presentations can be automatically generated from text input by AI, and over 1,000 design templates can be used to build original slides.
Aruya Umu — Aryaum supports "regional revitalization through NFT" by offering local governments all around the nation hometown tax and tourism NFT solutions.
Driver Technologies — Driver Technologies is a cloud logistics platform provider. It provides a solution for driver matching and cargo vehicle demands.

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined Solomon Brothers, where he became the youngest managing director in Asia, where he was in charge of Asian investment. After that, he created one of the largest independent Asuka assets. He also launched Japan's first independent online life insurance company,LifeNet Life Insurance, and inspired Japan's first International.

Investment focus

Apps, Content, FinTech
Seed, Series A, Funding Round
Japan, Singapore, Spain

Portfolio highlights

Revorf — Revorf analyzes data and develops AI-related to infectious diseases and healthcare.
abillion — Find tips for plant-based food & products near you. Join the community to share reviews of restaurants & brands. Raise funds & drive sustainability!
RIMM Sustainability — RIMM Sustainability provides a SaaS platform that enables companies of all sizes to optimise their sustainability management effort. It builds tools for sustainability management, reporting and optimisation.

Tao Cheng currently works as Chief Executive Officer and Founder of popIn.

Investment focus

Telecommunications, Content, Internet
Seed, Angel, Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Tokyo — Tokyo provides consistently-designed signage and projector installation, as well as maintenance company support. All customers need is “product selection” considering installation. This is a service that does not take time and effort!
Aidemy — Aidemy is a web service where you can learn AI programming online.
Girasol Energy — Girasol Energy is an IoT Platform provides innovative PLC technologies that enable wiser PV Plants.

Kazuhiro Ishikura served as the head of the Akatsuki Business Management Department in 2013 and as a corporate auditor of Akatsuki in 2014, contributing to the company's listing on the TSE Mothers and TSE 1st sections. Appointed 3minute CFO in 2015, engaged in business start-up and organizational design, and succeeded in large-scale M & Adeal with Glee. After leaving the company, he became a WARC director in November 2018. Certified public accountant.

Investment focus

Beauty, Content, Fashion
Seed, Angel, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Neith — Neith is a apparel manufacturer, seller and a whoelseller of water absorbing bralette, lingerie and shorts for women.
WARC Japan — WARC provides hands-on support for business management departments as well as mergers and acquisition advisory services.
Vitalogue Health — Vitalogue Health offers Canvas, a home-based hormone testing service for women.

Yasumasa Manabe

Investment focus

Information Technology, Drones, Big Data
Seed, Series A, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

MoonJapan — MoonJapan is an educational impact startup that offers a variety of programs and thorough assistance.
Miraikikai — Miraikikai is a start-up originating from Kagawa University with a mission to create intelligent mobile robots for professional-use.Their robots products, designed based on field reseach to provide the high quality and the best cost effective solution, are achieved with mechanical design and control technology backed by the latest researchachievements and years of experience.
Metro Weather — Metroweather is a venture from Kyoto University that develops a high-performance Doppler lidar that measures the direction and speed of wind several tens of kilometers away from minute movements of fine particles in the atmosphere. We aim to contribute to the safety of the sky by completing a three-dimensional wind map, which has never beenrealized,based on years of research at the Kyoto University Research Institute for Sustainable Areas.

Taizo Son - Co-Founder @ VIVITA

Investment focus

Financial Services, Information Technology, CleanTech
Seed, Series A, Angel
Japan, Singapore, United States

Portfolio highlights

LIFT99 — LIFT99 is a coworking hub and network of startup founders in Tallinn, Estonia, and Kyiv, Ukraine. In 2018, we launched our Skillsharing Platform for founders around the world.
Smartround — Smartround is a specialized finance management platform for startups and their investors. For start-ups, for entrepreneurs who are not familiar with finance, simply enter the necessary information according to the guide, prepare appropriate financing round, and prepare a function that can simulate and execute a capital increase. Support informationsharing and communication with shareholders even after the capital increase.
AnotherBall — AnotherBall is a blockchain startup that combines entertainment and blockchain.

After working at KDD Corporation ï¼ˆCurrently known as KDDI Corporationï¼‰, 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 worldâ€™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 â€œShibuya Bit Valley Conceptâ€ and is well known for his various speeches and writings. He is a graduate of the Department of Education at Tokyo University.

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.

Narita Shuzo is a Executive Vice President/COO, CrowdWorks Inc.

Investment focus

Task Management, Media and Entertainment, Content
Seed, Pre-Seed, Angel
Japan

Portfolio highlights

MIL — MIL is a marketing company it can be used for a wide range of video marketing such as video commerce , O2O measures , recruitment videos , and landing videos.
Morght — Morght is an information technology service company.
MiL Inc — Emerging products for healthcare food brands Producing food retailing and wholesale recipe development Restaurant management Catering media operation.

Matsuo Koichiro - Director @ Kokopelli

Investment focus

Robotics, Software, Information Technology
Seed, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Kokopelli — Kokopelli is a Fintech start-up company that develops the management support platform "SHARES" for small and medium-sized businesses and the AI loan screening engine "FAI" (* 2) that enhances credit for financial institutions.

Shigeru Urushibara - President & CEO @ UL Systems

Investment focus

Artificial Intelligence, Task Management, Social Media
Series A, Seed, Angel
Japan

Portfolio highlights

EmbodyMe — Making the unimaginable, imaginable with AI
SPACE WALKER — SPACE WALKER specializes in design, manufacture and sale of peripheral components.
SingulaNet Ltd — SingulaNet Ltd provides a total solution using cutting-edge blockchain services.

Hideki Hayashi

Investment focus

Drones, Robotics, Consulting
Seed, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Re-abroad —
GenerativeX — GenerativeX provides AI app development, consulting, and generative model development.
Smart Robotics Japan — Smart Robotics is a development and sales of robot-related products development of robots, drones, and IOT devices (hardware and software).

Yusuke Konishi - Co-founder, CTO @ FIVE Inc.

Investment focus

Metaverse, Virtual Reality, Web Development
Seed
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Urth — Urth is an IT company that specializes in architectural design by providing corporations with a metaverse for architects' business models.

Suzuki Yuto - Representative Director and CEO @ JapanWork

Investment focus

SaaS, Content, Internet
Series A, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Aidemy — Aidemy is a web service where you can learn AI programming online.
Bizibl Technologies — Bizibl Technologies provides SaaS services for recruitment events.

In 1999, he founded SaaS startup (towards financial institutions). After exited, he joined the NIF Ventures (now Daiwa Corporate Investment) in 2003, and mainly dealt with investment for internet-related startups and fund management. In 2010, founded Incubate Fund as one of co-founder and general partner, and works on investment and incubation inmedia, gaming, digital health, and frontier-tech areas. He won #1 prize of Forbes JAPAN’s MIDAS LIST 2017. Since 2015, he is on the Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA) as General Manager of planing department and Chairperson of Fund Eco-System Committee and Director of LP Relationship department.

Investment focus

Nursing and Residential Care, Software, Artificial Intelligence
Series A, Seed, Series B
Japan

Portfolio highlights

KOMPEITO — Office de Yasai is an online platform that enables users to order and get vegetables delivered to their offices. The platform’s operations are based in Tokyo, Japan.
Ark Edge Space — Ark Edge Space provides design, manufacturing & operational services for micro-satellites along with software solutions and consulting.
Woodstock — Woodstock is an investment app that allows to invest in US stocks.

Jun Nishikawa - Co-founder, Executive Vice President, COO @ Eureka

Investment focus

Food and Beverage, Media and Entertainment, Mobile
Seed, Series A, Angel
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

FamiOne — FamiOne is creating a society that will support the future of couples who want to receive children.
Misaky Tokyo — Marine plant-based, handmade Japanese sweets. These crystal treats are individually handcrafted, the perfect gift idea! Vegan, gluten-free, and additive-free confectionery, with stunning flavors such as Yuzu, Matcha, and Rose. Supporting artisans in their craft. Japanese luxury sweets with a surprise inside.
Reiwa Travel — Reiwa Trave is a digital travel agency intended that optimizes overseas travel. The company's platform uses online travel booking tools that provide digitalized contracts along with trip management, thereby enabling its customers' vacation and leisure experiences.

Shota Horii

Investment focus

Information Technology, Internet, Art
Seed, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Flatt Security — Flatt Security is a cyber security company for all developers.
Lecto — Lecto provides Saas solutions to eliminate the tedious practices behind financial services
UNDEFINED Japan — UNDEFINED is a very young team with an average age of about 20 years.We develop products for teenagers who make the most of their youth by working closely with users.

Shogo Kawada is Co-founder and Adviser of DeNA, a global Internet company focused on a social games platform, social games, e-commerce and other Web services for mobile devices and PCs.

Investment focus

Software, SaaS, Media and Entertainment
Seed, Funding Round, Angel
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

Voicy — Voicy is a mobile platform that recruits both media personalities and news organizations; the entertainers read the news so users can get the latest info from their favorite voices.
sunblaze — sunblaze is a android-based smartphone users begin to experience stability issues after one to two years of use. For example, their device may get slower or they encounter unexpected app crashes. These stability issues also lead to security vulnerabilities.SUNBLAZE OS features essential functions only, meaning it does not have any unnecessaryfunctions. This allows the system to be more stable and secure, and users are able to use it for a longer period of time.
Spider Labs — Spider Labs offers solutions to help fight ad fraud and ensure data security.

Kensuke Furukawa was born in June 2, 1981. He graduated Waseda University majoring Political Science and Economics, and in 2000, he launched "Milkcafe", a student community, which has grown to a site with 10 million PV per month. In 2004, he became the CEO of Media Clip, which operates a rental bulletin board service "ShitarabaBBS". After that year, he had transfer "Shitaraba BBS" to Livedoor, and took charge of starting up the Consumer Generated Media sector. In 2006, he joined Recruit, and took charge of starting up a new business at Business development sector. In June of 2009, he left Recruit, and became the CEO of nanapi （formerly Rocket Start), which operates the How-to Site "nanapi".

Investment focus

Content, Media and Entertainment, Social Media
Seed, Funding Round, Angel
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Plott — Plott producing youtube animation platform under Vision “Become a Content holder from YouTube”. In August 2019, the company name was changed from Fabo to Plott. Plott, the new company name, is derived from the plot that you make before writing novels, etc., and the idea that “I want to make content all the time” is put in the company name.
Now Do — Now Do provides online growth revolution platform.
Neighbor — The creative universe of Fortnite is infinite. To give an example , building fantasy and science fiction worlds, creating simple games and full-scale battle games can all be completed with Fortnite. Is the world of Fortnite, played by 350 million users worldwide, is it real or unreal? We will try to combining the vast world of Fortnite with the real world.

Joined Intelligence in 1999. Established Key Players Inc. in 2005. Consultation with more than 3,000 managers and career counseling for more than 10,000 individuals. In addition, we have invested in more than 55 outside directors, advisors and angels in Silicon Valley and Bangladesh in Japan. Over 100 lectures on careers, entrepreneurship andstartups.

Investment focus

Internet, Information Technology, Human Resources
Seed, Angel, Funding Round
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

Kaymak — Kaymak is a recruitment platform that focuses on creating a recruitment website, planning a recruitment strategy, and managing candidates.
D-Chain — D-Chain offers services related to IT development and production in the Web3 and Web2 fields.
Rayout — Rayout is a business consulting company that provides creative content development, recruitment videos, and web production services.

Engineer since 10 years old. Electronics, Mechanical, Web, iOS Android

Investment focus

Sports, Internet, Recruiting
Seed
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Waaq — Waaq is an actively recruiting members who want to change the work environment in Japan.
Now Do — Now Do provides online growth revolution platform.

Miyajima Yuji is a Founder & CEO at Mobile Factory.

Investment focus

Content, Blockchain, Consulting
Seed, Angel, Corporate Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

TunaGate — TunaGate is a circle community site that boasts the largest number of registrations in Japan.
Pointy —
BlockBase — BlockBase provides consultation on blockchain-related technology. It also engages in product planning and development utilizing blockchain-related technology.

Oki Matsumoto began his career at Salomon Brothers Asia Limited in April 1987. He then joined Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. in April 1990 and was appointed General Partner of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. in November 1994. As a General Partner, he was Co-Head of its Tokyo Branch’s FX & Fixed Income Business and was in charge of FX and fixedincome products and the related risk management. It was in April 1999 that Matsumoto jointly established (the former) Monex, Inc. with Sony Corporation. In August 2004, Matsumoto become the Representative Director and CEO of the Company (former name: Monex Beans Holdings, Inc.) upon its formation through management integration of Monex, Inc. and Nikko Beans Inc. He was named the Representative Director, Chairman and CEO of the Company in February 2011 and then assumed his current position in June 2013.

Investment focus

Information Technology, Cryptocurrency, FinTech
Angel, Seed, Series A
Japan, Taiwan, Australia

Portfolio highlights

Toposware — From pioneering cryptographic research to engineering global-scale distributed systems technologies, Toposware is committed to solving the hardest problems to advance open internet standards.
WATASHIHA — WATASHIHA is a communication company.
SPACE WALKER — SPACE WALKER specializes in design, manufacture and sale of peripheral components.

Taiga Matsuyama graduated form Waseda University, Matsuyama has been engaged in venture company support for more than ten years in Tokyo, after experience as a consultant at Accenture.Matsuyama became one of the board member of NetAge, Inc (IPO 2006), start-up incubator known by having invested in MIXI – Japanese top SNS and support severalstart-up companies.He also has contributed to the activity for create the start-up eco-system in Tokyo through the NPO Organization BVA (Bit Valley Association). Currently he has established Kronos Fund with angel investors, venture capital fund for investment in emerging early-stage companies.Kronos Fund has invested in more than 20 companies.

Investment focus

Software, Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunications
Seed, Angel, Series A
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

Shippo — Shippo is the best multi-carrier shipping software for e-commerce businesses. Find the best shipping rates, integrate with e-commerce platforms, print shipping labels, track package delivery, and verify addresses with either our shipping API or web app.
CAMPFIRE — Campfire engages in the planning, development, and operation of a crowd funding platform.They operate the largest cloud funding platform in Japan [CAMPFIRE (campfire)], which supports "whoever wants to start something."The fee is 5% of the domestic level, and about 15,000 projects have collected about $70million in total from over700,000 people.
Spectra Japan — Spectra is a Provision of services for artists and fans company.

Shuhei Morofuji is the CEO of Reapra Japan.He Previously worked at SMS Japan as the Founder and CEO.Shuhei Morofuji attended Kyushu University in 1997.

Investment focus

SNS, Robotics, Aerospace
Angel, Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

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.
SMS Japan — The corporate website of SMS Co., Ltd. We disclose a wide range of information, including company overview, investor relations, and sustainability.

Hiroaki Watatani is the president of ASAKASHINKAN GROUP.

Investment focus

Content, Software, Logistics
Seed
Japan

Portfolio highlights

TunaGate — TunaGate is a circle community site that boasts the largest number of registrations in Japan.
Best Beer Japan — Best Beer Japan provides a barrel tracking software for craft beer and barrel sharing. The company was founded in 2018.

Bart Joseph Broadman

Investment focus

Robotics, Machine Learning, Autonomous Vehicles
Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Ascent Robotics — Ascent is a Tokyo-based AI and robotics company developing cutting-edge software with the goal of helping create a more autonomous future.

Yasuhide Uno - Executive Chairman @ ALMEX Japan

Investment focus

CRM, Internet, Task Management
Seed, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Estore — Estore specializes in system, consulting, and management services. The company provides the customer with a server and systems for the operation of the Webshop. Founded on February 17, 1999.
TalentX — MyRefer is the referral adopted activation service.

Yo Shibata is the Co-Founder of tailor inc. He previously worked at Spotlight, inc. as a Founder and CEO. Yo Shibata attended The University of Tokyo.

Investment focus

Apps, Gaming, Content
Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

Regain — Regain provides remote on-demand physical rehabilitation treatment solutions and video tutorials through the internet. It was launched by Hiroki Watanabe.
ENDROLL — ENDROLL is a startup that develops and provides entertainment content using XR. Company Profile
Autify — AI software testing company aimed at solving the challenges associated with automation testing. We are passionate about making software testing faster and easier, empowering companies to release faster and keep their applications stable.

Ryosuke Matsumoto is the Founder / CEO at Kankak. Ryosuke Matsumoto attended Chuo University.

Investment focus

Art, Reservations, Software
Seed, Angel, Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

6curry — 6curry is a brand that creates a new community around “curry”, one of the world's best Japanese foods. The concept is to mix many people and ideas like curry made by mixing various ingredients and spices. Original menu development, weekly events are held in the central kitchen, open only to members. We design and produce communication bornfrom food, such as event catering for over 500 people and communication proposals within the company.
TRiCERA — TRiCERA is a contemporary art global platform management company.
vivid garden — vivid garden is an Agriculture company.

Hao Yan is the Representative Director of EPS Holdings.

Investment focus

Robotics, Manufacturing, Medical Device
Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

BionicM — BionicM develops high-performance robot prostheses that enhance mobility for people with disabilities.BionicM has been conducting research on innovative technologies since 2015 at the University of Tokyo's Information Systems Engineering Laboratory (JSK) under the guidance of Professor Inaba and utilizing the world's most advancedrobotics research. In 2016, we were adopted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency as part of "Program for Creating STart-ups from Advanced Research and Technology" (START), and in 2018, the company was established as a joint-stock company.

Yasuyuki Kin

Investment focus

Media and Entertainment, Information Technology, Career Planning
Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Onepair — Onepair is a job consulting and recruiting company. Onepair is to co-creating careers by talking about real-world ace with active ace.
Strainer Co., Ltd. — Strainer Co., Ltd. is an information distribution platform that conveys corporate information centered on financial data. Although there are not a few media to deliver financial information, the company's strengths are strong to be easily viewed, including financial information of overseas companies.
LAMILA — LAMILA develops system that improves the creation of retail stores.

Kotaro Yamagishi is the Director at GREE. Additionally, Kotaro Yamagishi has had 4 past jobs including Vice President at GREE.

Investment focus

Robotics, Aerospace, Space Travel
Series A, Series B
Japan

Portfolio highlights

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.
Modulus Discovery — Modulus is dedicated to accelerating the discovery of new medicines for patients and their families through the innovative synthesis of computational intelligence, biological inspiration, and global integration.

Shuuichi Wada - CTO @ alu Japan

Investment focus

Reservations, Content, Social Media
Seed, Angel, Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Craftie — Craftie is an lesson reservation service.
hackjpn — HACK JPN is a company that transforms imagination into creativity and builds a natural tomorrow.
rocketa — Rocketa is a news curation and social media platform.

After graduating from Keio University, in the overseas investment arm of JAFCO, to carry out investments in Internet companies in Israel and Silicon Valley, JV establishment, the Japanese market business. From 2001, he worked in venture capital and corporate development department of Accenture. Works in the capital of Mitsubishi Corporationsubsidiary, to experience an IPO from venture capital MonotaRO, of Benchari public than in 2003. funds in 2007, specializing in seed stage investment of the net business, core People Partners establishment. He was appointed representative partner. is performed establishment phase of Pokerabo and gumi, the development of business investment in the establishment phase, significantly grow. 2010, incubate bait Fund No. 1 Limited Partnership establishment. Representative appointed partner.

Investment focus

Information Technology, Software, Manufacturing
Seed, Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Blankr — Blankr inc has developed an application called Raidli. Using the app, Vtubers can hold a virtual handshake event.
Mechano Cross — Mechano Cross is a mechanical company that offers mechanochemical organic synthesis technology for solution reactions.
Ark Edge Space — Ark Edge Space provides design, manufacturing & operational services for micro-satellites along with software solutions and consulting.

Takao is the former CEO of YJ Capital. He is also the President of Shopping Company at Yahoo Japan. Prior to Yahoo, he founded Bizseek, Inc. in 1999 which was acquired by Rakuten, Inc. in 2001. He joined Rakuten after the acquisition and was the Corporate Officer in charge of auctions. During his career in Rakuten, he was engaged in projects suchas formation of Rakuten Eagles. He left Rakuten in 2006 and founded Ozawa Research Institute where he enhanced business in areas such as investments to start-up companies and consulting. In 2011, he founded Crocos, Inc. which was sold to Yahoo Japan in 2012. As an angel investor, he invested/founded companies like nanapi, Appgrooves, STARFESTIVAL, Crocos, Netage and many others.

Investment focus

E-Commerce, News, B2B
Seed, Series A, Angel
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Tokyo — Tokyo provides consistently-designed signage and projector installation, as well as maintenance company support. All customers need is “product selection” considering installation. This is a service that does not take time and effort!
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.
Driver Technologies — Driver Technologies is a cloud logistics platform provider. It provides a solution for driver matching and cargo vehicle demands.

He graduated from Kansai University in 1988. He was enrolled in Ljoma while he was in college. 2002 Vice President of Practice (now index lights). In 2004, he became president of zappallas. Listed on the TSE Mothers in the second year of his appointment, and in 2010 he was listed in part of the TSE. In 2011 he became the CEO of enish. Listed on apart of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Thereafter, he served as outside directors such as Nikkatsu and JibannetHD.

Investment focus

Software, Internet, Media and Entertainment
Seed, Angel, Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

MI-6 — MI-6 is a research, development, consulting, and project management for material development using IT. We will promote materials informatics in the field of material development with our technological capabilities and a wealth of project knowledge that challenge the world's most advanced technologies .
STUDIO — The easiest and quickest tool to turn any idea into a website. No code. All creative freedom.
STUDIO Japan — STUDIO is a development and operation of the next-generation design tool.

Born in 1975, Kenji Kasahara grew up in Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from the Department of Economics at the University of Tokyo. Inspired by the case studies of IT business he studied in a university seminar on management strategy and by the rapid rise of Internet business in Silicon Valley in the USA, he started up “Find Job !”, an online jobinformation site, in 1997. In 1999 Kasahara established eMercury, Inc. (mixi, Inc.) and assumed the post of representative director.

Investment focus

Aerospace, Information Technology, Robotics
Seed, Pre-Seed, Series B
Japan, United States

Portfolio highlights

Age well Japan — Age Well Japan is a conference and festival aimed at understanding Japan's super-aged society and defining new values for the future. The purpose of the gathering is to bring together young people and the elderly to exchange ideas.
ONE — One is a Japanese startup. It primarily creates and operates consumer apps, some of which have been sold to publicly traded Japanese corporations.This runs the BeReal exchange application "BeMatch."
Firstcard — All-in-One Student Credit Builder. Build credit. Earn cashback. Grow your deposit.

Yoshitsune Ido

Investment focus

Information Technology, Robotics, Software
Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Morght — Morght is an information technology service company.
BionicM — BionicM develops high-performance robot prostheses that enhance mobility for people with disabilities.BionicM has been conducting research on innovative technologies since 2015 at the University of Tokyo's Information Systems Engineering Laboratory (JSK) under the guidance of Professor Inaba and utilizing the world's most advancedrobotics research. In 2016, we were adopted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency as part of "Program for Creating STart-ups from Advanced Research and Technology" (START), and in 2018, the company was established as a joint-stock company.
Dots for — Dots for is a technology that aims to improve the lives of rural residents by providing them with digital services.

Keisuke Honda is the Founder & CEO of Now Do.

Investment focus

Education, Marketplace, E-Learning
Seed, Funding Round, Series A
Japan, United States, Singapore

Portfolio highlights

Unite — We started Unite because we saw a problem.Two problems, in fact. A problem faced by marketplace sellers like you, who see high- quality traffic on your pages but have no way of retargeting shoppers who don’t end up purchasing, leaving potential sales on the table. And a problem faced by the marketplaces where you sell, which win by helping youdrive sales but aren’t equipped to offer you the sorts of online advertising tools like retargeting pixels, audience creation, and campaign management platforms that big brands have been using for years.That’s where we come in. Understanding these constraints and sharing the frustration faced by both sellers and marketplaces over lost revenue and lost customers, we created the perfect platform to put the industry’s most powerful advertising technology capabilities in the hands of people like you, building them into the marketplaces where you already sell. The result? Higher traffic and higher conversion rates. In other words, higher sales.Today, thousands of sellers across the Internet are using Unite to advertise like a big brand and drive sales. It’s time to join them.
Krave Mart — Krave Mart is a quick-commerce startup offering the delivery of groceries and other products in 10 minutes.
AnotherBall — AnotherBall is a blockchain startup that combines entertainment and blockchain.

Otomi Tomohiro - CEO @ Tyrus

Investment focus

Health Care, Travel, Content
Seed, Angel, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

CUICIN — Quickin is changing the travel experience with the digital transformation.
HANOWA — HANAWA is a matching platform between freelance dental hygienists and dental clinics.
Magic Shields — Magic Shields is a manufacturer and seller of floors, nursing care, and welfare products.

Shunsuke Oyu is the co-founder of Connehito Inc. Started an online Q&A platform “mamari” which is the largest platform for moms in Japan. Connehito was acquired by one of the telecom giant KDDI in 2016. Selected as a “Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia” at consumer technology department. Angel-investing 50+ companies globally.

Investment focus

Content, Internet, Media and Entertainment
Seed, Angel, Funding Round
Japan, Singapore, United States

Portfolio highlights

Lecto — Lecto provides Saas solutions to eliminate the tedious practices behind financial services
SPORTS CROWN — SPORTS CROWN engages in the development and operation of fantasy sports.
Neighbor — The creative universe of Fortnite is infinite. To give an example , building fantasy and science fiction worlds, creating simple games and full-scale battle games can all be completed with Fortnite. Is the world of Fortnite, played by 350 million users worldwide, is it real or unreal? We will try to combining the vast world of Fortnite with the real world.

Toru Shimada is a Senior Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten. Mr. Shimada is a Director of Rakuten Baseball, Inc., and Head of Asia Regional Headquarters Office of the Company.Mr. Shimada joined Rakuten in 2004. Prior to joining Rakuten, Mr. Shimada was founder and Director of INTELLIGENCE, LTD from 1989 to 2004. Prior to INTELLIGENCE, LTD.Mr. Shimada worked at RECRUIT CO., LTD. from 1987 to 1989.

Investment focus

Internet, Task Management, Marketing
Seed, Angel, Funding Round
Japan

Portfolio highlights

Ixyas — Ixyas offers internet service planning, operation, marketing support, and sales services.
Neith — Neith is a apparel manufacturer, seller and a whoelseller of water absorbing bralette, lingerie and shorts for women.
Now Do — Now Do provides online growth revolution platform.

Teruhide Sato is President and Group CEO of netprice.com, Ltd., a global internet and e-commerce business incubator group (Tokyo Stock Exchange 3328). Lead the group to deliver the latest experience in online shopping across Japan, US, Europe and Asia. Strongly believe in the power of entrepreneurship.

Investment focus

E-Commerce, Internet, Marketplace
Seed, Series B, Series A
India, Japan, Singapore

Portfolio highlights

Zilingo — Zilingo was founded in 2015 by Ankiti Bose and Dhruv Kapoor with a vision to use technology to put fair and efficient business within everyone’s reach. Up until now, the fashion industry has favored a select few - if you had social, human and financial capital, you could get anything done. But we believe the future of fashion belongs to everyone.By using smart, technology-led solutions to bridge the gap between creators and producers, we’re re-imagining the fashion industry to make it accessible, connected and transparent for all. Find out more on business.zilingo.com.
InnerChef — InnerChef is an Indian food tech company that offers a mobile app for online food discovery and delivery. It allows users to order their favorite dishes which can be delivered within 20 minutes. The company offers ready-to-eat meals, gourmets do-it-yourself recipe kits (InnerChef DIY gourmet), detox cleanses, and healthy eats (InnerChef+) as wellas decadent desserts (Indulge by InnerChef). InnerChef has beverages ranging from cold coffees to thick shakes to fruit juices, all freshly prepared. The company also operates Indulge, a hyperlocal dessert marketplace where home bakers and neighborhood bakeries can offer their products to customers.
Pipa.Bella — Pipa.Bella currently offers custom-made and ready-made fashion jewelry at affordable prices to over 40,000 customers across India through an innovative online platform and aims to reach to 1.5 lakh customers over the next twelve months. With few branded players in the fashion jewelry segment, Pipa.Bella aims to solve a pain point that many womenface while shopping for jewelry - branded jewelry is either overpriced with high mark-ups, or unbranded jewelry is cluttered and lacks any proper curation or style guidance. Pipa.Bella launches approximately 100 new styles every week that are all priced well between INR 500 - 3000. The demand for fashion jewellery has grown significantly in the last few years due to high prices of gold and silver and is estimated to be a $6 billion market. The brand has hit operational profitability in FY 17-18 and is aiming to be cash flow positive in the next twelve months. Pipa.Bella targets the 22-35-year-old urban woman who is fashion-conscious, social media savvy and is quick to adapt to latest trends. Pipa.Bella derives its name from two European words that describe the company's range of products and customers. A typical "Pipa" woman is bold, edgy and always ready to experiment and a typical "Bella" woman is a classicist, graceful, more conservative. The brand celebrates the different styles that exemplify these two aesthetics through its product range, which consist of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, sterling silver jewelry, charms, personalized jewelry, wedding jewelry Pipa.Bella is a recipient of the Google SMB Heroes 2017 Award, Top 25 Startups by Singapore's Javelin Startup-O Victory Fund, and Digital Women in E-Commerce 2017 Award by Shethepeople.tv. The brand has been worn on top Bollywood celebrities and has been featured in International fashion and business publications such as Vogue, Harpers, Femina, Grazia, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Economic Times, and Wall Street Journal.

During Hosei University student, and intern at Hakuhodo C & D. After joining the Image-net, I do media monetization of EC site as a media planner. Then, new business, engaged in Alliance. Launched a crowdsourcing site "MILLION DESIGNS" of design in the individual, sold to Ransazu Corporation. Established the Eureka Co., Ltd., wasappointed Representative Director CEO.

Investment focus

Food and Beverage, Content, Internet
Seed, Angel, Funding Round
Japan, Australia, Hong Kong

Portfolio highlights

Now Do — Now Do provides online growth revolution platform.
RE — RE specializes in smartphone application design and development.
Vitalogue Health — Vitalogue Health offers Canvas, a home-based hormone testing service for women.

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