Top 50 Marketplace Angel Investors in Japan in January 2026
A list of 50 angel investors that invest in Marketplace startups based in Japan. We rank investors based on the number of investments they made in Marketplace companies from Japan. We update this investor list every month.Top 50 Marketplace Angel Investors in Japan in January 2026
| Investor | Marketplace Japan investments |
|---|---|
| Yu Akasaka | 8 |
| Kotaro Chiba | 8 |
| Kotaro Chiba | 8 |
| Yusuke Sato | 6 |
| Hidetoshi Takano | 5 |
| Kensuke Furukawa | 4 |
| Ayataro Nakagawa | 4 |
| Kazuhiko Ishikura | 3 |
| Naruhisa Nakagawa | 3 |
| Kazuhiro Ishikura | 3 |
| Takaya Shinozuka | 3 |
| Hirofumi Miki | 3 |
| Kazuma Ieiri | 3 |
| Masaru Tange | 3 |
| Osamu Ogasawara | 2 |
| Richard Chen | 2 |
| Mamoru Taniya | 2 |
| Christine Herron | 2 |
| Soichiro Kawai | 2 |
| Yasuyuki Kin | 2 |
| Naoki Aoyagi | 2 |
| Yoichi Aso | 2 |
| Shintaro Tabata | 2 |
| Uenoyama Katsuya | 2 |
| Tsunezawa Kahoko | 2 |
| Yasuyoshi Yanagisawa | 2 |
| Keisuke Kogure | 2 |
| Toru Shimada | 2 |
| Fumiaki Koizumi | 2 |
| Shunsuke Oyu | 2 |
| Shintaro Yamada | 2 |
| Daisaku Harada | 2 |
| Yusuke Tanaka | 2 |
| Shogo Kawada | 1 |
| Sakano Atsushi | 1 |
| Tatsuo Sakamoto | 1 |
| Shinji Senba | 1 |
| Suzuki Yuto | 1 |
| Noboru Hachimine | 1 |
| Yuto Nagatomo | 1 |
| Kai Asakura | 1 |
| Ichiro Umeda | 1 |
| Hironari Umino | 1 |
| David Lloyd | 1 |
| Ken Soga | 1 |
| Yoshikazu Azuma | 1 |
| Hideki Hayashi | 1 |
| Joshua Stevens | 1 |
| Yuzuru Honda | 1 |
| Shohei Sasaki | 1 |
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.
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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.
Kotaro Chiba is the founder of ChibaDojo Fund. Kotaro Chiba attended Keio University.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Content, Internet
- 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.
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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.
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Investment focus
- Content, Internet, Food and Beverage
- Seed, Funding Round, Angel
- Japan, Indonesia, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Kaimak — Kaymak is a recruitment platform that focuses on creating a recruitment website, planning a recruitment strategy, and managing candidates.
- 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.
- Driver Technologies — Driver Technologies is a cloud logistics platform provider. It provides a solution for driver matching and cargo vehicle demands.
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.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Information Technology, Human Resources
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Cocoach — Cocoach provides online education service.
- Data Viz Lab — Data Viz Lab is a platform that offers data analysis, visualization consulting, and data human resource development support.
- ElevationSpace — ElevationSpace offers high quality & well equipped workspaces giving tenants a nurturing environment .
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".
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Investment focus
- Content, Social Media, Media and Entertainment
- Seed, Funding Round, Angel
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- iiba — Iiba is a geospatial platform that specializes in providing location information related to child-rearing.
- Tohakusha — Tohakusha is a creative agency that offers design, production and sale of digital content and EC websites, and content creation services.
- Neighbor — Neighbor is a metaverse game developer that specializes in Fortnite.
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.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Software, Content
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan, Hong Kong, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Mepple — Mepple is planning, developing, and operating internet services.
- For you — For you is a comprehensive Advertising agency business specializing in SNS.
- SPORTS CROWN — SPORTS CROWN engages in the development and operation of fantasy sports.
Kazuhiko Ishikura is based out of Tokyo, Tokyo and is the Co-Founder and Director of SDF Capital. Kazuhiko previously worked at 3minute Inc. as a Director. Kazuhiko Ishikura attended Aoyama Gakuin University.
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Investment focus
- Beauty, Content, Fashion
- Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Neith — Neith is a apparel manufacturer, seller and a whoelseller of water absorbing bralette, lingerie and shorts for women.
- WARC — 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.
Naruhisa Nakagawa is a Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Caygan Capital.
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Investment focus
- Manufacturing, Beauty, Environmental Consulting
- Seed, Series A
- Japan, United States, United Kingdom
Portfolio highlights
- Zeigo — Zeigo by Schneider Electric provides sustainability software for efficient carbon reduction and supply chain decarbonization, aiming for a carbon-free future.
- Ecolectro — Ecolectro is solving the biggest challenges in making Green Hydrogen. Our alkaline ion-exchange membranes and polymers make clean fuel and decarbonize industry.
- Sniffer Robotics — Comprehensive methane emissions detection and quantification, advanced imagery and analytics; Sniffer Robotics provides advanced solutions that benefit the environment.
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.
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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 — 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.
Takaya Shinozuka is the President, CEO, and Founder at Reiwa Travel.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Local, Advertising
- Seed, Angel, Series A
- Japan
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.
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Investment focus
- Content, Marketing, Internet
- Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- 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.
- Ai-Dounyu.com — Ai-Dounyu.com is a platform that helps organizations looking to integrate AI choose their ideal AI implementation partner for free.
Born in 1978 and raised in Fukuoka prefecture, Kazuma founded paperboy&co. inc. (currently GMO Pepabo) and went on to become the youngest CEO ever (at the time) to take a company public in Japan by taking paperboy&co. public on the JASDAQ Japanese stock exchange. After leaving paperboy&co, he continued his startup trail by foundingBASE, CAMPFIRE, and XIMERA. Kazuma also dabbled in the food services industry via the founding of On The Corner (a cafe) and is active in the startup investment scene. He also started the Liverty-house project which attempts to create shared housing for young people in need.
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Investment focus
- Content, Fashion, Logistics
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Taliki — Taliki is a Coworking Space Operates Social Entrepreneurs Development Support for Intrepreneur Development.
- One Nova — One Nova (ワンノバ) is a lifestyle brand and online platform that offers a range of innerwear products, such as men's boxers.
- Vivid Garden — vivid garden is an Agriculture company.
Masaru Tange graduated from Kyoto University and joined Incs Inc. in 2000 where he started their IT business and strategy consulting group with only 2 members and developed it into the company's main business with a team of 140 consultants with annual revenue of $50M in 5 years. He then founded SHIFT Inc in 2005 in his studio apartment. He wasthe only employee. The business world wasn't very kind to him - he made no revenue for a while but he kept experimenting with the business model listening to the needs of customers. In 2009, he finally found traction in the "software testing industry." In 2014, Masaru successfully IPO'ed the company. Shift now has 500 employees.
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Investment focus
- E-Commerce, Food Delivery, Internet
- Seed, Series A
- Japan, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Timee — Timee is a Planning, development and management of Internet media company.
- EMET Creation — Vimet is a video app that allows you to instantly watch your favorite topic videos.ViMET offers high-quality video content that is currently talked about, Realizing a world where everyone can see, by providing new services, Restructure the power relationships of all players involved in existing video
- S-Mat — Smartmat is an eco-friendly IoT purchase system for on-demand, no-hassle grocery with cost-effective shipping.
Osamu Ogasahara is the founder, CEO, and president of FGN ABBA Lab.
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Investment focus
- SNS, Content, Fashion
- Angel, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- 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.
Richard Chen
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Investment focus
- Mobile, Software, Advertising
- Seed, Angel, Series A
- United States, Japan, Singapore
Portfolio highlights
- Farel — Run your airline on one platform. Farel unifies PSS, IBE, DCS, and B2B with a built-in AI assistant to grow direct sales and automate ops. Get a personalized demo and pricing.
- Maslo — We make companions that care about people.
- Kinnek — Potential customers are looking for reasons to trust your company, and they want third-party sources to vouch for you. Kinnek helps suppliers like you build a world-class online reputation and easily share it. Because when you win more trust, more prospects become loyal customers.
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.
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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.
Christine Herron is an early-stage investor and diversity advocate, and co-leads the Intel Capital Diversity Fund while leading investments in early-stage companies. She is responsible for diversity investing across Intel Capital sectors, to support technology companies founded or run by women, underrepresented minorities, LGBTQ, or veterans. AtIntel, Christine's direct portfolio includes 500 Friends (ACQ: Merkle), betaworks, Brit Media, E la Carte, Funders Club, Goldbely, Jelli, Movable Ink, SmartZip, Storenvy (ACQ: OpenSky), Two Bit Circus, and Yummly (ACQ: WHR), and Intel Education Accelerator companies Comprendio, Immersed Games, Sutori, and Vidcode.Previously, Christine was an investor with seed stage venture fund First Round Capital, working with Better Finance, Double Verify, Get Satisfaction (ACQ: Sprinklr), Mint (ACQ: INTU), and Xobni (ACQ: YHOO). At Omidyar Network, she developed the Media and Web 2.0 practice strategy and led deals such as Common Sense Media and Socialtext.At Geocapital Partners, Christine focused on early Internet and network technology, leading Series A funding for AXON Networks (ACQ: 3COM), D-Vision (ACQ: ADSK), FocusVision (MBO), Netcom (IPO: NETC), and ViaGrafix (IPO: VIAX). Christine was also a founder or early employee at GiftWorks (ACQ: FrontStream), Mercury2, and NetObjects (IPO: NETC).Christine earned an MBA from Stanford University and a BA from Columbia University. She is a founding advisor or mentor to 500 Startups, Bullpen Capital, and StartX, and serves on Alonzo King's LINES Ballet Board of Directors. She is active on @christine and a frequent speaker.
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Investment focus
- E-Commerce, Personalization, Social Media
- Seed, Series A, Series B
- United States, Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Roominate — Playing with the W77 online game site can certainly produce crazy jackpots to riches
- Soldsie — Soldsie (formerly Centrally) is a payment system enabling merchants to monetize their Facebook page by allowing customers to purchase through comments.Customers register their payment information with Soldsie, and then comment on stores’ pages, channels and feeds to activate a charge to their account, and initiate the shipping process.Merchants use the Soldsie administrative dashboard track and manage inventory and shipping, and experience increased user comments, views and viral shares.
- Tokyo Otaku Mode — The ultimate online destination for fans of Japanese pop culture.
Soichiro Kawai - CEO @ ReBoost
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Investment focus
- Media and Entertainment, Information Technology, Internet
- Seed, Funding Round, Angel
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Villio — Villio provides talent experience SaaS which helps companies with human resource development and recruitment of talented engineers.
- Back Dooor — Back Dooor is an app that provides 1on1 chatting services with favorite player of the users.
- SPeak — SPeak Corporation operates JPort Match that is involved in direct recruiting service. It is a global career platform for budding new talents.
Yasuyuki Kin
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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.
Naoki Aoyagi is a Senior Vice President at GREE, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of GREE International, Inc. He joined GREE, Inc. in March 2006 from Deutsche Bank, where he had specialized in tech and media sector IPOs and M&A advisory work. At GREE, Aoyagi oversaw the Company's partnership with KDDI and its IPO before leading thedevelopment of GREE’s global operations, a role he continues today. Aoyagi earned a bachelor's degree in policy management from Keio University in 2002.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Fashion, Software
- Seed, Angel, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Enechain — enechain provides liquidity in Japan’s energy market by brokering OTC transactions of energy.
- Parallel — Parallel is the hangout app where you can enjoy games, videos, music, and more with friends.
- Holmes — Holmesis a cloud contract system to consistently carry out the creation, conclusion and management of contracts in the cloud.
Yoichi Aso is the President and CEO at Alpha Drive.
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Investment focus
- E-Commerce, Apparel, Digital Media
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Kamado — Kamado is a publisher of magazines. They offer products that include artist articles, colomn article series, and web magazines.
- Yondemy — Yondemy is an online platform for children reading books.
- Log build — Log build offers a new form of on-site management that enables productivity improvement and real-time visualization and sharing of on-site information through on-site management robots and VR software. The company provides AI development, VR development, construction site construction management robot, cloud site management, and construction siteplatform.
Shintaro Tabata - Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Sales @ Line
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Investment focus
- Sharing Economy, Audio, Content
- Seed, Angel, Series A
- Japan
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.
- Carstay — Carstay Comfortable Overnight in car or tentdo itCar tripWith guests who want to enjoy.
- Telework — Telework is a multi-location workspace that utilizes vacant seats and rooms.
Uenoyama Katsuya - CEO @ PKSHA Technology
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Investment focus
- Fashion, Software, Advertising
- Seed, Angel, Corporate Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Babel — Babel is creating meaningful media for users and expanding globally.
- AppBrew — AppBrew develops LIPS, a mobile application for users to share and read real reviews on cosmetics, nail care, personal care, hair care, and other related products of different brands. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.
- Neural Pocket — Neural Pocket provides Smart City related services for commercial buildings and urban spaces utilizing AI enabled image recognition technology. The company focuses on business development and co-creation serve its clients. Other applications include solutions for digitalization of factories, warehouses, parking lots and retail stores.
Tsunezawa Kahoko
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Investment focus
- Shopping, Apps, Travel
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan, Germany
Portfolio highlights
- Menew — Menew is an online platform that enables users to organize and set menus for family meals. Users can track family preferences and trends; make shopping lists; and get an easy-to-read calendar format for the menus.
- Valise — Valise provides insider access & unique experiences to the modern day internationalist. A perfect jump start to who & what is hot in creative capitals. At its core is the Valise Society - a global private members association for innovative leaders of the creative class.
- Valise — Valise is a women's travel service platform.
Yasuyoshi Yanagisawa - President & CEO @ FAN Communications
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Investment focus
- Media and Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Content
- Seed, Funding Round, Post-IPO Equity
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Penmark — Penmark is a timetable management application that may also be used as a course management tool. The company's platform offers courses based on lesson data and lesson reviews that are unique to each university. Additionally, the in-class talk room generated for each class allows students to communicate with others who are taking the sameclass, allowing college students to take on challenges by thoroughly confronting each student and providing support that respects the individual's will.
- NoSchool — NoSchool is possible to ask a study teacher to a professional teacher who is working as a tutor or a private lecturer for free.
- Posiwill — Posiwill is a operating a career consultation service with job seekers billing type.
Mr. Keisuke Kogure serves as general partner at Mint.
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Investment focus
- Beauty, iOS, Video Chat
- Seed, Series A, Angel
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Mederi — Mederi is a FemTech company that operates Ubu, a women's wellness brand.
- Requpo — Requpo is a brand-new salon reservation app that allows you to book a beauty salon without having to search.
- MOVeLOT — MOVeLOT is an AI company that provides skeletal platform and robot planning, development, and production services.
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.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Task Management, Marketing
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
Fumiaki Koizumi - Executive Director @ Mercari
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Investment focus
- Internet, E-Commerce, Information Technology
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- FiT — FiT encourages the use of information technology in fitness to address industrial concerns. We will build a highly sustainable fitness facility using a business model that allows consumers to easily use the gym without being burdened by price or procedures, while also allowing owners to build a very successful business with low running costs.
- Aoyama Arts — Aoyama Arts is an architecture and consulting company that develops design offices and supports land search and financing plans.
- Fabric Tokyo — FABRIC TOKYO is a Japanese startup provides a direct-to-consumer custom-made apparel brand. (former-company name Lifestyle Design Co., Ltd.). It enables customers to save their sizes, idea fabrics, and favorite designs, allowing them to make their original clothing later.FABRIC TOKYO was founded in 2012 by Yuichiro Mori and is based in Tokyo,Japan.
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.
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Investment focus
- Content, Internet, Media and Entertainment
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan, Singapore, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Tohakusha — Tohakusha is a creative agency that offers design, production and sale of digital content and EC websites, and content creation services.
- Ai-Dounyu.com — Ai-Dounyu.com is a platform that helps organizations looking to integrate AI choose their ideal AI implementation partner for free.
- Neighbor — Neighbor is a metaverse game developer that specializes in Fortnite.
During his years at Waseda University, Shintaro worked at Japan’s biggest e-commerce mall, Rakuten, Inc. On August 1st 2001, Shintaro established “Unoh Inc.” after graduating university. At Unoh he was responsible for designing and developing several web services, one of which was the online magazine subscription . Services provided by Unohinclude planning, development and management of the film enthusiast community site “Movie Life” (acquired by PIA Corporation) as well as “Sugu.CC” , “NeoAd” (both acquired by GMOAP) and the photo sharing site “Photozou” (acquired by Digital Garage).In 2009 Unoh entered into social gaming, creating multiple successful social games. Among these games, “Machitsuku!” has been its biggest hit with over 5 million users. On August 3rd 2010, Unoh joined Zynga and Shintaro became General Manager of Zynga Japan. He resigned on January 2012. After traveling around the world, He established the new company “Mercari, Inc.” on February 2013 and released the resale shopping app “Mercari” on July 2013 in Japan.He is a true Internet geek, spending a lot of time on the Internet and boasts around 180,000 followers on Twitter.
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Investment focus
- Internet, Finance, Artificial Intelligence
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan, United States, Kenya
Portfolio highlights
- AssetHub — AssetHub is an AI-powered 3D modeling tool that enables game developers to create and edit 3D assets 100 times faster, enabling mass production of content and combining AI with manual work, enabling faster prototyping and editing.
- Peach Cars — Buy or sell your car in Nairobi-Kenya with ease. Browse a wide range of vehicles, connect with trusted sellers, and find the perfect car today. Simple, fast, and secure transactions.
- AnotherBall — AnotherBall is a blockchain startup that combines entertainment and blockchain.
Daisaku Harada is the Director of Management Strategy at Mercari. Daisaku attended Chuo University.
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Investment focus
- Finance, Tourism, Automotive
- Seed, Pre-Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Carstay — Carstay Comfortable Overnight in car or tentdo itCar tripWith guests who want to enjoy.
"Shin"ichiro joined Yahoo Japan in April 2013. From July 2013, he joined YJ Capital. He has served as COO of YJ Capital since January 2015. Prior to Yahoo! Japan, Shin was General Director of Dream Incubator Vietnam from 2007 to 2012, managing US$50 million private equity funds in Vietnam. He was formerly a Project Manager at DreamIncubator Japan. He started his career at Future Architect as a system engineer.Shin received his bachelor's degree in Policy Management from Keio University.
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Investment focus
- Tourism, Consulting, E-Commerce
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- TakeMe Co., Ltd. — TakeMe aims to provide an “One-stop Inbound destination service” by enabling tourist to easily find, communicate with, and pay with smartphones via QR code at In-Travel destinations. TakeMe, is the country’s largest inbound service platform in Japan, which lets tourists find, communicate with, and pay with QR code at our affiliated shops,restaurants and tourist attractions. Since our launch in 2015 as JapanFoodie, we have expanded our merchant base to tens of thousands beyond food and restaurants, to include travel, lodging, shopping and events, providing every tourist with the best experience as your best local guide and friend.
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.
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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.
Sakano Atsushi
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Investment focus
- Medical, Nursing and Residential Care, SaaS
- Seed, Series B
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Heartseed — Heartseed has set a mission to “open the door to heart disease treatment with regenerative medicine” and is working toward the day-to-day clinical application of myocardial regenerative medicine.
- Matsuri Technologies — matsuri technologies is a real estate tech company that provides solutions to support private property rentals. The company's products include m2m Systems, an Airbnb management platform that helps business operators to manage their accounts, communicate with guests, automate check-ins, offer customer service, and more.
Tatsuo Sakamoto is a Head of Sales, Japan at MOLOCO. He Attended The University of Tokyo.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Education, Recruiting
- Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Bgrass — bgrass is a consultation support platform for women working in the IT industry.
- Cloudbase — Cloudbase is an information technology company that specializes in the fields of cloud services and management.
- Metaverse Creators — Metaverse Creators is a feature-rich virtual platform providing gamers with a wide range of games, creation tools, and avatar editing tools.
Shinji Senba is a Director of Green Innovations Holdings.
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Investment focus
- Social, E-Commerce, Sustainability
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Gab — Gab is a company that works to solve social problems as well as develops and markets ethical products.
Suzuki Yuto
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Investment focus
- SaaS, Social, Content
- Seed, Series A, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Gab — Gab is a company that works to solve social problems as well as develops and markets ethical products.
- Aidemy — Aidemy is a web service where you can learn AI programming online.
- Bizibl Technologies — Bizibl Technologies provides SaaS services for recruitment events.
Noboru Hachimine - President & Founder @ OPT
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Investment focus
- Sales, Wholesale, Consulting
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- For Crafts — A new tool that blends your everyday work apps into one. It's the all-in-one workspace for you and your team
Yuto Nagatomo - President, CEO, and Founder @ Cuore Co., Ltd.
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Investment focus
- SNS, Video, Beauty
- Funding Round, 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.
- Now Do — Now Do provides online growth revolution platform.
- SAURUS JAPAN —
Kai Asakura
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Investment focus
- Beauty, Cosmetics
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- THE RICH — THE RICH is a hair care brand that contains silk regenerating and repairing ingredients.
Ichiro Umeda is the Chairman of the New Era Strategy Institute.
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Investment focus
- Medical, Payments, Health Care
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Agatyca — Agatyca is an IT company that develops customized solutions to optimize payment system processes for organizations.
Hironari Umino - Chairman @ Increments
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Investment focus
- Apps, Beauty, Incubators
- Seed, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
David Lloyd - General Manager, UK, Netherlands & Nordics @ Alibaba Group
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Investment focus
- E-Commerce
- Pre-Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Kuai Commerce — Kuai Commerce is a next-generation solution for ambitious brands looking to sell directly to Chinese Gen Z consumers through the power of social commerce. Our tech-enabled services provide market entry and brand acceleration options for emerging category-leaders who otherwise would find the complexity of China prohibitively challenging
Ken Soga is an individual investor.
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Investment focus
- Music, Mobile, Content
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- UNIVRS — UNIVRS is a popular market and entertainment platform.
- Mono.un — Mono.un provides users with opportunities to meet authors and collaborate on tales and specializes in bringing exciting experiences full of stories of Japanese culture to the world.
- SAKELOGY — SAKELOGY is a platform enables restaurants and retailers to easily create cloud-based sake menus.
Yoshikazu Azuma - Representative Director and CEO @ TWO
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Investment focus
- Retail, Security, Marketing
- Series A, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- AWL — AWL is a company that provides the leading edge AI camera solutions company .
- W Tokyo — W TOKYO is a content production company that offers the latest and highest quality solutions by multiplying its own original content and solutions, centered on women, using the know-how cultivated in the Tokyo Girls Collection as a weapon .
Hideki Hayashi
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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).
Joshua Stevens
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Investment focus
- E-Commerce
- Pre-Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Kuai Commerce — Kuai Commerce is a next-generation solution for ambitious brands looking to sell directly to Chinese Gen Z consumers through the power of social commerce. Our tech-enabled services provide market entry and brand acceleration options for emerging category-leaders who otherwise would find the complexity of China prohibitively challenging
Yuzuru Honda is a Founder & Global CEO of FreakOut.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, SNS, Internet
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan, Nigeria, Singapore
Portfolio highlights
- IVA — IVA ensures the safety of the market towards the threat of counterfeit goods.
- Tyms — Tyms online accounting software for your business connects you to your bank, accountant, bookkeeper, and other business apps. Start a free trial today. Also available in Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius and South Africa.
- ForCreators — ForCreators is a company operating the virtual talent agency ‘NEXAS', with the goal of globalizing Japan's world-class culture such as anime and VTubers.
Shohei Sasaki - CFO @ LeapMind
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Investment focus
- Content, Fashion, Consulting
- Seed, Angel
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- yutori — Yutoriis a Startup to expand the D2C business and influencer brand.
- Meetcareer — Meetcareer provides online counseling services for career planning.
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