Top 50 Music Startup Investors in Japan in September 2025
A list of 50 angel investors and VC (Venture Capital) funds that invest in Music startups based in Japan. We rank investors based on the number of investments they made in Music companies from Japan. We update this investor list every month.Top 50 Music Startup Investors in Japan in September 2025
Investor | Music Japan investments |
---|---|
East Ventures | 4 |
UNITED | 3 |
Genesia Ventures | 3 |
ANOBAKA | 3 |
iSGS Investment Works | 2 |
Kazuomi Kaneto | 2 |
Z Venture Capital | 2 |
Kotaro Chiba | 2 |
MIRAISE | 2 |
Chiba Dojo | 2 |
SMBC Venture Capital | 2 |
mixi | 2 |
Kotaro Chiba | 2 |
Ceres | 2 |
NES Venture Capital | 2 |
FIREBUG | 2 |
Takashi Shibayama | 1 |
For Life Music Entertainment | 1 |
Takuma Kudo | 1 |
Dentsu Ventures | 1 |
Paul Rosenberg | 1 |
Shizuoka Capital | 1 |
Bricks Fund Tokyo | 1 |
NOW Japan | 1 |
Towa Pharmaceutical | 1 |
Murata Manufacturing | 1 |
Sony Music Entertainment | 1 |
Global Brain Corporation | 1 |
KDDI Open Innovation Fund | 1 |
Takeshi Natsuno | 1 |
Allfuz | 1 |
Masaru Sunagawa | 1 |
B Dash Ventures | 1 |
Salesforce Ventures | 1 |
Candee | 1 |
San-in Godo Bank | 1 |
Nextblue | 1 |
Globis Capital Partners | 1 |
W ventures | 1 |
PE&HR | 1 |
KAYAC | 1 |
Sony Innovation Fund | 1 |
GREE | 1 |
Uzabase | 1 |
MUFG Bank | 1 |
Shuhei Yamashita | 1 |
Yamaguchi Capital | 1 |
Gumi Ventures | 1 |
iFund | 1 |
Resona Bank | 1 |
East Ventures is an early stage venture capital (VC) focused on Southeast Asia, Indonesia & Japan. Success cases include Tokopedia, Traveloka, and Mercari.
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Investment focus
- Software, Information Technology, E-Commerce
- Seed, Series A, Funding Round
- Japan, Indonesia, Singapore
Portfolio highlights
- SIRCLO — SIRCLO is a leading omnichannel commerce enabler in Indonesia, driven by the mission to unlock the digital potential of people and businesses.
- CrestLab — CrestLab Inc. is a startup focused on developing and providing products for anime production, with a central offering called "ANICRA," which is an anime production support platform that leverages AI technology. This platform aims to aid in various aspects of anime production by integrating artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency andcreativity.
- Pintarnya — Situs penyedia lowongan kerja online untuk berbagai posisi, pendidikan dan pekerjaan dari lulusan SD hingga S1 Tersedia di seluruh indonesia.
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
- Brainbuddy — Brainbuddy specializes in sales support, business growth, recruiting, consulting, and training services.
- FUNDiT — FUNDiT is an IT-focused M&A and business consolidation company that specializes in acquiring, managing, and scaling IT companies.
- Ageless — Ageless is a staffing agency that provides human resources-related services primarily to middle-aged and senior citizens.
Genesia Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on seed/early stage startups in Japan and Southeast Asia. Since it's inception in Dec 2016, Genesia Ventures has invested in over 90 companies in Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and the US. Genesia Ventures invests in various sectors: SaaS, marketplace, Media, Finance, Insurance,RealEstate, Healthcare, Medical, Travel, Education, Manufacturing, Construction, HR, Agriculture, Sports, Retail, Entertainment, etc.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Software, Health Care
- Seed, Series A, Funding Round
- Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia
Portfolio highlights
- Nonat — Nonat is a company focused on supporting the future of women and children by driving innovation across generations. It is developing a foundational model specifically designed to address the needs of women and children.
- Miresso — Miresso is a startup firm that offers nuclear fusion power generation services through natural resources.
- MetaSensing — MetaSensing specializes in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of advanced attachable Raman sensors, designed to provide precise, real-time chemical and molecular analysis across a wide range of applications, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental monitoring, and industrial process control.
ANOBAKA is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm with rich group resources to add value to seed-stage startups. ANOBAKA actively invests in and supports startups aiming to be a global leader in the innovative Internet business and promising to greatly grow up in the future. ANOBAKA's investment focuses on fledgling seed-stage startups. Inaddition to investment financing, ANOBAKA provides founders with a variety of business support such as development consulting by our engineers, sales support, and international marketing support.
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Investment focus
- Software, Content, Food and Beverage
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan, United States, India
Portfolio highlights
- Amoibe — Amoibe is a company providing engineer training services for the AI era called “amoibe OJT".
- Waku — Waku is a manufacturing company that specializes in the research and development of organic fertilizers for the agriculture industry.
- Blackbox — Blackbox is an entertainment firm that is involved in businesses, including VTuber production, media mix, and live music events.
iSGS Investment Works is Japan-based venture capital firm.
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Investment focus
- Software, E-Commerce, Information Technology
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan, United States, Hong Kong
Portfolio highlights
- SOUNDRAW — Your personal AI music generator.
- Inter — Inter delivers solutions for global difficulties using vacuum technology, which uses a particular check valve to maintain a 99.5% vacuum rate.
- Better Place — Better place vision is to create a world in which kind people can continue to be kind, as well as a society in which people can work in their own way without worrying about money.
Kazuomi Kaneto is the Founder & CEO of Dream Project Incubators. He previously worked at Pacifico Energy as a Founder, President & CEO. Kazuomi Kaneto attended Tsinghua University.
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Investment focus
- Artificial Intelligence, Music, Energy
- Funding Round, Seed, Series B
- Japan, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Sustainable Lab — SusLab is a data bank that uses AI technology to support SDG and ESG development goals and investments.
- SOUNDRAW — Your personal AI music generator.
- Persistent Energy Partners — Africa's Climate Venture Builder - We believe in the power of climate-positive economic development in Africa. For the last decade, we have been working hand in hand with exceptional entrepreneurs, investing both financial and human capital to build successful climate ventures on the continent. Our companies offer competitive financial returns required to drive lasting impact.
Z Venture Capital is the venture capital arm of Z Holdings that invests in companies that focuses on the insurance and finance industry.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Software, Content
- Seed, Series A, Series B
- Japan, South Korea, United States
Portfolio highlights
- mahocast — Mahocast operates a comprehensive business platform that supports every stage of an artist’s journey—from initial planning and content production to ongoing management and promotion.
- Commune — Commune is a developer of a platform that supports connections, community building, and customers between organizations and people.
- Aim Intelligence — Leading AI Security & Safety Solutions Provider - Specializing in AI Risk Detection, Mitigation, and Elimination through Advanced Red Teaming and Defensive Systems | Leading provider of AI Security, Safety, and Compliance solutions
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.
We are engineers investing in engineers. With experienced mentors, MIRAISE supports you hands-if basis, for business model, financial planning and presentation. All founders of our potfolio automatically join MIRAISE online community that gives you the peer-learning opportunities with other founders. Join us updating the normal!
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Consulting
- Seed, Funding Round, Pre-Seed
- Japan, United States, Estonia
Portfolio highlights
- XDeli — XDeli is a digital application that offers food delivery and meal subsidy service for corporate employees.
- CareLink — CareLink is an app that connects people looking for one-time part-time work in nursing and welfare.
- SUSHI TOP MARKETING — SUSHI TOP MARKETING is an IT company that offers marketing, NFT utilization, and consulting services.
Chiba Dojo is an entrepreneurial community that supports startup companies in various stages from seed to pre-IPO.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Content, Apps
- Seed, Series A, Funding Round
- Japan, Singapore, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Utoniq — Utoniq service allows them to collect the works of the artists they support digitally in the form of trading cards. Trading cards will be collected as proof of support for the creators. It is a brand-new trading card service that is both enjoyable to collect and enjoyable to exchange. They provide a service lineup in order to continually increasefan engagement. They can make flexible proposals based on the needs of artists, creators, influencers, anime characters, and so on.
- Manabie — Manabie is an Education Technology start-up company on a mission to provide a new style of online & offline merged learning around the world. We provide students with everything they need for efficient learning; high-quality learning materials, great learning environments, personal coaches and more! We believe that our new method of learning,integrating online and offline will dramatically innovate the way students learn.
- Paradigm AI — Paradigm AI is an entertainment firm that produces songs and creates virtual human idols using generative AI.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and its group companies offer a broad range of financial services centered on banking. They are also engaged in the leasing, securities, credit card, investment, mortgage securitization, venture capital and other credit related businesses. The following lists the activities of SMBC, its subsidiaries andaffiliates in the various business segments.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Software, Health Care
- Funding Round, Series A, Series B
- Japan, United States, Singapore
Portfolio highlights
- Trustart — Trustart engages in real estate research business and real estate big data provision. The company offers real estate big data and big data subscriptions.
- Visual Bank — Visual Bank operates a stock photo business and provides an AI data platform. It aims to create a society in which the value of Japanese creations is maximized and optimized.
- Metagen Therapeutics — Metagen Therapeutics is a Drug discovery and medical business company which utilizes microbiome science.
Mixi is a Japanese social networking service that allows users to connect with their friends in a convenient way.It enables users to send and receive messages, write in a diary, read and comment on others' diaries, organize and join communities, and invite their friends.
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Investment focus
- Media and Entertainment, Apps, Information Technology
- Funding Round, Series A, Series B
- Japan, United States, India
Portfolio highlights
- Gameramp — Scale your game faster with GameRamp. Tools and Capital in one SDK
- Aplaca.Lab — Aplaca.Lab is a driver substitution platform that provides an unprecedented new driving experience. They released a driving agency application for providing comfortable driving experiences. It enables driving agencies to optimize their resources and clients' safety, prevent accidents, and receive assistance in areas with limited transportationoptions.
- Million Production — Million Production is a VTuber agency. It creates new entertainment for the next generation through the creation of IP (intellectual property such as characters) and the development of diversified content.
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.
Ceres is a company providing internet marketing services and is engaged in the planning, development, and operation of smartphone media.
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Investment focus
- Cryptocurrency, Content, Internet
- Funding Round, Seed, Corporate Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- DINETTE — DINETTE is a cosmetics manufacturing company.
- SOUNDRAW — Your personal AI music generator.
- Indent — Indent creates products that help writers create original works such as novels, manga, screenplays, and game scenarios. They will work to create an environment in which artists can focus on their creations and enjoy sharing their work.
NES Venture Capital is an investment firm.
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Investment focus
- Food and Beverage, Web3, Music
- Seed, Series A, Series B
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Recri — Recri works for the entertainment industry and specializes in operations management tasks like ticketing for stage, film, and music shows.
- AccordX — Cookpy operates a ghost restaurant service for individuals, allowing anyone to open a virtual restaurant, prepare food at cloud kitchens, and sell food via online delivery platforms.
- OMO — OMO is a hybrid online and offline used goods buying support service,
FIREBUG enables comedians, actresses, models, artists, managers, and creators to develop their skills. They arrange production plans for numerous talents and create IP and advertising items based on the social networking sites of the talents. Additionally, they offer marketing solutions built around a range of talent-focused content. They offerbasic marketing assistance and advertising for businesses.
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Investment focus
- Music, B2C, Apps
- Seed, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Baby Jam — Baby Jam is a music app that offers music promotion, video editing, videography, and transaction services.
- Pick You — Pick You offers a marketplace that facilitates seamless purchase of items directly from popular Instagram users.
- TicketMe — TicketMe is Japan's largest NFT, allows to freely purchase and sell tickets for live music, theater, sports, and other events. Its purpose is to ''find the hidden value in the world and deliver the appropriate value to the right location.
Takashi Shibayama
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Investment focus
- Music, EBooks, Gaming
- Seed, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- FOWD — FOWD is a comprehensive entertainment company in Japan.
- AtHearth — AtHearth is a real estate agency offering specialized services for expats in Tokyo. Find Out More.
- Recipio Japan — Recipio is a service that can suggest recipes just by entering ingredients the user already has at home. The app can also refine suggestions based on the user's mood, the occasion, and how many people the user is eating with, and more.
For Life Music Entertainment is a music record company.
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Investment focus
- Music, Content, Social Media
- Corporate Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Lab — Lab is a music company that supports artists through digital marketing, aiming to expand fan bases through various strategies like YouTube, social media, concerts, and fashion sales. They prioritize artists' music, personality, concept, and message to foster closer connections between artists and fans.
Takuma Kudo is the Branding Director at dof Inc.
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Investment focus
- B2C, Music, Consulting
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Recri — Recri works for the entertainment industry and specializes in operations management tasks like ticketing for stage, film, and music shows.
Dentsu Ventures is the corporate venture capital fund of Dentsu. It specializes in seed, early, mid and later-stage investments. It prefers to invest in the marketing and communication business sectors in the United States of America, Europe, and Asia.
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Investment focus
- Software, Virtual Reality, Machine Learning
- Series B, Series A, Funding Round
- United States, Japan, India
Portfolio highlights
- Kognitos — Kognitos is in stealth mode.
- HERALBONY — HERALBONY is an art organization that uses art to challenge stereotypes about people with disabilities and create a new culture.
- Metagen Therapeutics — Metagen Therapeutics is a Drug discovery and medical business company which utilizes microbiome science.
Paul Rosenberg is currently the CEO of Def Jam Recordings.
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Investment focus
- Music, Apps, Logistics
- Series A, Funding Round
- Japan, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Cargo — Ara Screens is a digital out of home network solution provider, DOOH smart signage operator, and the world's leading car-top and in-car advertising placement provider for Rideshare & Taxi.
- SOUNDRAW — Your personal AI music generator.
- Sound — Sound connects artists and listeners to take ownership over the culture they create together.
Shizuoka Capital Company Limited operates as a venture capital firm. It engages in the acquisition, holding, and, sale of securities.
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Investment focus
- Software, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence
- Funding Round, Series A, Series B
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Terass — TERASS is a High-end real estate information site.
- Brainbuddy — Brainbuddy specializes in sales support, business growth, recruiting, consulting, and training services.
- FUNDiT — FUNDiT is an IT-focused M&A and business consolidation company that specializes in acquiring, managing, and scaling IT companies.
Bricks Fund Tokyo collaborates to establish new enterprises that address social challenges and alter industrial systems.
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Investment focus
- Music, Video, Content Creators
- Series B, Series A, Series C
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- IVRy — Ivry offers cloud based telephonic answering service.
- Utaite — Utaite is an operator of an entertainment platform that focuses on planning, production, and development of entertainment content.
- MOSH Japan — MOSH is a web page creation services for individual business owners.
Next One for the World.
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Investment focus
- Content, Marketing, Software
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Aracan — Aracan is an e-commerce business that provides online and offline car-sharing services for vehicles.
- Geofra — Geofra develops Planning and creation of items that rejuvenate the movement of people in physical areas, regional revitalization initiatives
- HIGHRESO — GPUSOROBAN is a GPU cloud service that enables anyone to perform high-speed calculations on high-end GPUs with ease. Hi-Res, the running business, is the first GPU cloud operator in Japan to be accredited as a "NVIDIA Elite Partner," the program's highest level (CSP Compute field). Furthermore, it received the "Best CSP Partnerof the Year" award at the NVIDIA NPN Partner Award 2022. It is widely used by university research institutes, large corporations, and AI venture firms, with over 100 uses per year.
The Towa Group contributes to people's health by creating superior products and services. Through our corporate activities, we aim to be a company that is pleased and sought after by all people, including patients, healthcare professionals, and local communities.
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Investment focus
- Music, Medical, Robotics
- Series A, Series C
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- INNOPHYS — INNOPHYS is developing, designing, manufacturing, consulting and distributing robotics equipment for various industries. Their flagship product, Muscle Suit® is a wearable robot supported by artificial muscle technology, well known for its high quality and reasonable price compared with the same kind of support exoskeletons. The company is planningto expand its business to Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America.
- VIE STYLE — VIE STYLE offers wearable music device and AI technology services.
This is Murata Manufacturing's products-related website. You can view electronic component information, product and event news, exhibition, campaign and webinar information, application guides, and more.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Semiconductor, Consumer Electronics
- Series A, Series B, Seed
- United States, Japan, Israel
Sony Music is a United States music corporation owned and operated by Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Sony Corporation. It is a global music company with a roster of current artists that includes both local and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordingsin history. In 1929, the enterprise was first founded as American Record Corporation (ARC) and, in 1938, was renamed Columbia Recording Corporation, following ARC's acquisition by CBS. In 1966, the company was reorganized to become CBS Records. In 1987, SCA bought the company and, in 1991, renamed it SME. In 2004, SME and Bertelsmann Music Group merged as Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
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Investment focus
- Music, Digital Media, Apps
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- United States, Japan, Germany
Portfolio highlights
- MakersPlace — MakersPlace is an authentic and unique digital creation platform powered by blockchain technology for digital creators. The company enables creators to protect and sell authentic and unique editions of digital creations. The company connects creators with fans and collectors worldwide through a marketplace and network of partners. Creators are ableto sign and set a limited supply on the work while delivering proof of authenticity, ownership. and scarcity on the blockchain.With MakersPlace, creators are able to better capture the full underlying value of the digital work.MakersPlace was founded on 2016 and is based in San Francisco, California.
- Slip.stream — The world's largest creator safe music library built for creators. One subscription gives you unlimited downloads, for unlimited channels, on unlimited digital platforms. Royalty free. No takedowns.
- Tiger Media — tigermedia develop media for children as they should be: child-friendly, safe and with a lot of heart
Global Brain Corporation is a venture capital firm that invests in companies from seed or early to pre-IPO startups. Global Brain has invested in 300+ startups from seed/early to pre-IPO startups and achieved 25 IPOs and 61 M&As as a result of providing hands-on support services and resources to its portfolio startups. Global Brain hasmanaged a pure investment fund as well as multiple corporate venture capital funds partnered together with tier 1 public companies of telecom, real estate development, financial service, beverages, agriculture food, logistics, and electronic devices.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Software, Artificial Intelligence
- Series A, Series B, Funding Round
- Japan, United States, United Kingdom
Portfolio highlights
- SAKANA Dream — Japanese fish and its cuisine are a treasure of Japan, On the other hand, the variety of fish consumed on a daily basis accounts for less than 1% of all fish living in Japanese waters. Although there are many underutilized fish that surpass the well-known fish, they are even discarded due to unstable catches and lack of name recognition. Aquaculture can provide a stable supply, however, it is not easy to keep fish in a small water cage and only a limited number of fish are delivered to the market. We, SAKANA Dream, select the most delicious fish from over 4,000 species in Japan, and make it possible to farm and produce them using the cutting edge technology. Our goal is to create the "world's most delicious fish" that no one has ever tasted before and deliver it to our customers.
- Cierpa & Company — Cierpa & Company develops environmental, social, and governance management software. They offer services for the cloud, share information between departments, optimise workflows, and analyse and improve scores.
- Counter Culture Company — Counter Culture Company is an online platform that offers K-pop dance classes ranging from beginner to professional levels.
KDDI Open Innovation Fund is a corporate venture capital fund that will support promising startup companies. Total size of the fund is JPY10 billion. This is the first corporate venture capital fund established by KDDI. The fund will be managed by Global Brain Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO, Yasuhiko Yurimoto),which has a strong track record in the venture capital business. By combining KDDI’s know-how and assets with Global Brain’s investment and management support capabilities, we will work together to accelerate cooperative activities with promising startup companies. Through this fund, as well as "KDDI ∞ Labo," a startup incubation program currently inviting a second round of applications, we will continue to support the growth of the next startup companies.
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Investment focus
- Software, Mobile, Internet
- Funding Round, Series B, Series A
- Japan, United States, Germany
Portfolio highlights
- MODE — MODE offers customized solutions to unleash the power of real-world data for your business.
- MOSH Japan — MOSH is a web page creation services for individual business owners.
- Findy — Findy is a Japanese company once surprised the world by sending out products such as cars and home appliances one after another
Mr. Takeshi Natsuno serves as the Chairman of Japan Operations at Great Wall Club. Mr. Natsuno is a Professor of KEIO University. He served as a General Manager of Consumer Services Division and Manager of Distribution Platform Business Development Division at Pia Corporation since April 2012 and served as its Chief of Sales Promotion Bureau sinceApril 2010. He joined DoCoMo in 1997. He served as the Managing Director of Multimedia Services, Products & Services Division for NTT DoCoMo Inc. until June 23, 2009 and served as its General Manager of i-Mode Planning Division since July 2001, Senior Vice President from June 21, 2005 to June 23, 2009, Executive Officer and General Manager Multimedia Service Division since June 2005. At NTT DoCoMo, he developed the business strategy of all of NTT DoCoMo’s multimedia-related services, including i-mode strategic alliances with global application/content providers and key Internet players. He served as Vice President of Hyper Net Co., Ltd. since June 1996. He started his career with Tokyo Gas. He held key executive positions with HyperNet. He has been a Director of Dwango Co. Ltd., since December 1, 2008. He has been a Outside Director at Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. since June 2008. He has been a Director at Pia Corporation since April 2010. He serves as a Director of D.L.E Co. Ltd. He has been a Director of Gree, Inc. since September 2009 and Trans Cosmos, Inc. since 2008. He serves as a Director of GREE Ventures, Inc. He serves as a Member of Advisory Board at Great Wall Club. He served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of SBI Holdings Inc. from June 27, 2008 to June 28, 2012. He served as a Director of Hyper Net Co., Ltd. since June 1996. He is the Author of i-mode Strategy, published in 2000, a la i-mode, published in 2002, Keitai-no-Mirai, published in 2006, Iccho-yen kaseida otokono shigotojutu, and Google ni izonshi Amazon wo maneru bakakigyou published in 2009. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics from Waseda University, Japan in 1988 and an Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1995.
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Investment focus
- Financial Services, Music, Venture Capital
- Angel, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan, United States
Portfolio highlights
- ZUU — ZUU is a Japan-based company that supports financial advisors with related consultancies and manages monetary websites. It also supports the asset management and asset advisor business of executives with finance and IT.
- Zuu Online — ZUU online is a Tokyo-based financial media which provides original insights on financial market news,the latest business trend and personal finance advice
- Confidence — Confidence ensures that the entertainment industry's cutting-edge manufacturers will be able to fulfil their objectives in the future.
Allfuz is a contents boutique that offers advertisement planning, production, contracting, management, and promotion; as well as talent casting, content development, platform development, and more.Allfuz was launched in May 2012 as a company that develops and expands the possibilities of completely new entertainment services. For example,specifically, a casting business that focuses on the hobbies and tastes of artists and talents.Allfuz is developing a new service that integrates advertising production for the first time in Japan, and is currently working on diversified services that are not bound by existing frameworks, such as "digital content" and "restaurant business."
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Investment focus
- Music, Video, Mobile
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Lute — Lute is an Instagram Stories media that produce and deliver video content specialized for mobile to deliver edgy content to the digital native generation worldwide. In order to realize the above, lute pays tribute to the historical backgrounds and past works that have had a great influence on the artists and their works that are currently active,their appearance and development, cultural We will produce video works with value and contextual appeal.The vision of lute like this is to protect the rights of authors, etc. while keeping in mind the fair use of cultural property (= content), contributing to the development of culture ", the 1st Copyright Law No. 1 It is in keeping with the objectives stipulated by the Article.Therefore, lute will actively use / quote contents such as voice, images including pictures, video etc.
After joining Mitsubishi Corporation, he studied at Harvard Business School. After graduating, he joined Globespan Capital Partners, an independent United States VC, and worked as a director of investment. He started LocationValue after the company's representative in Japan. Joined Google after selling the company to NTT DOCOMO. He served asDirector of Product Development for Google Maps and General Manager for Android. He left Google in February 2018 and started Smartround Co., Ltd. in May.
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Investment focus
- Artificial Intelligence, SNS, Music
- Seed, Angel, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Flyle — Flyle provides a cloud based platform for product management helping customers to improve productivity & creativity in product development.
- Sustainable Lab — SusLab is a data bank that uses AI technology to support SDG and ESG development goals and investments.
- 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.
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
- Information Technology, Internet, 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.
100% invested in enterprise cloud companies.
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Investment focus
- Software, SaaS, Information Technology
- Series B, Series A, Series C
- United States, Japan, United Kingdom
Portfolio highlights
- MarqVision — Effortlessly discover and remove counterfeits to protect your sales and reputation.
- Fal — fal.ai is the fastest way to run diffusion models with ready-to-use AI inference, training APIs, and UI Playgrounds
- Bluefish Labs — Bluefish helps brands turn AI into a powerful new marketing channel to reach consumers and tell their story online.
Candee is a PR and digital video marketing company that provides marketing services.
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Investment focus
- Media and Entertainment, Content, Music
- Seed, Funding Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Lute — Lute is an Instagram Stories media that produce and deliver video content specialized for mobile to deliver edgy content to the digital native generation worldwide. In order to realize the above, lute pays tribute to the historical backgrounds and past works that have had a great influence on the artists and their works that are currently active,their appearance and development, cultural We will produce video works with value and contextual appeal.The vision of lute like this is to protect the rights of authors, etc. while keeping in mind the fair use of cultural property (= content), contributing to the development of culture ", the 1st Copyright Law No. 1 It is in keeping with the objectives stipulated by the Article.Therefore, lute will actively use / quote contents such as voice, images including pictures, video etc.
- vivito — Vivito provides a shooting location search platform for video production companies and creators.
San-in Godo Bank provides financial services to its customers. They provide services for opening accounts, accepting deposits, creating and managing assets, obtaining loans, and providing insurance.
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Investment focus
- Financial Services, Finance, Consulting
- Corporate Round, Funding Round, Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- SALOWIN — SALOWIN is a shared salon where freelance hairdressers can freely provide customer service and service.
- Gojo & Company — We are enabling financial inclusion for everyone by partnering with financial service providers.
- Onestruction — Onestruction is an IT firm that offers construction solution development, 3D model and document creation, and operational support services.
Nextblue is an early-stage focused VC based in Japan deploying in Japan, EU, and the US. NB fund II is investing in pre-seed, seed and pre-A startups in healthtech, femtech, or female-led startups innovating in the fields of fintech, consumer, and B2B SaaS. We also run our own co-working space in the heart of Tokyo called Nexthub (nexthub.jp)
EUand US startups: Reach out to Vincent at Vincent@nextblue.com
Japan: Kanako at Kanako@nextblue.com
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Investment focus
- Software, Information Technology, Apps
- Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Japan, United Kingdom, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Eli — Eli empowers women to understand their body and the transitions it goes through every day, and across life. We develop a device that uses saliva to capture hormone fluctuations at home, and an app that gives women the information they want to own their health decisions.
- Exactly.ai — Advanced AI artwork creation platform for artists that understands your style, creates inspiring images and streamlines your creative process
- SecureNavi — SecureNavi offers automation tools for the information security management system. It reduces conventional analogue operations using excel and word. For inquiries, telephone numbers and physical addresses are available on their website.
Globis Capital Partners (GCP) is a venture capital firm in Japan. With its combination of local business presence through Globis Group and the experience of Western VC experience, GCP has set new VC standards in Japan, with hands-on, and in-depth industry expertise.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Software, Internet
- Funding Round, Series A, Series B
- Japan, United States, Israel
Portfolio highlights
- Henry — Henry develops and provides a cloud-based electronic medical record and receipt system for small and medium-sized hospitals.
- Logomix — Logomix Inc is a mammalian cellular genome architect startup. Logomix proprietary platform, Geno-Writing™, technology integrates large-scale (Mb) human genome-writing technologies and providing genetically architected versatile human cells and/or downsized cells and microbes for drug development and cell & gene therapy area.Majority ofthe cell engineering companies are currently focused on optimization of gene clusters by automatic high throughput system however, Logomix’s Geno-Writing™ provides the required tools for dealing with mammalian or complex genomes. Logomix works with partners by providing new biology-based solutions to co-create business and social values on Geno-Writing™ platform Current Focus Area includes: 1. Human Health & Therapeutics 2. Biomaterials & Chemicals 3. Agriculture & EnvironmentLogomix has 11 ongoing collaborative research partnerships. Currently Logomix is specifically looking for industry partners to address unmet needs in neurodegenerative disease areas.
- Kotoba Technologies — Kotoba Technologies develops and supports technology tailored to business fields and applications. It supports the implementation of language models into corporate applications by communicating closely with companies in Japanese to accurately understand the needs and actual situation of each company, and then provide optimal technical support.++
W Ventures is a Berlin based Venture Design and Venture Capital company that offers a complete framework for the acceleration of digital business ideas.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Content, Internet
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan, Indonesia, United States
Portfolio highlights
- Anaguma — Anaguma handles business development based on the philosophy of helping people with a sustainable structure. The company's business objective is to eliminate concerns about purchases and reservations, and it delivers before-sales social networks. It also provides matching services exclusively for housekeepers' personal contracts. Thecompany also offers influencer marketing services with a focus on removing waste completely from advertising and realizing a world in which good products can be sold regardless of advertising costs.Anaguma was founded in January 2016 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
- Ness — Ness is a tech company that offers 3 service websites and analytic tools for NFT marketing tool, TikTok product and NFT holders.
- Visual Bank — Visual Bank operates a stock photo business and provides an AI data platform. It aims to create a society in which the value of Japanese creations is maximized and optimized.
PE&HR is a private equity and venture capital firm that seeks to invest in incubation, start-up, and early-stage companies. PE&HR primarily invests in the human resources, internet, healthcare, IT, mobile, and social commerce-related industries.
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Investment focus
- Software, Education, Fashion
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Landsview — Landsview is an IT company that provides software development, numerical analysis, testing equipment, and measurement services.
- Izanagi Games — Izanagi Games is an entertainment company that focuses on producing and publishing interactive games.
- BEAM Technologies — BEAM Technologies, focuses on developing optical semiconductor devices using special light to offer clean solutions to ecosystem-related problems.
Creating and ConnectingOur imagination knows no bounds and we believe in everyone's creative abilities.In Japanese, we describe ourselves as an "omoshiro" company. It is hard to translate but it kind of means playful, fun and interesting. What we really want is to create things that are fun for people to use. And that'swhy we hire free-spirited and light-hearted people who won't lose their playful creativity at work.KAYAC is what an IT and web company looks like when it is given the freedom to play. Our name is based on the initials of our three directors: KAihata, YAnagisawa, and C(k)uba. And it fits us because a kayak is a nimble and fun little boat that needs a strong, hardworking crew to navigate it, just like our company.
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Investment focus
- Music, Content, Wearables
- Series A, Funding Round, Corporate Round
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Number Nine — Number Nine is a digital distribution agency business, EC business,tax return agency business,manga production business and media mix business.
- Yadokari — Yadokari provides various types of Construction & Real Estate related other services.
- VIE STYLE — VIE STYLE offers wearable music device and AI technology services.
Sony Innovation Fund is investing in technology-driven transformational companies shaping the future of business, entertainment and society.
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Investment focus
- Software, Artificial Intelligence, Health Care
- Funding Round, Series A, Series B
- United States, Japan, United Kingdom
Portfolio highlights
- Twiva — Twiva is an influencer marketing and social commerce startup that gives Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affordable, efficient, and digital access to markets. This is done by leveraging social media influencers to market and sell MSMEs’ products and services on social media platforms. Twiva was created to harness the vast penetration ofsmartphones, internet connectivity, accessible mobile banking, and the power of influencer marketing to create dignifying digital and digitally-enabled jobs.
- Filmmakers Mart — Find and book film locations, equipment, and services across Africa. Filmmakers Mart simplifies production logistics from start to finish.
- PlaceHolder — Placeholder is a space value creation company that provides people with inspiring and exciting experiences by fusing digital technology and real space.
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, Singapore
Portfolio highlights
- Oasys — Oasys is a Blockchain designed exclusively for the gaming industry.
- Oasys — Oasys is a Blockchain designed exclusively for the gaming industry.
- Bankers Holding — Bankers Holding controls the bankers group companies that provide financial services via internet.
Official corporate site of Uzabase, Inc., the provider of SPEEDA, NewsPicks and other services
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Investment focus
- Content, Information Services, SNS
- Seed, Series A, Angel
- Japan, United States, Singapore
Portfolio highlights
- Arches — Arches is a premier global expert network with an APAC focus. We connect you to custom-recruited specialists across Asia. Fast insights for your business.
- EventHub — Deliver engaging B2B events with the event platform designed with lead generation and nurturing in mind. Webinars, expos, conferences, job fairs, meetups, and more.
- Baseconnect Japan — Baseconnect Co., Ltd. connects people from all over the world and spends one-tenth the time it takes for people to “know”.
MUFG Bank is Japan's largest bank. ; MUFG
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Investment focus
- Energy, Renewable Energy, Financial Services
- Debt Financing, Post-IPO Debt, Funding Round
- Japan, United States, India
Portfolio highlights
- Sunraycer — Accelerate your energy transition goals with Sunraycer, a well-capitalized company driving change at scale through innovative clean energy solutions. Our portfolio of 25 projects delivers long-term power solutions while avoiding 300 Mt of direct CO2 emissions. Benefit from our strategic partnerships with industry leaders, landowners, and communities. Discover the latest news and insights as we speed towards a sustainable future. Explore Sunraycer today and unlock the potential of clean energy solutions for your industry.
- ACEN Australia — ACEN Australia develops renewable energy assets including several solar, wind, battery, and hydro projects across Australia.
- Cypress Creek Renewables — Cypress Creek Renewables is committed to making the world cleaner and healthier. From development to operation, we create and operate valuable solar and storage projects that benefit communities for decades.
Shuhei Yamashita - Representative Director @ CRE
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Investment focus
- Music, Content Creators, Artificial Intelligence
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- SOUNDRAW — Your personal AI music generator.
Yamaguchi Capital Co., Ltd. is a venture capital firm. Yamaguchi Capital Co., Ltd. was established in 1996 and is based in Yamaguchi-ken, Japan.
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Investment focus
- Apps, Manufacturing, Software
- Funding Round, Series B, Seed
- Japan, India
Portfolio highlights
- LiLz — LiLz is an IT technology network for businesses looking to use AI and IoT to offer new services and value.
- Tech Doctor — Tech Doctor is a health monitoring service which provides analysis and insights for self care reducing the need for health care workers.
- NABLA Mobility — Solving the complexities involved in the "Operation of Fleets" of Mobility and support its evolution and decarbonization
Gumi Ventures helps the new entrepreneurs and businesses to cause a new innovation in the smartphone field. Gumi Ventures supports the new entrepreneurs and businesses that can resonate with gumi listed in the business mission, that cause a new innovation in the smartphone field. They will create a global company that represents the future ofJapan.
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Investment focus
- Video, Media and Entertainment, Gaming
- Seed, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan, Taiwan, Finland
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.
- Mech — Mech is an NFT-based metaverse game that is currently developing their first versions of a match-3 game in which players can earn the in-game currency ore.
- Brave group — Brave group engages in IP development, marketing and support services.
iFund is an investment and financial service firm.
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Investment focus
- Apps, Music, Content
- Seed
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Hagino — Hagino is a recruitment company that provides paid employment services for the hotel and lodging industries.
- YUIMEX — YUIMEX specializes in copyright, digital content, animation, and network entertainment services.
- Nekonome — Nekonome creates a game platform with global character designs, in-game updates, and regular events, providing a personalized gaming experience based on data.
Resona Bank provides various banking products and services for individual and corporate customers in Japan.
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Investment focus
- Information Technology, Internet, Internet of Things
- Debt Financing, Funding Round, Series A
- Japan
Portfolio highlights
- Brushup — Brushup is a review tool that dramatically streamlines the checking and feedback of files such as designs, videos, PDFs and Office document.
- Luup — Luup is an Internet Company.
- LocationMind — LocationMind is an IT company that provides human flow analysis, IoT solutions, and security for positioning signals. Through AI analysis of location information and big data, they provide end-to-end services to customers in a variety of fields. A position critical to the advancement of next-generation technology. They have independently developedmultiple AI models that specialize in people flow to make predictions for the near future, in addition to analyzing people flow in the past.
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