# Avex

> Avex is a VC fund in Tokyo backing Internet, Information Technology and Apps. See 8 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Total investments: 8
- Last investment: Feb 2026
- Lead investor: 25%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avex-inc/
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/avex_pr
- Website: https://avex.com/jp/en/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avex.official

Avex is a VC fund in Tokyo focused on Internet and Information Technology. Avex Group is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate led by founder Max Matsuura and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1988, the company manages J-pop talents like Ayumi Hamasaki and internet sensation PikoTaro. It has also shifted into other business domains like anime, video games, and live music events, partnering with Ultra MusicFestival and hosting the annual A-nation. The company is a member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG)

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Internet | 2 | 25% |
| Information Technology | 2 | 25% |
| Apps | 1 | 13% |
| Music | 1 | 13% |
| Video | 1 | 13% |

20 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Corporate Round | 3 | 38% |
| Seed | 2 | 25% |
| Funding Round | 2 | 25% |
| Series A | 1 | 13% |

### Country

| Country | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Japan | 6 | 75% |
| United States | 2 | 25% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hook | Hook operates as a music expression platform that harnesses the power of AI. | $15.8M | Series A | Feb 18, 2026 |  |
| Eastern Standard Times | EST Media is the parent company of Eastern Standard Times and EST Studios, two media companies. It is the definitive global Gen Z media platform, sharing untold stories from Asia with the rest of the world. EST Studios serves as a link between the East and West film and television industries. EST Studios creates, finances, and distributes premiumlong-form storytelling from Asia to the rest of the world.The company was established in 2020 and is headquartered in West Hollywood, California. | $6.5M | Seed | Dec 05, 2021 |  |
| Dynamic Plus Co | Dynamic Plus provides revenue management services for service industries such as hotels, delivery, and parking lots. |  | Seed | Jun 12, 2019 |  |
| HIROTSU BIO SCIENCE | HIROTSU BIO SCIENCE is a biotechnology company. | $198.4M |  | Aug 06, 2018 |  |
| SELF Japan | Self is a handles user information on SELF provided by the Company. | $35.4M | Corporate Round | Jun 18, 2018 |  |
| Man-Machine Synergy Effectors | The man-machine synergy effector (Human-Machine Synergy Effector) is a device that we propose as an "effector that realizes functions that cannot be realized only by humans or machines only by synergy between humans and machines (man-machine synergy)". Is a general term for concepts and categories.We believe that we can extend humancapabilities more.Our robotics is robotics as mechanical engineering, and we are not aiming to develop autonomous robots and artificial intelligence that make people unnecessary. By intuitively manipulating robots as a physical tool, we aim to increase the value of human labor, enrich society, and contribute to human well-being. | $14.2M |  | Feb 13, 2018 |  |
| Dank1 | DanKichi Ltd. plans, develops, and operates a smartphone app dedicated to sports. It was founded on February 14, 2013, and is based in Osaka, Japan. | $11.3M | Corporate Round | Jan 23, 2018 |  |
| FIREBUG | 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. | $20.4M | Corporate Round | Jul 27, 2017 |  |

8 of 8 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [AAF Management Ltd.](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/aafmanagement) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [AAF Management Ltd.](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/arabangel) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [As One](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/as-one) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Astmax](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/astmax) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [BlueRun Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/bluerun-ventures) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Miraidoa](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/future-venture-capital) — VC Fund, 1 deal together

## Similar investors

### Similar stage
- [Info Edge](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/info-edge) — VC Fund
- [Vector](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/vector-inc-) — VC Fund
- [Akatsuki Games Inc.](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/akatsuki-3) — VC Fund

## FAQ

### What does Avex invest in?

Avex invests primarily in Internet, Information Technology and Apps startups, most often at Corporate Round and Seed stage. Most of the 8 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in Japan. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### When did Avex last invest?

The most recent investment recorded for Avex closed in Feb 2026. Shizune tracks 8 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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