Japan's venture capital landscape has evolved significantly over the years, emerging as a key player in the global startup ecosystem. Home to some of the most influential VC firms, the country’s investors are fueling innovation across various sectors, from technology and life sciences to finance and logistics. These venture capital firms not only provide the critical funding needed for startups to scale but also play an instrumental role in shaping the future of industries both within Japan and internationally. In this article, we highlight the most active VC firms based in Japan, showcasing their leadership, investment track record, and notable portfolio companies.

ANRI VC

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Anri Samata, Junichiro Kono, Masahiro Sameshima

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 250-300

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Flamers, 3DC, Dear, LayerX

CyberAgent Capital

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Hirofumi Kondo

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 250-300

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Timee, Note, VisaSQ, Petokoto

Genesia Ventures

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Soichi Tajima

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 150-200

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Timee, Autify, Buymed, Qoala, Nudge

Global Brain Corporation

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Yasuhiko Yurimoto

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 500-1000

• 💲 AUM: $1.9 Billion

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 50-100

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Timee, Issuu, Veritas in Silico

Globis Capital Partners

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Yoshito Hori, Soichi Kariyazono, Minoru (Joe) Imano, Shinichi (Shin) Takamiya

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 150-200

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Mercari, Visional, Medley, Gree, SmartNews

Incubate Fund

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Tohru Akaura, Masahiko Homma, Keisuke Wada, Yusuke Murata, Paul McInerney

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 300-350

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Aeria, BellFace, Cybozu

JAFCO

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Keisuke Miyoshi

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 300-350

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 50-100

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Money Forward, LayerX, Stmn, UUUM

Mitsubishi UFJ Capital

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Takuro Kojima, Masafumi Houshiyama, Nobuyoshi Fukumoto, Yoshio Hattori

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 500-1000

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 50-100

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Inopase, Sally, AstroX, Flucle, Kepler

Mizuho Capital

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Kunio Handa, Hideki Enomoto

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 350-400

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 50-100

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Nissan, PayPay, Grab, Broadcom

Nippon Venture Capital

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Minoru Tagaya, Hiroyuki Kuwazono, Reiko Mizushima

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 200-250

• 💲AUM: $700 million

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 50-100

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Rege Nephro, AI Robotics, Arsaga Partners

Nissay Capital

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Kosuke Ueda

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 300-350

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: HeartSeed, Paild, Yper, Menou, Lanchester

NTT DOCOMO Ventures

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Jun Yasumoto

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 150-200

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Soxai, Alation, PoliPoli, MFS

SBI Investment

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Yoshitaka Kitao, Takeshi Goto, Eiji Nakamura

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 350-400

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 50-100

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: AI inside, Base, Ripple, R3

SMBC Venture Capital

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Tomofumi Saeki

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 500-1000

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 50-100

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Celonis, Opn, SiTime

STRIVE

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Yusuke Amano, Tatsuo Tsutsumi

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 100-150

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Playthink, Grab, Ailis, 100ms

UTEC Capital Partners

• 🏦 HQ: Tokyo, Japan

• 👨‍💻👩‍💻 Leadership: Tomotaka Goji, Noriaki Sakamoto

• 🔢 Number of Investments: 150-200

• 💰️ Number of Exits: 10-50

• 👜 Notable Portfolio companies: Oxford Quantum Circuits, Mujin, Liquid, TierVI

The venture capital ecosystem in Japan is thriving, with a broad spectrum of firms actively investing in startups across diverse industries. From early-stage companies to more established ventures, these VC firms are playing a crucial role in driving technological advancement and economic growth. Whether focusing on disruptive technologies, healthcare innovation, or fintech, Japan's venture capitalists are at the forefront of pushing boundaries and shaping the next generation of global market leaders. As they continue to provide critical financial backing and strategic guidance, their influence on both the domestic and international startup landscapes is poised to grow even further.