AVCJ

Fuji Startup Ventures backs Japan's The Bridge

  • LinkedIn  
  • Google plus  
  • Save this article  

Fuji Startup Ventures (FSV), the VC arm of Japan's Fuji TV network, has committed an undisclosed amount of funding to Tokyo-based start-up news site The Bridge, alongside public relations company PR Times.

The Bridge will use the new funding to strengthen human resources and to launch additional media ventures, according to a story on e27 linked from the company's Twitter feed.

Originally founded as Startup Dating in 2010, The Bridge adopted its current name in 2013. It covers start-ups, primarily in the Japan market, in both English and Japanese, and organizes events and meet-ups in Japan aimed at the domestic and international tech communities. Along with promoting Japan's start-up scene, the site wants to help foreign start-ups connect with Japanese companies and gain access to the local market. The Bridge claims to have 520,000 monthly unique users. 

FSV launched in 2013 with a JPY15 billion (then $150 million) fund. It invests in start-ups developing apps and services that can be integrated with TV programs, with the goal of creating synergy opportunities with the operations of the parent company.

Previous investments include a JPY50 million commitment to classifieds website JMTY.com in 2013 and a $2 million Series A round in 3D printing service Kabuku in 2014 led by Cyberagent Venture.

  • LinkedIn  
  • Google plus  
  • Save this article  

More on North Asia

Latest News

world-hands-globe-climate-esg
Asian GPs slow implementation of ESG policies - survey

Asia-based private equity firms are assigning more dedicated resources to environment, social, and governance (ESG) programmes, but policy changes have slowed in the past 12 months, in part due to concerns raised internally and by LPs, according to a...

  • GPs