Japan Investment Corporation (JIC)
Vertex raises $541m for Southeast Asia, India
Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India (VVSEAI), an early-stage investor affiliated with Temasek Holdings-owned Vertex Holdings, has closed its fifth fund with USD 541m in commitments.
Japan space robot maker Gitai raises $45m
Japanese space robotics start-up Gitai has lifted its Series B round to USD 45m with a new USD 15m tranche featuring Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital.
Japan's Miyako targets $140m for third VC fund
Japan’s Miyako Capital, an independent VC firm affiliated with Kyoto University, has launched its third deep tech fund with a target of JPY 20bn (USD 140.2m).
Japan VC draws global attention - AVCJ Forum
Japan’s venture capital market is attracting increased international attention by virtue of its relatively stable returns and a start-up-friendly policy regime, investors told the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum Japan 2023.
Japan's LayerX lifts Series A to $59m
Japan’s LayerX, an enterprise billing and invoicing software provider, has lifted an ongoing Series A round to JPY 8.2bn (USD 59m) with support from several local VC firms.
Fund focus: Foreign LPs creep into Japan VC
Japan’s Dimension has closed its first fund since spinning out from Dream Incubator, more than doubling its prior vintage and tracking increased interest among regional institutional investors
Japan’s Dimension closes second VC fund on $75m
Dimension, a spinout of Japan’s Dream Incubator, has closed its second VC fund with JPY 10.1bn (USD 75m) in commitments.
Japan's Genesia closes Fund III on USD 110m
Japan’s Genesia Ventures, a seed-stage tech investor with a presence in Indonesia and Vietnam, has closed its third fund on USD 110m.
JIC Capital backs Japan's Hitachi Astemo
JIC Capital, the private equity unit of Japan Investment Corporation (JIC), has agreed to take a 20% stake in automotive components manufacturer Hitachi Astemo as part of a restructuring that will see Hitachi cede majority ownership.
Globis leads $22m Series C for Japan's Trend Express
Globis Capital Partners has led JPY 3.3bn (USD 22.1m) Series C round for Japan’s Trend Express, a cross-border marketing and data analysis platform focused on Japan-China tourism.
Investors call on Japanese start-ups to pursue overseas capital - AVCJ Forum
Japanese start-ups must attract more institutional capital from overseas given the paucity of local investors, especially in the growth stages, the AVCJ Japan Forum heard.
Japan's Anri hits $102m first close on latest VC fund
Japanese early-stage VC firm Anri has reached a first close of JPY 14bn (USD 102m) on its fifth flagship fund. The target is JPY 40bn.
Japan's WiL raises USD 1bn
US-Japan cross-border investor World Innovation Lab (WiL) has raised USD 1bn across its third flagship fund and several other vehicles.
Japan's Drone Fund closes third vintage on $85m
Japan’s Drone Fund has closed its third air mobility-dedicated vehicle at JPY 10.5bn (USD 85m), beating a target of JPY 10bn.
Capital, talent flock to Japanese start-ups - AVCJ Forum
Japan’s early-stage investment environment has improved dramatically over the past several years with the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs, industry participants told the AVCJ Japan Forum.
LP interview: Japan Investment Corporation
Japan Investment Corporation aims to help a sparse venture capital market catch up with a slightly more mature buyout space. Balancing private and public interests remains the key challenge
Japan's SmartNews secures $230m Series F
Japan-based news app SmartNews has achieved a valuation of $2 billion on closing a $230 million Series F round featuring US-based Princeville Capital and Woodline Partners as well as several local investors.