Finding the right investor in Japan can feel like a challenge, but the local venture scene is more active than ever. Many firms are consistently writing checks and helping new companies get off the ground.
Long-standing players like Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and SMBC Venture Capital have each backed over 600 companies, with others like Mizuho Capital funding more than 500. They are just a few of the many active investors looking for the next great idea.
Below is our list of the best 101 VC firms in Japan.
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Buy It For $97 $297 →With a mission to be a "new industry creator," SBI Investment funds private companies from seed to late stage to help develop the core industries of the future. They have invested in nearly 1,000 companies, helping 169 of them reach an exit through an IPO or M&A.
| Headquarters | Minato, Chiba, Japan |
| Year Founded | 1996 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 380 (98 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 63 (37 IPO'd) |
| Contact | +81-3-6229-0100 |
Backing companies from seed to late stage, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital concentrates its investments in the life science, ICT, and high-technology sectors. As part of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, they offer deep industry expertise and a proven track record of leading companies to public market exits.
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
| Year Founded | 1974 |
| Founders | Junichi Masuda |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 643 (67 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 101 (51 IPO'd) |
| Contact | 052-221-1431 |
NTT DOCOMO Ventures operates as the corporate venture arm for the NTT Group, backing startups from incubation to pre-IPO that can help build new services. Portfolio companies gain not just capital, but a strategic partner with a clear path for collaboration and potential acquisition by the Japanese telecom giant.
| Headquarters | Minato, Chiba, Japan |
| Year Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Private Equity, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 168 (50 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 41 (19 IPO'd) |
| Contact | info@nttdocomo-v.com / +81 50-9012-1900 |
As the venture capital division of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SMBC Venture Capital backs growth-oriented companies from their earliest seed rounds through late-stage financing. The firm offers more than just capital, providing hands-on management support and deep corporate resources that have helped guide over 50 portfolio companies to an IPO.
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 629 (30 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 93 (51 IPO'd) |
| Contact | 03-6262-1190 |
Genesia Ventures provides seed and early-stage funding to startups across Japan and Southeast Asia. Taking a sector-agnostic approach, they have invested in over 90 companies since 2016, backing businesses in industries ranging from SaaS and finance to healthcare and retail.
| Headquarters | Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Soichi Tajima |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 199 (82 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 4 (1 IPO'd) |
Nissay Capital supports startups throughout their entire lifecycle by providing funding from seed and early-stage rounds to later-stage growth capital. As a veteran Japanese venture firm, they offer comprehensive financial backing to guide companies from inception to maturity.
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
| Year Founded | 1991 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 344 (107 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 51 (26 IPO'd) |
| Contact | +81 03-3217-5360 |
As the venture capital affiliate of Mizuho Bank, they back startups from early to late stages, primarily in the information technology and biotechnology fields. This connection to a major financial institution provides deep support, contributing to a track record of over 600 portfolio companies going public.
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
| Year Founded | 1983 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage |
| Nº of Investments | 501 (25 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 72 (43 IPO'd) |
JIC Venture Growth Investments accelerates innovation by providing growth capital to startups that are tackling industrial and social issues. The firm supports companies from seed to late stage, seeking out new technologies and business models to improve international competitiveness.
| Headquarters | Marunouchi, Tokyo, Japan |
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Hideki Yarimizu |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 83 (30 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 4 (2 IPO'd) |
Aozora Corporate Investment provides flexible capital, including debt and equity, to support the growth and business succession of small and medium-sized companies across Japan. As a part of the Aozora Bank Group, they offer hands-on management assistance to help revitalize businesses and ensure their long-term stability.
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Debt |
| Nº of Investments | 50 (12 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 3 (1 IPO'd) |
Delight Ventures backs early-stage founders in Japan with the goal of making entrepreneurship a more natural career path. They aim to foster an ecosystem where taking on new challenges is encouraged, whether a founder has previously succeeded or failed.
| Headquarters | Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Bando Ryo, Watanabe Dai |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage |
| Nº of Investments | 65 (17 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | — |
91 Additional Japan VC Firms Worth Pitching
Our top picks are just the start of what Japan's funding scene has to offer. The firms below have collectively backed nearly 6,000 startups and helped over 800 of them reach an exit.
This is great news for founders looking for the right partner to help them grow. Here’s a look at the other venture capital firms funding what's next in Japan.
