Tokyo's startup scene is full of energy, and there's a strong network of investors ready to back new ideas. Finding the right financial partner can make all the difference for a growing company. Firms like Global Brain Corporation have backed over 700 startups, while others such as Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and SMBC Venture Capital have each made more than 600 investments. To help you find your way, we've gathered the most active and influential firms in the city.
Below is our list of the best 73 VC firms in Tokyo.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
As the venture arm of one of Japan's largest financial groups, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital invests in promising companies within life science, ICT, and high-tech industries. They provide comprehensive financial support that guides startups from their initial seed funding all the way to late-stage development.
| 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 |
As the venture capital arm of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SMBC Venture Capital funds high-growth startups across all stages, from seed to late-stage. The firm provides both financial backing and hands-on support, using its deep financial industry connections to help portfolio companies scale and go public.
| 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 |
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.
| 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.
| 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 backs startups at the seed, early, and late stages to accelerate innovation in Japan. The firm supports businesses with new technologies that address industrial and social challenges, helping to improve the country's global competitiveness.
| 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 equity and mezzanine financing to support the growth and revitalization of small and medium-sized Japanese companies. They focus on addressing business succession issues, offering management support through the Aozora Bank Group network to ensure long-term stability.
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Debt |
| Nº of Investments | 50 (12 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 3 (1 IPO'd) |
Operating as the venture capital arm of Z Holdings, they fund global startups from seed to late stage in the internet services industry. The firm helps portfolio companies scale by creating business collaborations with established platforms within the Z Holdings group, including Yahoo! JAPAN and LINE.
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Shinichiro Hori |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 77 (15 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
| Contact | zvc-info@zvc.vc |
Global Brain Corporation backs startups from their earliest seed stages through to pre-IPO, providing hands-on support to guide them toward successful exits. They manage both pure investment funds and corporate venture capital funds, partnering with established corporations in sectors ranging from telecom and finance to logistics and agriculture.
| Year Founded | 1998 |
| Founders | Yasuhiko Yurimoto |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 740 (236 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 109 (41 IPO'd) |
| Contact | info@globalbrains.com |
Venture Capital Japan specializes in managing corporate venture capital, creating pathways for large companies to partner with emerging startups. The firm facilitates these strategic partnerships, enabling corporations to develop new business ventures through collaboration.
| Year Founded | — |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | — |
| Nº of Investments | — |
| Nº of Exits | — |
| Contact | Deanbridges99@gmail.com / +81 3-6455-5255 |
First Light Capital invests in early-stage Japanese startups within the digital transformation and deep tech sectors. The firm provides hands-on support to help its portfolio companies expand into global markets.
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Osamu Iwasawa |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage |
| Nº of Investments | 37 (8 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 1 (1 IPO'd) |
| Contact | contact@ubv.vc |
63 Additional Tokyo VC Firms Worth Pitching
Our top picks are just the beginning of the story for founders in Tokyo. The city's wider venture community has collectively backed nearly 4,800 startups, helping almost 700 of them reach an exit.
This deep pool of capital shows a strong belief in the city's founders and their ideas. Here are the other venture capital firms funding what's next in Tokyo.
