Asu Capital Partners Announces Final Close for First Fund
Asu Capital Partners, a venture capital firm supporting entrepreneurs aiming for "Japan to Global" expansion, has completed the final close of the "Asu Capital Partners Fund No. 1". In this fourth round of fundraising, the company received investments from Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Yostar, Kashima Antlers FC, Yitu Capital, and individual investor Kazuya Fujii. The total number of portfolio companies has reached 12, and Asu Capital Partners will continue to strengthen its support system for founding investments and startups aiming for "Japan to Global" expansion.
About Asu Capital Partners
Asu Capital Partners primarily targets pre-seed and seed-stage startups, using its unique fund network to support startups aiming for global markets from Japan.
Since the first close release in April 2024, the company has invested in a total of 12 startups. Of these, six companies have already begun their overseas market expansion, and some startups have successfully secured deals with major overseas companies. Following the final close, Asu Capital Partners will further strengthen its support system for founding investments and existing portfolio companies' "Japan to Global" initiatives, working with full commitment to create global startups originating from Japan.
Overview of ACP Fund No. 1 and First Phase Highlights
Since the first close, while providing overseas market entry support, network access, next-round fundraising support, incubation, and insights to portfolio companies, Asu Capital Partners has also been selected for the FinCity Tokyo EM Showcase and adopted as a TOKYO SUTEAM agreement operator by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In terms of "Japan to Global," Asu Capital Partners has actively provided network and insights to portfolio companies in collaboration with overseas investors, offering overseas market entry support.
Through this year's activities, half of Asu Capital Partners' portfolio companies are entrepreneurs with overseas backgrounds, and one-third of the total are female entrepreneurs.
As a fund promoting "Japan to Global," Asu Capital Partners embodies being "Global" itself, with approximately 40% of its investors (LPs) being overseas investors.
ACP will continue to uphold "Japan to Global" and accompany entrepreneurs who aim for the world from Japan.
Masaya Orii, Senior Manager, Startup Management Office, Yamanashi Chuo Bank, commented: "As a financial institution supporting the region's future, Yamanashi Chuo Bank wants to support challenges that aim for the world from the region. We deeply empathize with the vision of Asu Capital Partners (ACP), which promotes "Japan to Global" and supports global startups from Japan, and have decided to invest in ACP Fund No. 1. For revitalizing regional economies including Yamanashi Prefecture, creating new value beyond conventional frameworks is essential, and the existence of startups that serve as the driving force is important. We have strong trust in ACP's attitude of sincerely facing entrepreneurs who look to the world while staying close to the most challenging phase of pre-seed and seed stages, and we will strongly support their challenges from the perspective of a financial institution. We look forward to supporting the growth of ACP and its portfolio startups as a bridge connecting regions and the world."
Norbert Gehrke
