Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
venture capital
UTokyo Innovation Platform (UTokyo IPC) has decided to invest in Abies Ventures Fund II, managed by Abies Ventures, through its Academic Startup Acceleration (ASA) Fund—a university startup support fund operated under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Global Innovation with STARTUPS” initiative. Backing Deep-Tech Champions with Global Execution Capabilities Founded
cross-border payments
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the Payments Japan Association (PJA) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the cooperation of cross-border QR code payment between Cambodia's KHQR and Japan's JPQR. This initiative aims to establish mutual interconnectivity between the two
venture capital
Volution has launched a new $100m fund to back the next generation of high-growth FinTech, AI and SaaS businesses tackling productivity challenges in capital markets and enterprise. The fund has been launched in partnership with leading Japanese venture capital investors, SBI Investment through a Co-GP arrangement that leverages the strengths
weekly
Welcome to the one hundred ninth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We are entering our own Japanese-style "triple witching" week. First, Golden Week has started, typically a good time to stay pat in Tokyo when everyone is traveling. However, travel has become expensive for Japanese residents, and
startup
Last week, SMBC Group made two announcements concerning their support for startup exits. 1. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and FOR STARTUPS have begun a collaboration aimed at diversifying exit strategies for startups 2. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SMBC Venture Capital Management, and Bee Alternatives Japan have established a secondary fund
artificial intelligence
MUFG Bank has selected Databricks as its next-generation data and AI platform, aiming to consolidate AI model development platforms scattered across the company and to use the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform as a foundation for developing new AI applications. This announcement came merely a week after MUFG Bank announced its
capital markets
The pursuit of a vibrant and inclusive Japanese equity market necessitates constant adaptation and innovation. Recognizing the need to broaden investor participation and revitalize market dynamics, the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) convened a study group dedicated to exploring the reduction of investment units. The study group released its comprehensive report
regional bank
The Gunma Bank and Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group have reached a memorandum of understanding aimed at realizing a business integration based on a basic policy of mutual trust and an equal integration. Such "integration" will take the form of repurposing Daishi Hokuetsu Financial Group's holding company
carbon credit
Carbon EX has supported the registration of Japan's first "J-Credit Project utilizing joint delivery" by Logisteed. This project is a groundbreaking initiative that leads to decarbonization in the logistics industry and the construction of a sustainable supply chain. Carbon EX is a joint venture between ASUENE
cross-border payments
Progmat has commenced Phase 2 practical verification for "Project Pax," aimed at building a cross-border remittance infrastructure using stablecoins. In addition, The Shoko Chukin Bank has become the first domestic bank to participate in this project. 1. Background and Purpose Project Pax, announced in September 2024, aims to
security token
BOOSTRY has begun offering "E-Prime for IR", a service that enables issuers who raise funds using security tokens to proactively refer to and use investor information and other information necessary for marketing. The domestic public offering of Security Tokens (ST) has reached a cumulative issuance amount of 168.
cybersecurity
In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of damage and number of reported cases of special fraud and SNS-based investment/romance scams. The banking industry needs to fundamentally strengthen countermeasures to protect customers' assets. Financial institutions have been monitoring deposit accounts and transaction histories,