Cool Japan Fund invests USD 20m in Taiwanese VC CDIB’s USD 60m fund

The Cool Japan Fund (CJF) has decided to commit up to 20 million USD to a fund that invests in Japanese startups seeking global growth opportunities.

The fund is launched and to be operated by CDIB CROSS BORDER INNOVATION LIMITED (with stakes held by CJF and CDIB Capital Innovation Advisors Corporation) to invest in startups from Japan, Taiwan and elsewhere seeking global growth opportunities. CDIB Capital Innovation Advisors Corporation is the subsidiary of Taiwan’s largest venture capital — CDIB Capital Group, boasting an extensive investment track record and experience of operating multiple funds. CDIB Capital Innovation Advisors Corporation opened a Tokyo office in March 2023 and has been providing a wide range of support to Japanese startups, including the running of startup-focused events.

Through this investment, CJF will identify startups that potentially wish to operate globally, and will help improve the recognition and value of Japanese fashion, food, lifestyles and other qualities in overseas locations. CJF is committed to working with CDIB Capital Innovation Advisors Corporation to support Japanese startups eyeing an expansion into Taiwan and the greater Asian market.

This partnership appears to be more promising than the CJF making investment decisions by itself. The central government originally created the Cool Japan Fund in 2013 to support overseas sales of cultural products such as anime and Japanese cuisine, and saw it as a potential winner that could drive growth. By the end of 2022, it had racked up a deficit of 30.9 billion yen ($218 million) from investments that did not pan out, and there were heated discussions among the ministries whether CJF should be folded.

At the time, METI presented a plan to turn CJF profitable by fiscal year 2025. The Ministry of Finance was adamant that the fund would be merged or eliminated if this target cannot be met. So the clock is ticking….

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