Tech Firm aisaac Backs Seed-Stage VC TOKI’s JPY 2bn Inaugural Fund
Tokyo-based web service developer aisaac has invested as a limited partner (LP) in the inaugural fund of venture capital firm TOKI. Founded in 2025 by former Genesia Ventures capitalist Masami Ichinohe and former Globis Capital Partners investor Sho Masubuchi, Minato-ku-based TOKI began operating its first vehicle—TOKI No. 1 Investment Limited Partnership—in 2026. The firm plans to complete raising a total of ¥2 billion for the fund by the end of 2026.
TOKI’s fund targets seed-stage domestic startups, focusing on sectors within the Sanae Takaichi administration's 17 strategic fields, including advanced medicine and content. The fund aims to invest in roughly 10 companies with a maximum allocation of ¥800 million per startup, and has already backed preventive medical service AI Dock.
TOKI has primarily raised capital from startup executives—including Timee founder Ryo Ogawa—and family office successors, with investors in their 20s and 30s accounting for the majority of its LP base. Ichinohe has stated that the firm seeks to establish a new venture capital model to cultivate Japan's next generation of business leaders.
Established in December 2015 and led by CEO Kazuki Tanaka, Shibuya-ku-based aisaac develops and operates web services across multiple sectors, including group companies Aimy and Link. Operating on 100% self-funded capital with profitable management, the company generated ¥8.5 billion in revenue in its 10th fiscal term and currently develops and operates more than 10 products in-house.
aisaac noted that its commitment aligns with its own strategy of cultivating management talent through new business creation and spin-offs. Tanaka stated that TOKI’s drive to revitalize the Japanese economy and foster emerging leaders mirrors aisaac's approach of entrusting management roles to younger executives.
Norbert Gehrke
