venture capital
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), alongside the Development Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank as well as nine other Japanese companies, has invested in Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a US-based start-up company in fusion space. This is the inaugural investment for SMBC in a fusion-related start-up company. The fusion
corporate venture capital
Pointsville, a pioneering platform for digital asset infrastructure and loyalty, has completed its Series A funding round led by Valor Capital Group, with participation from an exceptional group of global investors and industry leaders. Backers include Tether, Itaú Unibanco's founding family, Nubank's co-founder, Temasek-backed Superscrypt, SNZ,
venture capital
MUFG Bank and MUFG Innovation Partners (MUIP), both consolidated subsidiaries of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), have made an investment in LayerX, a startup focused on equipping society with AI-centered software. MUFG Bank also signed a strategic partnership memorandum of understanding with LayerX to further deepen their collaborative relationship. MUIP’
venture capital
TransBnk has raised $25 million in its Series B funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Arkam Ventures, Fundamentum Partnership, 8i Ventures, Accion Venture Lab, and GMO Venture Partners. This milestone marks a significant step in TransBnk’s journey to reshape the foundations of digital transaction banking.
mergers & acquisitions
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, its consolidated subsidiary MUFG Bank, WealthNavi, a consolidated subsidiary of MUFG Bank, and shareholders of Moneytree have entered into a stock transfer agreement dated July 31, 2025, and as August 29, 2025, MUFG Bank has acquired the issued shares of Moneytree. As a result, Moneytree will
venture capital
Visual Bank has raised 1.1 billion yen in equity financing through its Series B round. The round was led by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital, with participation from CDIB Cross Border Innovation Fund, Incubate Fund, Aozora Corporate Investment, SMBC Venture Capital, W fund, and others. The Purpose of the Series
venture capital
Tazapay, a leading global cross-border payments infrastructure platform, has successfully closed its Series B funding round with investment from Peak XV Partners, Ripple, Circle Ventures, Norinchukin Capital, and GMO VenturePartners. Existing investor Peak XV Partners led the round and 2 other existing investors January Capital and ARC180 joined the round.
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twenty-sixth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Quite the week in Japan, with the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), as well as the kick-off to Japan Blockchain Week with the WebX Fintech EXPO in Osaka. The former was dominated by SMBC making
corporate venture capital
Relcu has raised new funding with participation from both new and existing investors, including Menlo Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Clocktower Ventures, MUFG Innovation Partners, Commerce Ventures, and Valley Ventures. Relcu provides an all-in-one Unified CRM and AI Agent Co-Pilot built for financial services. The capital will accelerate Relcu’s mission
venture capital
Leading global fintech AND Global, today announced it has raised $21.4 million USD in a Series B funding round led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of The World Bank Group, and AEON Financial Service, a leading Japanese financial group active in 11 Asian markets. Other investors
venture capital
A new partnership between specialist venture capital firm Uncovered Fund and corporate VC Monex Ventures highlights increasing Japanese investment in Africa's technology landscape. The two have launched the "Uncovered Monex Africa Investment Partnership," a ¥3 billion (around $20 million) fund targeting early-stage startups in Africa and
venture capital
TRUSTART, which supports DX transformation of users' real estate-related operations through proprietary real estate big data collection, has raised 1 billion yen through third-party allotment to HIRAC FUND (MoneyForward Venture Partners), Daiwa Corporate Investment, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Japan Venture Capital, Asia Air Survey, Iwagin Future Investment, GMO VenturePartners, mint,