venture capital
Capitalizing on the surging global demand for energy-efficient computing infrastructure, Japanese semiconductor startup LENZO has successfully closed a 500 million JPY seed funding round. The capital injection features backing from a heavyweight consortium of high-profile domestic investors: Incubate Fund, Sony Innovation Fund, and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital. The raise highlights a
venture capital
Singapore-based investment firm Cross Capital is advancing toward the final close of its debut Fund of Funds (FoF), having secured new capital commitments from Resona Bank and packaging giant Toyo Seikan Group. The newly formed partnerships bring the total number of corporate Limited Partners (LPs) in the Cross Capital I
venture capital
Akari Hosho, an Osaka-based startup specializing in lifelong support and legal guarantor services for the elderly, has successfully closed a new funding round to accelerate its nationwide expansion. The capital was raised through a third-party allotment of shares, drawing in new investors SMBC Venture Capital, Mizuho Capital, and Mirai Door,
corporate venture capital
Metaplanet is aggressively expanding its footprint in the digital asset space, launching a new wholly-owned venture subsidiary alongside its first major strategic investment. In a dual announcement, the Tokyo-listed company revealed the creation of Metaplanet Ventures, a dedicated investment arm armed with an expected ¥4 billion ($26.5 million) mandate
corporate venture capital
Japanese technology conglomerate GMO Internet Group has established its eighth venture capital fund, aiming to raise up to 10 billion yen to invest in startups operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and financial technology. The new vehicle, officially named GMO Fintech Fund 8, will be managed by the group’
corporate venture capital
Japan Airlines (JAL) is restructuring its approach to corporate venture capital, announcing the launch of Japan Airlines Ventures (JALV), a wholly-owned subsidiary based in the United States. The move signals a strategic pivot for the carrier, making it the first airline in Asia to transition from a joint-venture investment model
venture capital
HiJoJo Partners, an independent asset management firm specializing in democratizing access to global unicorn investments for Japanese investors, has completed its Series B1 funding round. The firm raised approximately 1 billion yen via a third-party allotment, bringing its cumulative equity financing since inception to roughly 2.8 billion yen. This
venture capital
NTT DOCOMO Ventures (NDV), the investment arm of Japan’s leading mobile operator, has made a strategic investment in Bastion Platforms, a New York-based provider of regulated stablecoin infrastructure. The deal signals the telecommunications giant's deepening interest in integrating digital asset technologies into enterprise finance and consumer payments.
artificial intelligence
SIGQ, a developer of autonomous AI solutions for IT operations, has raised a total of 123 million yen (approx. USD $820,000) in the first close of its Pre-Series A funding round. The financing will accelerate the Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy for its flagship product, "Incident Lake," specifically targeting
venture capital
Yuimedi, a health-tech startup specializing in the standardization and utilization of medical data, has raised 400 million yen (approx. $2.6 million) in a fresh funding round. The capital injection is aimed at accelerating the deployment of its AI-driven data infrastructure and expanding its footprint in both the Japanese and
SME finance
Zippi, the Brazilian FinTech specializing in working capital for micro-entrepreneurs, has successfully closed the third issuance of its Credit Rights Investment Fund (FIDC), raising BRL 220m (approximately USD 42.3m). The transaction marks a watershed moment for the São Paulo-based firm, not only as its largest single capital injection to
venture capital
Olyv, the tech-driven FinTech platform formerly known as SmartCoin, has successfully closed a USD 23 million Series B funding round. The investment was led by The Fundamentum Partnership, with significant participation from the Singapore-based SMBC Asia Rising Fund, the corporate venture capital arm of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The capital