venture capital
Yoii has analyzed the 2026 funding landscape for Japanese startups based on a survey of 100 companies and venture capitalists. While both groups agree that 2025 was a difficult year, venture capitalists maintain a more optimistic outlook for the future than entrepreneurs. A significant perception gap exists regarding priorities: startups
venture capital
The Japanese startup ecosystem entered 2025 in a phase of consolidation and strategic re-evaluation. Top-level funding metrics serve as a critical barometer for the health of this ecosystem, reflecting aggregate investor confidence and the overall capacity for innovation. Understanding these macro trends is the first step in identifying
corporate venture capital
SMBC Edge, a strategic subsidiary of the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Group, has executed approximately ¥3 billion in capital investments across five domestic startups. This marks the first major deployment of capital from the “SMBC Edge Fund I, L.P.,” which was established in October 2025 to accelerate the
innovation
This post evaluates the business environment for innovators in Japan, based exclusively on the findings of the "Innovators Business Environment Index (IBEI) 2026" published by StartupBlink. The objective is to dissect Japan's global strengths and weaknesses as identified in the IBEI and to benchmark its performance
venture capital
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), together with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), has compiled an expanded version of the “Key Points to Consider in Contracts for Sound Venture Investments in Japan” based on discussions held at the “Study Group on Development of Startup Ecosystems.
national security
Japan's food self-sufficiency rate on a calorie basis remained unchanged from the previous year at 38% for fiscal year 2024, tying the second-lowest figure on record. The data, released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on Friday, paints a picture of a nation
venture capital
The Japan Securities Dealers Association has been holding a "Roundtable Meeting on the Supply of Growth Funds to Startup Companies and Other Entities" to consider issues regarding the trading system for unlisted shares based on the needs of market participants, and the FSA has been participating in this