venture capital
NaLaLys, which operates the SaaS platform "NaLaLys" for advancing and streamlining corporate compliance, has completed a fundraising of 250 million yen in a Pre-Series A round. In this round, Delight Ventures served as the lead investor, with DNX Ventures and WPower Fund (MPower) participating in a third-party allocation
venture capital
Berlin-based FinTech Credibur has secured USD 2.2 million (EUR 1.85 million) in pre-seed funding to launch its credit infrastructure platform. The round is led by European FinTech VC Redstone, followed by Silicon Valley's MS&AD Ventures and Canadian VC Inovia. The round also includes several
venture capital
LegalOn Technologies, a Tokyo and San Francisco-based startup that uses AI to speed up contract reviews, announced a USD 50 million Series E, bringing its total funding to USD 200 million. The round was led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with continued support from existing investor World Innovation
corporate venture capital
Celebrating its one-year anniversary, Chocolate Finance announced two significant milestones: the successful close of a USD 15 million Series A+ funding round as well as attaining regulatory approval to operate in Hong Kong. These achievements collectively underscore Chocolate Finance's innovative product proposition, continuing market growth, robust business model,
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twentieth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. There is a new chief in town. In a management roster published on July 8, the FSA lists Hiroyuki Natori as the Director of the Innovation Promotion Office and Chief FinTech Officer. In addition, the new position of
venture capital
The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC), one of Japan's premier science & technology venture capital firms, has raised its sixth fund, UTEC 6, with a size of JPY 47 billion (approximately USD 326 million). With the launch of UTEC 6, the firm has surpassed USD 1
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred nineteenth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. With the last update on the Shunto wage negotiations behind, and the Upper House elections ahead of us, it is worth taking another look at the situation the average Japanese consumer finds herself in. In September 2022, we
venture capital
Asu Capital Partners, a venture capital firm supporting entrepreneurs aiming for "Japan to Global" expansion, has completed the final close of the "Asu Capital Partners Fund No. 1". In this fourth round of fundraising, the company received investments from Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Yostar, Kashima Antlers FC,
venture capital
Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) has decided to make an LP investment of JPY3.5 billion in Genesia Venture Fund IV Investment Limited Partnership (“GV-4”), which is managed by Genesia Ventures. JIC’s mission is to create a virtuous cycle of risk capital that supports the next generation of domestic industries
corporate venture capital
Fukuoka Financial Group has established the "CVC Fund No. 2" with a total fund size of 3 billion yen, jointly with SBI Investment and FFG Venture Business Partners, in order to strengthen investment functions aimed at realizing alliances with promising startup companies. Background and Purpose of Establishment FFG
venture capital
AN Venture Partners (ANV), a global biotech venture capital firm, announced the final close of its first fund, AN Venture Partners I, achieving its target of USD 200m (JPY 29bn), one of the largest Japan-focused biotech venture capital funds to date, and also one of the largest first-time biotech venture
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred eighteenth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We are going to be a bit policy- and white paper-heavy this week. From a macro perspective, we have included the government's "Grand Design and Action Plan for a New Form of Capitalism, 2025 Revised