Canal Ventures
Corporate VCTokyo · Seed–Growth · 8 people tracked
Also known as キャナルベンチャーズ株式会社
Investment thesis
Canal Ventures aims to build a society where 'challenge weaves further challenge.' It focuses on seed and early-stage startups, as well as VC funds, that take on next-generation value creation. Beyond providing capital, the firm leverages the assets of its operating-company parent to support the business growth of its portfolio startups, seeking to create a chain of challenges. It collaborates with like-minded VCs, CVCs, operating companies, and government/municipal bodies to realize this co-creation vision.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 8 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 26 of 60 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×8SaaS ×8B2B Marketplaces ×4Creator Economy ×4Enterprise Software ×4Logistics & Supply Chain ×4Hardware ×3Marketplaces ×3
HQs:Japan×26United States×1
Investments · 60 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathAPTO provides AI training data services, including data annotation (harBest Annotation) and expert-labeled datasets across formats such as 3D/LiDAR, text, audio, video, and images.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureTokyo, JP
Ryo Takashina(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
LexxPluss develops autonomous mobile robots and infrastructure systems that enable industrial equipment at factories and logistics hubs to operate independently without human direction.
Advanced ManufacturingLogistics & Supply ChainRoboticsTokyo, JP
Masaya Aso(CEO)
Aeronext is a Japanese technology startup developing drone technology aimed at building new social infrastructure in low-altitude airspace (up to 150 meters), with a focus on safety and using drones as a labor force to address population decline.
Deep TechHardwareLogistics & Supply ChainRobotics
田路圭輔(代表取締役社長 グループCEO)
Babel (ailead) offers an enterprise AI agent platform that securely collects and structures conversational data from business interactions such as sales meetings, interviews, and conferences, then enables automated execution by AI agents.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSTokyo, JP
Tamiki Sugiyama(Representative Director (CEO))
DELIPICKS runs an online store selling frozen foods from producers across Japan, letting shoppers filter products by nutrients and ingredients with next-day delivery.
B2B MarketplacesDirect to ConsumerE-commerceFoodTechYokohama, JP
Genki Nakamura(Chef)Harumi Moroishi(代表取締役CEO (Representative Director & CEO))Yohei Suga(執行役員 (Executive Officer))
EmbodyMe develops AI technology to create, replicate, and manipulate digital representations of human characteristics including appearance, voice, and body movements for media production and content creation.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
Issay Yoshida(CEO)
FamilyTech provides financial and account management services designed for couples and families, including a shared bank account app, family credit card, and family payment solutions.
ConsumerFintechTokyo, JP
中村 貴一
Fivot provides financial services for both businesses and individuals, offering lending products aimed at supporting startup growth and savings services that help individuals save money toward their goals.
FintechTokyo, JP
Shogo Abe(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
Fondi uses technology, design, and community to help people explore and discover different aspects of identity and self-expression beyond their default circumstances.
Creator EconomySocialTokyo, JP
MEs is a virtual environment platform designed for introspection and creative exploration, allowing users to visualize their thoughts and memories while connecting with others' creative processes through shared "Patches." The platform serves individuals seeking deeper self-awareness and creative dialogue in digital spaces.
Creator EconomySocial
MUSE develops robots to support retail store operations and help employees work more effectively.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareRetail TechRoboticsTokyo, JP
Pathfinder is a mobility service R&D company founded in 2020 that works on lowering barriers to travel in the MaaS (Mobility as a Service) domain.
Logistics & Supply ChainMarketplacesMobility & TransportationSaaSTokyo, JP
Yusuke Onozaki(代表取締役 (CEO))小野﨑 悠介(代表者 (Representative))
Plantio develops "grow", an IoT/AI and ICT-based vegetable-growing guidance system, and plans, installs, and operates urban community farms and home urban-farming services built around it.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningIoTTokyo, JP
芹澤 孝悦(Co-Founder & CEO / 代表取締役)孫 泰蔵(共同創業者 / 取締役)藤元 健太郎(共同創業者 / 取締役)山崎 和彦(CDO (Chief Design Officer))コミンズ・リオ(CSuO (最高サステナビリティ責任者))高瀨 一綺(執行役員 COO)
Qubitcore develops fault-tolerant universal quantum computers using proprietary ion trap technology integrated with optical microcavities to build scalable quantum processor networks connected via optical links.
Deep TechHardwareQuantum Computing
Ryuta Watanuki(Founder & CEO)Hiroki Takahashi(Co-Founder & CSO)Ezra Kassa(Co-Founder & Principal Researcher)Shaobo Gao(Co-Founder & Principal Researcher)Koichiro Miyanishi(Co-Founder & Principal Researcher)
Refcome operates a referral recruitment service that helps companies hire employees through recommendations from existing staff.
HR TechSaaS
SATORI, Inc. develops and provides a marketing automation tool called "SATORI" for businesses ranging from small and medium-sized companies to large enterprises.
AdTechEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSTokyo, JP
植山 浩介(代表取締役 (Representative Director))Kosuke Ueyama(Representative Director & CEO)
Tyffon develops location-based mixed reality (MR) entertainment content and operates an XR theme park facility called TYFFONIUM.
ConsumerCreator EconomyGamingMedia & EntertainmentWest Hollywood, US
Ken Fukazawa(CEO / CCO)Tohru Akaura(Director)Teruyuki Nakahashi(Executive Officer, Director)
Akiya Katsuyo (空き家活用株式会社) builds systems to bring vacant homes back into the market in Japan, including a portal connecting vacant-home owners with users and developing new reuse models for such properties.
B2B MarketplacesImpact & Social GoodMarketplacesPropTechTokyo, JP
湯浅 巌(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
Tokyo, JP
Souco operates a warehouse-sharing platform that connects businesses with warehouse space across a network of over 3,000 facilities nationwide.
B2B MarketplacesLogistics & Supply ChainPropTech
SQUEEZE operates smart hotels and apartment-hotel brands such as "Minn" and "Theatel" and develops "suitebook", a cloud PMS for managing lodging operations.
Cloud ComputingPropTechSaaSTravel & HospitalityTokyo, JP
舘林 真一(代表者 (Representative/CEO))
Genesia Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups across software, AI, blockchain, hardware, materials, and energy sectors.
AI & Machine LearningMarketplacesSaaSSector AgnosticTokyo, JP
Mariko Murata(Representative Director & CEO)
SHIN-MIRAI INC. (株式会社森未来) is a Japanese company focused on wood/timber procurement and coordination, holding FSC and SGEC chain-of-custody certifications.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningB2B MarketplacesConstruction TechData & InfrastructureNew MaterialsTokyo, JP
Junpei Asano(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Canal Ventures invest at?
- Canal Ventures invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What sectors does Canal Ventures focus on?
- Canal Ventures focuses on Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Canal Ventures located?
- Canal Ventures is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.
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