FIRSTLIGHT Capital
Venture capitalTokyo · Pre-Seed–Growth · 1 people tracked
Also known as ファーストライト・キャピタル株式会社
Investment thesis
FIRSTLIGHT Capital invests under the theme of 'creating innovation in a society with a declining population.' It backs seed to Series A startups in digital domains including SaaS, AI, automation, marketplaces, and media. Drawing on real operating experience, the firm aims to lead the growth process of both entrepreneurs and their businesses, supporting portfolio companies in realizing their vision.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 1 people
from the firm's websiteWhat they invest in
from 21 of 34 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×10SaaS ×10Enterprise Software ×7Construction Tech ×3Future of Work ×3HR Tech ×3IoT ×3Data & Infrastructure ×2
HQs:Japan×19China×1Hong Kong×1United States×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 9 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×62 founders×23 founders×1
Investments · 34 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathConocer (コノセル) provides education combining people, physical spaces, and technology, aiming to make data-driven ("scientific") education standard and help learners achieve success experiences through learning.
EdTech
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalDG Daiwa VenturesOriental Land InnovationsGenesia Ventures
ASIOT develops edge-AI and IoT devices and services, including "A Smart", a retrofit service that automates utility meter reading, and provides big-data analytics and IoT+AI consulting.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareIoTPropTechTokyo, JP
Yohei Mikami(Representative Director)
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Software platform for retail store operations management.
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsCarbide VenturesNew Commerce VenturesOriental Land Innovations
CloudPick develops AI-powered checkout and inventory management solutions for retail stores using computer vision and machine learning.
AI & Machine LearningIoTRetail TechShanghai, CN
Alex Ng(Founder)Jeff Feng(Founder & CEO)Rosie Zhang(Founder)in
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsCathay InnovationGlobal BrainIntel Capital
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
DentaLight provides digital health solutions for dental clinics and patients to improve oral preventive healthcare and quality of life.
Digital HealthHealthtechWellness & FitnessTokyo, JP
Genki Fujikubo
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Diggle is a SaaS platform for budget and forecast management that automates variance analysis and data aggregation to replace spreadsheet-based processes.
Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaSTokyo, JP
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsDnx VenturesAozora Corporate Investment
EventX provides an AI-powered, all-in-one event management and marketing platform serving conferences, trade shows, and corporate events across 30+ countries.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaSHong Kong, HK
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsClick Ventures
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Japanese PriceTech company providing pricing-strategy consulting and SaaS for retailers and manufacturers.
Greensboro, US
Leigh Butchart Roseanne(Executive Officer)
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobis Capital Partners
LobbyAI provides an AI-powered platform that analyzes government and municipal policy information to help private companies identify policy opportunities and timing for engagement with local governments.
AI & Machine LearningGovTechSaaSTokyo, JP
髙橋京太郎(代表取締役 CEO)
Co-investorsON&BOARD
ONE CAREER operates a career data platform that collects and visualizes job-search and recruitment data to make hiring information transparent for both individuals and companies.
Data & InfrastructureFuture of WorkHR TechTokyo, JP
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsPKSHA Technology Capital
OPTiM/OPTFIT is a Japanese company that develops AI-based products including "KaigoDX", a system offering bed-exit and fall detection for elderly care settings, and products for the fitness/sports sector.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthSports Tech
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsAccord Ventures
PECO operates one of Japan's largest pet information media platforms, serving around 15 million monthly users.
ConsumerMedia & Entertainment
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsCoreline VenturesJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.
PRONI operates a concierge-style B2B matching service that connects buyers with suitable vendors, combining IT technology with human support to simplify procurement decisions such as research, comparison, and quoting.
B2B MarketplacesEnterprise SoftwareSaaSTokyo, JP
Norio Kuriyama(代表取締役 Founder)Daisuke Shibata(代表取締役 CEO)
Co-investorsJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.JIC Venture Growth InvestmentsMobile Internet Capital, Inc.Nippon Venture Capital
Tokyo, JP
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsDIMENSIONKintetsu Venture Partners
Realm manages distribution, monetization, and ad sales for independent podcasts and audio content.
Creator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Retreat provides a planning platform combined with hands-on support to help People Ops and Operations teams organize corporate retreats, including sourcing venues, estimating budgets, building itineraries, and coordinating logistics.
Future of WorkSaaSTravel & Hospitality
Shun Yamada(CEO & Co-Founder)Jack Tadami(COO & Co-Founder)
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
HR Tech startup running the collaboration SNS 'Spready' to create connections for business development.
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsGMO VenturePartnersRelic
Zen Intelligence (formerly SoftRoid) develops Physical AI, including AI foundation models and robots for automating construction site management, inspection, and data collection.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechRoboticsTokyo, JP
野﨑 大幹(代表者 (Representative))
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsAngel Bridge Co.,Ltd.Rice Capital
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
QUANDO Inc. develops IoT/AI-based business solutions, application and web development, and provides consulting for software implementation.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechEnterprise SoftwareIoTSaaS北九州市, JP
下岡 純一郎(Representative Director CEO)中野 雅俊(Representative Director CTO)Junichiro Shimooka(Representative Director & CEO)Takuma Saeki(Director & CFO)
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Tokyo, JP
Keisuke Kuroyanagi(Founder)Haruhito (Harry) Yoshikawain
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobal BrainZ Venture Capital
A Japanese company developing and deploying renewable energy solutions, including solar roofing and wall-integrated systems.
CleantechConstruction TechEnergyYokosuka, JP
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsGMO VenturePartnersSpiral CapitalSpiral Innovation Partners
WorkCircle operates an anonymous career social network ("WorkCircle") and a crowdsourced salary database ("OpenSalary") for working professionals in Japan.
Future of WorkHR TechSocialTokyo, JP
Drew Terry(Founder)岩崎 朋也(代表取締役 (CEO))
Boardテリー・ドリュー・フィリップ・サハラ(取締役 (Director))
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Takumi Giken is a Japanese company addressing challenges in the manufacturing/machining industry, working with processing and fabrication firms.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSTokyo, JP
前田 将太(代表取締役社長 (CEO))井坂 星南(取締役 CTO)原 崇文(取締役 CBO)
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsAngel Bridge Co.,Ltd.Shizuoka CapitalUTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.Genesia Ventures
LayerX develops software to digitize economic and business activities, with the stated goal of building a digital society.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
yoshinori fukushima(Founder)in
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsGMO VenturePartnersZ Venture Capital
PeopleX is an AI-native HR platform that automates recruitment and employee development through AI-powered interviews, role-play simulations, and team assessments.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHR TechTokyo, JP
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsAngel Bridge Co.,Ltd.
KUZEN develops and operates a customer engagement platform that automates conversations, offered to enterprise clients in Japan.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaSTokyo, JP
Shogo Ota(代表取締役 CEO)Kota Shirakura(取締役 CTO)Kohei Nakazato(執行役員 COO)Kai Narita(執行役員 CFO)Yoshio Takahashi(執行役員 VP of Engineering)Takumi Sawada(VP of Customer Success)
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Co-investorsNippon Venture CapitalSumisho Venture Partners
PartnerOsamu Iwasawa· solo GP
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesOpt Fit · thebridge.jp · Nov 17, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has FIRSTLIGHT Capital made?
- FIRSTLIGHT Capital has 31 tracked investments.
- What stage does FIRSTLIGHT Capital invest at?
- FIRSTLIGHT Capital invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What sectors does FIRSTLIGHT Capital focus on?
- FIRSTLIGHT Capital focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Marketplaces, Media & Entertainment, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is FIRSTLIGHT Capital located?
- FIRSTLIGHT Capital is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.
- Who does FIRSTLIGHT Capital co-invest with?
- FIRSTLIGHT Capital most often shares deals with Angel Bridge Co.,Ltd., GMO VenturePartners, Dnx Ventures, among 26 tracked co-investors.
Images
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