Tokyo · Seed–Late Stage
Investment thesis
Funds Startups focuses on building financial infrastructure for the sustainable, optimal growth of mid- to later-stage startups, with its core business being venture debt. It argues that as exit strategies diversify, startups should not rely on equity alone but combine multiple funding methods, since capital strategy shapes growth flexibility. Through proprietary scoring models and startup-specialized lending expertise, it structures tailor-made financing aligned with each company's capital policy and business characteristics. Its funds provide several-hundred-million to up to one-billion-yen venture debt, and for deep tech startups it combines grant bridges, convertible bonds, and venture debt to support them across growth stages.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
What they invest in
from 8 of 28 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×4Data & Infrastructure ×2IoT ×2PropTech ×2SaaS ×2Cleantech ×1Consumer ×1Deep Tech ×1
HQs:Japan×9
Investments · 28 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathSho Okiyama(Founder)in
Co-investorsBeyond Next Venturesi-nest capitalSTRIVEZ Venture CapitalAozora Corporate Investment
CLAS operates a circular subscription platform for monthly rentals of furniture and home appliances in Japan.
Co-investorsCanal VenturesGlobis Capital Partners
X&Management Japan is an independent venture capital firm led by Keisuke Honda, investing actively in startups from the seed to Series A stage with the stated mission of creating Japan's first decacorn.
HR TechSaaSSector AgnosticNot stated, JP
BoardKeisuke Honda
Fufu Color is a specialized hair coloring salon chain in Japan offering affordable professional hair coloring services with quick turnaround times and a focus on accessible beauty care.
ConsumerWellness & FitnessTokyo, JP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalGlobal Brain
Hakki Africa develops credit scoring algorithms and APIs for microfinance institutions and emerging market financial services in Africa, serving underbanked populations lacking formal credit history.
AI & Machine LearningFintechImpact & Social GoodSaaSTokyo, JP
KOJI TOKIDA(Co-Founder/COO)Reiji Kobayashi(Founder)in
Co-investorsGlobal BrainGlobis Capital PartnersHeadlineSMBC Venture Capital
Landit builds an urban intelligence platform that collects and analyzes spatial supply-demand and movement data using satellites, physical AI, and IoT, offering parking-focused digital products such as reservation, payment, brokerage, management, and AI camera automation services.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureMobility & TransportationPropTechTokyo, JP
Kenta Fujibayashi(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
Co-investorsmint VC
LocationMind provides location intelligence and spatial analysis services using GNSS positioning, satellite imagery, IoT sensing (LiDAR, UWB), and mobile big data to support urban planning, infrastructure, mobility, and commercial applications across multiple sectors.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureIoTTokyo, JP
Naoki Kiritani(Founder / CEO)Ryosuke Shibasaki(Founder / CTO)Dinesh Manandhar(Founder / CDO)
Co-investorsHulic StartupMiyako CapitalShizuoka CapitalZENRIN FUTURE PARTNERS
PAPAMO operates an online movement therapy classroom for children with developmental concerns and provides program support services for therapeutic facilities.
EdTechHealthtechTokyo, JP
Sakiko Hashimoto(Representative Director)
Co-investorsGlobal BrainW Inc.
Develops AI medical devices such as the influenza test device 'nodoca', digitizing physicians' expertise.
AeterLink develops long-range wireless power transmission technology, including its "AirPlug" spatial wireless power system, and holds Japan's first WPT (wireless power transfer) radio station license.
CleantechDeep TechHardwareIoTTokyo, JP
Ryo Iwasa(Representative Director / CEO)Yuji Tanabe(Director / CTO)Kazuhiro Esashi(CAO (Chief Accounting Officer) / Head of Finance)
Co-investorsAozora Corporate InvestmentEnergy & Environment Investment
Stanford-spun startup commercializing microwave space-transmission wireless power 'AirPlug' for industry and medical implants.
Jun Sugimotoin
Co-investorsGlobal BrainX-HUB TOKYO Global Startup AcceleratorGenesia Ventures
Provides corporate ESG disclosure support and operates ESG-focused media.
Sumutasu operates an AI-based service for selling condominiums in Japan, providing an online price assessment in as little as one hour and cash payment in as little as two days.
AI & Machine LearningMarketplacesPropTechRetail TechTokyo, JP
Tomoya Ito(Founder)in角 (Sumi)(代表 (Representative/CEO))Higher AngleRyo Nakayama
Co-investors500 GlobalCoral CapitalGlobal BrainMobile Internet Capital, Inc.Plug and Play Ventures
Japanese manga publisher and Webtoon studio producing original vertical-scroll comics distributed in 11 countries.
前田儒郎(Founder)in
Co-investorsAtinum Investment Co. Ltd.DBJ CapitalDentsu VenturesGlobal BrainKDDI Open Innovation FundPrime Partners+2 more
Uses data and technology to expand the potential of parking infrastructure and solve social challenges.
Japanese app developer LinQ builds the location-sharing app whoo and the anonymous Q&A app Ninjar.
Offers the 'Confidential AI Suite' security product brand centered on confidential computing to safely connect data and AI.
Ryosuke Takahashi(Founder)in
Co-investorsBeyond Next VenturesDG Daiwa VenturesGlobis Capital Partners
Provides a governance/management system for public-sector budget consolidation and visualization to support sustainable local government operations.
Aims to reform the SES (staffing) industry with high engineer compensation rates and strong sales capabilities.
Operates a circular platform for durable consumer goods, including furniture/appliance rental subscription 'CLAS'.
University of Tokyo/Inria-spun AI startup deploying AI in mission-critical domains where failure is not tolerated.
Real estate tech startup offering transparent pricing and direct property purchasing via a proprietary appraisal system.
Original manga IP company producing and distributing manga across 11 countries with multi-format IP expansion.
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesFast Beauty · thebridge.jp · Nov 17, 2025
HAKKI · techmoran.com · Sep 1, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Funds Startups made?
- Funds Startups has 28 tracked investments.
- What stage does Funds Startups invest at?
- Funds Startups invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage stages.
- What is Funds Startups's typical check size?
- Funds Startups typically writes checks of $66M.
- What sectors does Funds Startups focus on?
- Funds Startups focuses on Biotech, Deep Tech, Medical Devices, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Funds Startups located?
- Funds Startups is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.
- Does Funds Startups lead rounds?
- Yes, Funds Startups leads investment rounds.
- Who does Funds Startups co-invest with?
- Funds Startups most often shares deals with Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, Beyond Next Ventures, among 28 tracked co-investors.
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