What stage does Global Catalyst Partners Japan invest at?

Global Catalyst Partners Japan invests at the Seed, Series A stages.

Where is Global Catalyst Partners Japan located?

Global Catalyst Partners Japan is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.

Global Catalyst Partners Japan

Venture capital

Tokyo · Seed–Series A · 4 people tracked

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Investment thesis

GCPJ invests in early-stage IT-related ventures across the US and Asia, building on the Global Catalyst Partners heritage of Silicon Valley startup creation and investment. It launched its first Japan fund in 2014 and takes an active role, holding board seats at portfolio companies and engaging with the Japanese startup ecosystem through initiatives such as METI's J-Startup, Innovation Leaders Summit, and Plug and Play Japan.

Invests inAI & Machine Learning Cloud Computing Consumer Data & Infrastructure Deep Tech Enterprise Software Fintech Hardware Media & Entertainment SaaS SemiconductorsAsia-PacificGlobalJapanNorth AmericaTokyoUnited States

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage

Seed–Series A

Tokyo, JP

Instruments

Equity

Founded

2014

Tracked investments

Team · 4 people

from the firm's website

Kamran Elahian· Managing Director

Prominent Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur who founded around 10 companies over 18 years including CAE Systems, Cirrus Logic, NeoMagic and Centillium. Co-founded GCP in 1999 and serves as chairman. Holds a master's in engineering from the University of Utah.

Koji Osawa· Managing Director

Joined Mitsubishi Corporation in 1985, working in IT-sector business development and investment including six years at its Silicon Valley office, where he was involved in founding NeoMagic and Centillium Communications. In 1999 he co-founded Global Catalyst Partners in Silicon Valley with Kamran Elahian as General Partner, and in 2014 established the Global Catalyst Partners Japan Fund I. He holds a degree from Keio University and a doctorate from Tohoku University.

Art Schneiderman· Managing Director / Principal, Global Legal Services

Partner at Silicon Valley law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and a GCP co-founder. Has served as corporate counsel to many companies including Linear Technology, Cirrus Logic and Centillium. Graduated from University of Wisconsin Law School.

Vijay Parikh· Managing Director

Spent 17 years at Rockwell Semiconductor (now Conexant) leading a $1.4B business and served as president of Rockwell Japan. Later was CEO of StratumOne, sold to Cisco for $440M, then became a Cisco VP. Joined GCP as General Partner in 2000. Holds an MBA from the University of Michigan.

What they invest in

from 2 of 5 portfolio companies

AI & Machine Learning ×1Consumer ×1Data & Infrastructure ×1Deep Tech ×1Developer Tools ×1E-commerce ×1Retail Tech ×1SaaS ×1

HQs:Japan×1

Investments · 5 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

株式会社ACROVEacrove.co.jp𝕏✓ verified

ACROVE is a Japanese company focused on e-commerce, aiming to bring products to more consumers through EC (electronic commerce).

ConsumerData & InfrastructureE-commerceRetail TechSaaSTokyo, JP

Shunsuke Arai(代表取締役社長執行役員 / グループCEO (Representative Director, President & Group CEO))Tetsuo Yamada(取締役 / 副社長執行役員グループCOO)Toshiki Terashima(執行役員 CTO)Yuji Kozawa(執行役員 CAE)

Bluenodes

Brokerage of rare, high-asset-value movables (watches, yachts, cars) for wealthy clients.

Bylive

Automotive-related brokerage and advertising business centered on on-the-go car washing and inspection.

Cognichipcognichip.aiin 𝕏

Cognichip develops Artificial Chip Intelligence (ACI), an AI system designed to accelerate semiconductor design by reducing design effort and time-to-market for chip manufacturers.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDeveloper ToolsSemiconductors

イグニサス

XR-based advertising and next-generation digital out-of-home advertising business.

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Startup Funding: Q2 2026

Cognichip · semiengineering.com · Jul 13, 2026

Frequently asked questions

What stage does Global Catalyst Partners Japan invest at?: Global Catalyst Partners Japan invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
What sectors does Global Catalyst Partners Japan focus on?: Global Catalyst Partners Japan focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Consumer, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Hardware, Media & Entertainment, SaaS, Semiconductors.
Where is Global Catalyst Partners Japan located?: Global Catalyst Partners Japan is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.

Images

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