Global Hands-On VC
Venture capitalTokyo · Pre-Seed–Growth · 2 people tracked
Also known as 株式会社Global Hands-On VC
Investment thesis
GHOVC backs Japanese deep-technology startups and works alongside founders in a hands-on capacity to help them scale into global markets and become unicorns. The team believes Japanese startups have untapped potential and that reaching unicorn status requires looking beyond domestic demand toward worldwide expansion. Drawing on the founders' entrepreneurial and startup-management experience across the US and Japan, GHOVC supports companies with operations, product development, go-to-market, hiring, strategic partnerships, and fundraising from seed through later rounds, serving as a close partner and bridge between Silicon Valley and Japan.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 2 people
from public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 5 of 13 portfolio companiesHardware ×2Semiconductors ×2AI & Machine Learning ×1Cloud Computing ×1Cybersecurity ×1Data & Infrastructure ×1Deep Tech ×1Digital Health ×1
HQs:Japan×2United States×1
Investments · 13 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathAtonarp builds compact in-situ molecular measurement instruments that use digital molecular profiling for real-time monitoring and process control.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductors
Co-investorsCelesta CapitalCelesta CapitalOpen Field Capital
Cloudian provides S3-native object storage and data management software for AI, analytics, and backup workloads, with immutable storage for ransomware protection and high-throughput storage for GPU cloud providers.
Cloud ComputingCybersecurityData & InfrastructureSan Mateo, US
Michael M. Tso(Executive Officer, Director)Hiroshi Ohta(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJonathan Epstein(Director)David Milstein(Director)Ken Yasunaga(Director)Gregory Bryant(Director)
Co-investorsFoothill VenturesNTT DOCOMO Ventures
Edge AI semiconductor startup that completed the first close of its Series B, reaching roughly $100M in cumulative funding, and was selected for a ~JPY3B NEDO project.
Co-investorsAero X Ventures
University of Tokyo Medical and Dental University-originated startup operating DPEARL, a digital mouthpiece-type orthodontic (clear aligner) brand.
Tokyo Medical and Dental University spinout operating DPEARL, a digital clear-aligner orthodontics brand.
Tokyo Medical and Dental University spinout operating DPEARL, a digital mouthpiece-type dental orthodontics brand, which raised funding.
University of Tokyo Medical and Dental University-originated startup operating DPEARL, a digital clear-aligner orthodontic brand; raised funding.
AI startup featured in the Asahi Shimbun.
Startup developing a next-generation product placement model featured in media.
Philduct is a Japanese oral-tech company that develops DPEARL, a 3D-printed clear aligner orthodontic service, along with remote dental consultation and digital dentistry services.
Digital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP
Kanae Kaneko(Representative Director & CEO)Kosuke Haruna(Director & COO)
Co-investorsW Inc.
EdgeCortix is a fabless AI semiconductor company that designs energy-efficient edge AI accelerators (such as the SAKURA-II chip) along with the MERA compiler software and hardware modules for running generative AI and machine learning inference at the edge.
AI & Machine LearningHardwareSemiconductors
Co-investorsMonozukuri VenturesMPowerAero X Ventures
Co-investorsJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Global Hands-On VC made?
- Global Hands-On VC has 13 tracked investments.
- What stage does Global Hands-On VC invest at?
- Global Hands-On VC invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What sectors does Global Hands-On VC focus on?
- Global Hands-On VC focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Enterprise Software, Healthtech, Medical Devices, SaaS, Sector Agnostic, Semiconductors.
- Where is Global Hands-On VC located?
- Global Hands-On VC is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.
- Does Global Hands-On VC lead rounds?
- Yes, Global Hands-On VC leads investment rounds.
- Who does Global Hands-On VC co-invest with?
- Global Hands-On VC most often shares deals with Celesta Capital, Foothill Ventures, Monozukuri Ventures, among 10 tracked co-investors.
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