i-nest capital
Venture capitalTokyo · Pre-Seed–Growth · 7 people tracked
Also known as i-nest capital株式会社
Investment thesis
i-nest capital invests principally in domestic Japanese startups pursuing high-growth areas driven by technology including AI and digital transformation. Its target areas span new lifestyle and entertainment (proprietary IP, creators, distribution, e-comics, video, sports bodies), services solving specific needs or pains via IT and AI, value creation for existing industries such as security and manufacturing, and frontier technologies aligned with national policy priorities like semiconductors, decarbonization, space, materials and regenerative medicine. The firm allocates about 25% of fund capital to seed investments and 75% across early, middle and later stages, using milestone-based follow-on investment to concentrate in promising companies. It targets a 3x+ MoC and 20%+ gross IRR.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 7 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 28 of 83 portfolio companiesSaaS ×10AI & Machine Learning ×8Media & Entertainment ×8Consumer ×6Marketing Tech ×6Enterprise Software ×5Creator Economy ×4Healthtech ×4
HQs:Japan×27United States×1
Investments · 83 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathWunderbar is a Japanese company focused on expanding the value and possibilities of intellectual property (IP) using technology.
Marketing TechMedia & EntertainmentSaaSTokyo, JP
長尾 慶人(代表取締役CEO)
Tribal Media House is a digital marketing company that develops marketing logic and knowledge, having published over 20 books on the subject.
AdTechMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
Noriyuki Ikeda(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
AOI Biosciences is a Japanese biotech company focused on infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders, combining data analysis technology with proprietary bio-technology.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesIbaraki, JP
末田 伸一(代表取締役 (Representative Director/CEO))
Provides 'B4A', an all-in-one SaaS for private/cosmetic clinics.
Operates 'Bankers', a lending-type crowdfunding platform starting from 10,000 yen.
Basic Inc. is a Japanese "AI workflow company" that builds products using AI and process automation to help businesses grow without relying on increasing headcount.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentSaaSTokyo, JP
代表取締役(代表取締役社長 (Founder & CEO))秋山 勝(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
Provides 'cocoro:id', an interactive communication service with virtual characters.
emotivE develops conversational AI technology and AI content, building an "AI partner" (OMOHIKANE) based on multi-layered recognition algorithms with multimodal and multilingual capabilities.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechSaaSTokyo, JP
結束 雅雪(代表取締役社長 (CEO))木村 健太郎(CFO)小林 剛(CTO)
Operates 'Fanicon', a membership-based fan community platform connecting icons and core fans.
Provides 'ferret One', an all-in-one B2B marketing SaaS tool.
Operates 'FLATTE', a low-cost OMO-type semi-personal gym.
Operates 'FÜRDI', a women-only AI personal gym.
Commercialized the excretion care system 'Helppad'.
IPDefine provides AI-driven patent infringement analysis and monetization services for institutional investors and corporations.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureFintechTokyo, JP
Mitsuhiro Okamoto(COO / Founder)Aaron Benjamin Mollin(CEO)Shoji Suzuki(Chief Research Officer)Haruki Marumo(Chief Development Officer)Satoshi Nishiyama(Chief Strategy Officer)
Issues 'JPYC', a Japanese-yen-denominated stablecoin using blockchain.
Japan's first artist-registration NFT marketplace platform 'nanakusa'.
Develops planning, development and services using the communication AI technology OMOHIKANE.
Produces original IP digital comics and operates the manga/novel app 'peep'.
Develops 'PRISM', a product knowledge utilization platform.
Provides 'Riamo', an AI couples app supporting relationships with partners.
Provides DX solutions including RPA adoption support service 'RoboRoid'.
SBI VC Trade is a cryptocurrency and digital payment exchange providing spot trading, margin trading, and related services in Japan.
Crypto & Web3FintechTokyo, JP
近藤 智彦(代表取締役社長)
Skettt is a talent-subscription service that lets companies license the likeness and promotional assets of over 5,000 talents from a monthly fee, with partnerships across more than 150 talent agencies in Japan.
AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing Tech
Provides 'sonar ATS' recruitment management and 'sonar store' HR services marketplace.
Sun Metalon develops sustainable metal manufacturing processes to reduce the environmental impact of metal production.
Advanced ManufacturingCircular EconomyCleantechNew MaterialsWood Dale, US
Kazuhiko Nishioka(CEO Co-Founder)Kei Takizawa(Co-Founder, President at Sun Metalon Japan)Noriaki Sakamoto(Director)
BoardTatsuya Nakamura(Director)
Synplogen is a synthetic biology startup spun out of Kobe University that offers custom artificial gene synthesis and DNA library construction services using its proprietary OGAB and Combinatorial-OGAB (Combi-OGAB) DNA assembly methods.
BiotechDeep TechMedical DevicesKobe, JP
柘植謙爾(取締役 / Founder (Executive Research Fellow))山本一彦(代表取締役社長 兼 CEO)山田尚之(常務取締役 CTO)岩田清和(取締役 COO)齋藤俊介(取締役 医療ビジネスユニット長)
Tailor provides a headless ERP system designed as a flexible alternative to legacy platforms, enabling businesses to integrate backend operations with tools like Shopify, QuickBooks, and Netsuite.
Developer ToolsE-commerceEnterprise SoftwareSaaSTokyo, JP
Yo Shibata(Founder)inMisato Takahashi(Founder)in
taskey is a Japanese media and entertainment company that creates novels and manga IP, operating the novel-posting social platform "taskey" and the "peep" service, and developing content into publishing, rights, and studio businesses.
Creator EconomyGamingMedia & EntertainmentSocialTokyo, JP
大石 弘務(代表取締役CEO)
Things develops PRISM, an AI-powered product knowledge management platform that automatically classifies technical documents, integrates them with bill of materials, and provides generative AI assistance for product development and quality management workflows.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningSaaSTokyo, JP
Thinkings operates an HR Tech business offering sonar ATS (an applicant tracking system) and sonar store for recruitment and hiring management.
HR TechSaaSTokyo, JP
Satoru Takizawa(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))Akira Takizawa(President & Representative Director)
Develops and operates 'U Dom', a digital platform for entertainment (e-tickets, digital trading cards, merch, live streaming, fan clubs).
Provides 'UPCYCLE', a procurement data platform for manufacturing.
Provides 'UZU', an app for playing murder mystery games online.
Provides the virtual live streaming app 'StarLi'.
Our value operates PREMIER VALUE, a technology platform for the high-value movable goods market such as luxury watches and brand bags, including a bulk-appraisal referral service and a consumer-to-consumer trading app.
E-commerceMarketplacesRetail TechSaaSTokyo, JP
Tomoo Aratsu(CEO / 代表取締役)
Provides '24-hour unmanned/contactless LCC rental car 'All Time Rent-a-Car'.
GOKKO (ごっこ倶楽部) is a Japanese entertainment company that produces vertical short dramas for platforms like TikTok, and operates a short-drama studio (studio505) and a vertical short-drama app called POPCORN.
ConsumerCreator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
田中聡(代表取締役 (Representative Director))多田智(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
Operates Sukima Works, a logistics-focused staffing and short-term spot-work matching site.
Operates 'Sukima Works', a logistics-focused staffing and short-term gig job matching site.
Provides 'Hotchpotch VR', a VR-anime-focused streaming platform.
Valuetope operates a car-sharing style rental car service and develops solutions applying new technologies.
ConsumerMarketplacesMobility & TransportationTokyo, JP
Akio Sakuma(Representative)
Provides cutting-edge 2D entertainment experiences via its VTuber streaming system Hololive.
Provides cutting-edge 2D entertainment experiences using its self-developed VTuber streaming system 'hololive'.
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesThings · entrepreneur.com · Apr 26, 2026
LUUP · japanstartupobserver.substack.com · Dec 5, 2025
Tailor · ycombinator.com · Jun 11, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does i-nest capital invest at?
- i-nest capital invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What sectors does i-nest capital focus on?
- i-nest capital focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Cybersecurity, Deep Tech, Enterprise Software, Gaming, HR Tech, Marketing Tech, Media & Entertainment, New Materials, Sector Agnostic, Semiconductors, Space Tech.
- Where is i-nest capital located?
- i-nest capital is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.
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