NOW Japan
Venture capitalTokyo · Seed–Series A
Investment thesis
NOW frames investing as joining founders on a journey into the unknown, viewing the relationship as a shared destiny toward success rather than a purely financial one. The firm emphasizes deep respect for entrepreneurs and aims to be their most trusted and relied-upon partner. Drawing inspiration from countercultural and IT-revolution ideals, NOW backs bold, unconventional founders pursuing futures no one has yet seen.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 17, 2026.
What they invest in
from 53 of 109 portfolio companiesConsumer ×16SaaS ×14AI & Machine Learning ×13E-commerce ×10Enterprise Software ×8Fintech ×8Creator Economy ×7B2B Marketplaces ×6
HQs:Japan×49United States×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 14 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×92 founders×43 founders×1
Investments · 109 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathAgeless (AGE-LESS) is a Japanese company offering human-resources and staffing services focused mainly on the middle-aged and senior workforce, aiming to help people remain economically active regardless of age.
Future of WorkHR TechLongevityTokyo, JP
Takao Koide(Representative Director)
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalSkyland Ventures
10X is a company focused on transforming the retail industry, particularly supermarkets, through product innovation.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceRetail Tech
矢本 (Yamoto)
Co-investorsGlobal BrainGMO VenturePartnersKDDI Open Innovation Fund10X CapitalFounders Fund
Flamingo operated a booking service for in-person cafe-based English conversation lessons, offered via web and iOS/Android apps in Japan.
EdTechMarketplaces
Co-investorsGlobis Capital Partners
AGE technologies is a Japanese company that develops services to simplify and centralize inheritance and business succession processes, reducing information asymmetry around passing on assets between generations.
FintechLegalTechPropTechSaaSTokyo, JP
塩原 優太(代表取締役社長 (Representative Director & President))黒川 智(専門役員 テクノロジー担当 (former CTO, appointed 2021))
Co-investorsANOBAKADG IncubationKUSABIOpen Network Lab
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 (CEO))in
Co-investorsi-nest capitalNippon Venture CapitalSeiho Investment WorksUntroD Capital
ATOMica operates social coworking spaces designed to foster relationships between people and enable connection and collaboration.
Future of WorkSaaSSocial宮崎市, JP
Co-investorsDG IncubationGlobal BrainHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Iyogin CapitalOita Venture CapitalOpen Network Lab+1 more
Avatown is a marketplace and creation studio for 3D avatars, clothing and accessories used in VR platforms.
Project management and collaboration tools.
Super-absorbent sanitary underwear brand.
Beautydoors is a Japanese company that develops P2C (person-to-consumer) beauty and wellness products together with creators, including protein powder, tint lip products, night bras, and skincare.
ConsumerCreator EconomyDirect to ConsumerTokyo, JP
栄井 トニー 徹(代表者 (Representative))
Best Beer Japan runs a B2B craft beer and craft spirits wholesale platform that lets retailers browse and compare over 4,000 products from more than 350 brands at wholesale prices.
B2B MarketplacesE-commerceFoodTechSaaSAsaka, Saitama, JP
Peter Rothenberg(Representative Director (CEO))in
Co-investorsGlobal Brain
Subscription flower delivery service for individuals.
On-demand charter bus service and large-scale on-demand transport system.
Co-investorsCanal VenturesDelight VenturesDentsu VenturesDRONE FUNDEnergy & Environment InvestmentJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.+5 more
Slack app supporting organizational development.
Digital Hack provides an outsourced IT/information-systems support service ("IT顧問 情シス君") that helps businesses with digitalization and DX, aiming to reduce operating expenses, workload, and management costs.
Developer ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSaaSTokyo, JP
Noritomo Nakayama(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
Co-investorsPKSHA Technology CapitalShizuoka Capital
Dolami builds products for VR creators and avatar users, including Avatown (a marketplace to buy and sell 3D avatars and fashion items), The Avatar Studio (a VRChat world for creating reference sheets and testing avatars), and X MASK (a patented facial-tracking mask that maps real expressions onto VR avatars).
ConsumerGamingHardwareSan Francisco, US
Roof/exterior inspection app; also builds drone-based construction management and view-photography apps.
Fondi uses technology, design, and community to help people explore and discover different aspects of identity and self-expression beyond their default circumstances.
Creator EconomySocialTokyo, JP
Co-investorsCanal Ventures
FOOLS Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells original footwear such as sculptural sneakers under concepts like "LEAP GRAVITY," selling directly to consumers through its own e-commerce site and social media.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceTokyo, JP
金丸 拓矢(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
Board坂部 三樹郎(取締役 (Director))
Co-investorsRelic
FUNDiT acquires and operates small to mid-sized IT businesses using AI and big data analysis for M&A targeting and operational improvement.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareShinagawa, JP
Co-investorsShizuoka CapitalDual Bridge CapitalJapan Post Insurance NEXT PartnersMitsubishi UFJ CapitalMitsui Sumitomo Insurance CapitalNANKAI NEXT Ventures+2 more
Gaia provides cryptocurrency solutions for listed companies, corporations, and institutional investors, including risk-controlled Bitcoin treasury strategies, lending products, DeFi index construction and operation, and crypto-to-fiat payment integration for physical and online stores.
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3Fintech
Gojo & Company is a Japan-based financial inclusion group that invests in and operates microfinance institutions, banks, and fintech companies across Asia and Africa to expand access to financial services for underserved clients.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechImpact & Social GoodSaaSTokyo, JP
Taejun Shin(Co-founder, Managing Partner & CEO)Sanjay Gandhi(Co-founder & CIO)inArnaud Ventura(Managing Partner)Kohei Katada(Managing Partner / CFO)Gurol Michael Sari(Chief Operating Officer)Takao Takahashi(Chief People & Inclusion Officer)in
Co-investors15th RockBeyond Next VenturesDIMENSIONFujitsu VenturesGlobis Capital PartnersGMO VenturePartners+3 more
Japan-born fashion sneaker brand expanding globally.
Hexabase provides a cloud-native, multi-tenant development platform that consolidates backend functions such as databases, workflows, and user management as a service, letting system developers focus on UX and modern cloud technologies.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareTokyo, JP
Hidetoshi Iwasaki(Representative Director & CEO)inSoliva Jeane Paul Banayat(CTO)Orie Mitsumori(COO)
Co-investorsANOBAKADnx VenturesShizuoka Capital
AI-powered recruitment outsourcing and staffing service.
I'm La Floria is a Japanese feminine-care and self-care brand selling intimate-zone, body and hair care products.
Inclusive portable chair development and operation.
IndieSquare is a blockchain technology company developing distributed ledger infrastructure, including HAZAMA, a sidechain technology designed to safely manage and transfer data across multiple blockchains.
Creator EconomyCrypto & Web3Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaSTokyo, JP
Yuta Hoshino(Representative Director)in
IT support/digitalization service for small and medium businesses.
KAKUCHO brings emerging technologies like AI and AR into practical, field-ready implementations for real-world use.
AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsE-commerceEnterprise SoftwareRetail Tech
Japanese D2C and select interior brand selling made-to-size tables, furniture and home goods online.
Palmu is a live streaming application that enables real-time connection between broadcasters and viewers through comments and gift-based communication.
Media & EntertainmentSocialTokyo, JP
金 靖征(代表 (Representative))
Co-investorsGlobal BrainKDDI Open Innovation FundW Inc.Aozora Corporate InvestmentLight Street Capital
Crypto index management service.
Lukka provides institutional-grade data management software for cryptocurrency middle and back-office operations, serving financial institutions and enterprises that custody or manage digital assets.
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Co-investorsMiddlegame VenturesRaptor Group
M DAWN is a Japanese entertainment company that discovers, develops, and monetizes next-generation talent, actors, voice actors, and artists using technology and creative production.
ConsumerCreator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
島 裕晃(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
Mellia is a Japanese wellness company that develops products and experiences in the health and beauty space, including "I'm La Floria," a feminine intimate care brand focused on women's hormone-related concerns.
ConsumerFemTechWellness & FitnessTokyo, JP
原 由記(Co-founder & CEO)和田 由紀(Co-founder & CEO)
Co-investorsZ Venture Capital
Japanese startup operating NAGAKU, an online marketplace for finding repair and remake professionals.
Nulab develops collaboration software including project management (Backlog) and visual diagramming tools (Cacoo), with AI assistance, integrations, and enterprise security features via Nulab Pass.
Developer ToolsFuture of WorkSaaS
one nova is a direct-to-consumer underwear and apparel brand offering bras, tops, and men's and women's undies made with its proprietary merino wool material, nova wool®.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Live-streaming platform for connecting people.
Same-day and advance salary payment service.
Flea-market service focused on influencers.
Policy co-creation platform for politicians/government and enterprises (PoliPoli, PoliPoli Gov, PoliPoli Enterprise).
C2C/C2B platform for high-value movable goods.
Co-investorsKUSABI
Japanese SaaS and creative services company offering cloud tools and AI assistants for digital ad creative production.
Virtual music production, part of a VTuber business.
RoomClip is a Japanese interior and home decor platform where users share and browse over 6 million real photos of rooms, DIY projects, and products to find home ideas and shoppable items.
ConsumerE-commerceSocial
Co-investorsFemto PartnersJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.
Prepaid card brand for parents and children.
Health food and skincare brand based on dermatological science.
60% (SIXTYPERCENT) is a Japan-based cross-border online store selling apparel from more than 2,500 Asian fashion brands.
Co-investorsGlobal Brain
SOELU is an online yoga and fitness platform offering live and on-demand classes including yoga, pilates, training, and dance through video streaming.
ConsumerEdTechWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsANOBAKADG Daiwa VenturesGMO VenturePartnersSpiral Innovation Partners
Food-sharing platform for restaurants.
Recruitment support service specialized in engineers and DX talent.
TENET is a Japanese healthcare company building a new type of general-practice clinic that combines AI, online consultation, and comprehensive primary care.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtech
花房 弘也(代表取締役 CEO)佐藤 暁幸(Chief Medical Officer)武田 政則(総合診療クリニック統括責任者)
Co-investors15th RockGMO VenturePartnersHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.
Thirdverse is an XR game studio that develops immersive virtual reality games and social experiences, including social VR, multiplayer sword fighting, hero shooters, and narrative action titles, for players worldwide.
ConsumerGaming
Masaru(Founder / CEO)
Co-investorsCyberAgent CapitalFenbushi CapitalKDDI Open Innovation FundKUSABISisu Game Ventures
Next-generation viral short-form video advertising platform.
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalSamurai Incubate
User Like, Inc. is a Japanese company operating gift, subscription, and web service businesses, along with product planning and development through collaborations.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceTokyo, JP
Ryota Takei(代表取締役CEO (Representative Director & CEO))Ken Watanabe(執行役員CFO (Executive Officer & CFO))
Co-investorsANOBAKAJIC Venture Growth InvestmentsNorinchukin CapitalAPOLLO CAPITALColopl Next
Japanese company operating wellness brand SIMPLISSE and femtech brand Bé-A, offering products, information, and services addressing women's health issues across life stages such as menstruation and menopause.
ConsumerDigital HealthFemTech
山本未奈子(代表取締役 Co-CEO)高橋くみ(代表取締役 Co-CEO)
Location-sharing social networking app.
A company building infrastructure for Japanese brands to expand globally by automating cross-border trade barriers using AI and connecting inbound visitors to continued purchases after they return home.
AI & Machine LearningB2B MarketplacesE-commerceRetail TechSaaS千葉市, JP
厳 盛日(CEO and Co-founder)樋口 智丈(Co-founder)王 楠楠(CFO and Co-founder)
Co-investorsNew Commerce Ventures
Yutori is a Tokyo-based "street company" that creates new-generation consumer brands by combining digital expertise with individual stories, spanning multiple genres.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
Co-investorsSeiho Investment Works
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)
Co-investorsi-nest capitalNew Commerce Ventures
A membership-based preventive healthcare service that pairs members with a team of specialized physicians for personalized medical consultation and ongoing health management before symptoms develop.
Digital HealthHealthtechWellness & FitnessTokyo, JP
中田航太郎(代表取締役 (Representative Director/CEO))
A platform connecting travelers with local communities across Japan, offering work-exchange opportunities where participants perform tasks for local residents in exchange for lodging and compensation at or above minimum wage.
B2B MarketplacesCreator EconomyFuture of WorkMarketplacesTravel & Hospitality
Co-investorsGlobal BrainHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Iyogin CapitalSeibu Shinkin CapitalSpiral Innovation Partners
A marketplace that aggregates scholarship information for Japanese students at all education levels, offering search functionality, personalized recommendations, and educational content about scholarship options and application processes.
EdTechFintechMarketplaces
Co-investorsGenesia Ventures
Large scholarship media and DX SaaS (ガクシーAgent) for scholarship-granting organizations.
Callisto builds a medical imaging data infrastructure platform to support AI research and drug development by collecting, anonymizing, and structuring medical image data from Japanese healthcare facilities for use in AI model development and clinical research.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDigital HealthHealthtech
Online travel booking service specializing in LINE-based consultation and support.
Japanese startup behind "Prally," an OMO outing app that turns travel and check-ins into points and capsule-toy prizes.
Co-investorsGlobal BrainIyogin CapitalW Inc.
Shuttle Pay offers a prepaid Mastercard card and companion apps for children and parents, letting families send money, track spending in real time, set savings goals, and manage allowances.
ConsumerFintechTokyo, JP
見原思郎
Co-investorsGenesia Ventures
Generative-AI platform for schools.
Provider of low-cost clear aligner (mouthpiece) orthodontic treatment in Japan, offering plans starting from ¥1,760/month with treatment completed in as little as one month.
Digital HealthDirect to ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Online inheritance procedure service.
Japanese influencer marketing company operating the toridori base / toridori marketing matching platform; TSE Growth-listed (9337).
Co-investorsJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.
ナガク is a Japanese online platform for finding repair and remake shops and browsing their past work.
Co-investorsDG Daiwa Ventures
Japanese developer of Yay!, an anonymous interest-based group-calling SNS, plus AI-assisted content moderation services.
Fukuoka-based Nulab develops SaaS collaboration tools including Backlog, Cacoo and Typetalk; listed on TSE Growth in 2022.
Japanese company working to address challenges in the primary industries (agriculture and fishing), such as an aging producer population.
AgTechFoodTech
Co-investorsCARTA VENTURES, Inc.Delight VenturesGOLDWIN VENTURE PARTNERSHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Iyogin CapitalVOYAGE VENTURES
Online English coaching for beginners.
Manufacturing and sales of low-cost clear aligner orthodontics.
AI-powered cloud service for generating marketing video and still images.
Linq is a communication company focused on getting large numbers of users to adopt its own applications, developing consumer communication apps that may be used worldwide.
ConsumerSocial
Co-investorsFunds StartupsW Inc.
Hotspring develops and operates Cocolocala, a travel booking platform.
B2B MarketplacesTravel & HospitalityTokyo, JP
Koya Arikawa(Representative)
Co-investorsmint VC
Japanese GovTech startup operating policy co-creation platforms connecting citizens, politicians, ministries, municipalities and companies.
Co-investorsGlobal BrainKDDI Open Innovation FundNTT DOCOMO VenturesSkyland VenturesZ Venture Capital
SUSTEN's "Auto Investment Plus" is an automated investment (robo-advisory) service for taxable accounts in Japan, using quantitative and machine-learning strategies across global stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities and other assets.
AI & Machine LearningFintechTokyo, JP
岡野 大(代表取締役 最高経営責任者(CEO))山口 雅史(代表取締役 最高投資責任者(CIO))
Co-investorsTokyo University of Science Innovation Capital
Operator of TABETE, a Japanese food-sharing app that lets restaurants and shops sell surplus food to consumers to reduce food loss, alongside a TABETE rescue-deli service and pattern-language/creative-cooking workshop business mainly for corporate clients.
B2B MarketplacesFoodTechImpact & Social GoodMarketplacesTokyo, JP
Taichi Isaku(Co-Founder & VP of Product (Executive Officer))inKazuma Kawagoe(Representative Director & CEO)inSaori Shinoda(VP of Sales (Executive Officer))in
Co-investorsDD Holdings Venture CapitalJR East Start UP
Nanameue, Inc. develops mobile apps and web services.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerSocialTokyo, JP
Takahiro Ishihama(Founder)inKenji Higuchi
Co-investorsDG Daiwa VenturesSkyland VenturesAkatsukiEast VenturesFFG Venture Business PartnersSBI Investment+1 more
Highreso (株式会社ハイレゴ) operates GPU-dedicated data centers and provides computing infrastructure services in Japan.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingData & Infrastructure
志倉 喜幸(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
Co-investorsGIPMitsubishi HC CapitalTokyo University of Science Innovation Capital
Japanese startup behind the Picable call-plus-screen-sharing app, now building AI prompt marketplace and voice-content translation services.
Co-investorsZ Venture Capital
Pickyou is a Japanese online marketplace where individual sellers list used and secondhand fashion items such as coats, jackets, tops, and accessories from various brands.
Circular EconomyConsumerE-commerceMarketplaces
Co-investorsHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.W Inc.
Richka operates as a digital-focused creative agency that provides marketing support and a platform where tens of thousands of ad creatives are produced monthly, applying AI to automate ad generation and video production.
AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaSTokyo, JP
Co-investorsGMO VenturePartners
個人クリエイターと共創してIPグッズ物販・プロモーション・IP開発を手がける東京のエンタメスタートアップ。
Online marketplace to buy food directly from producers nationwide.
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Best Beer · fool.com · Aug 14, 2026
Light · techcrunch.com · Jul 29, 2026
Digital · bizjournals.com · Jul 27, 2026
10X · financialsamurai.com · Jul 15, 2026
ATOMica · thebridge.jp · Mar 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has NOW Japan made?
- NOW Japan has 109 tracked investments, 4 of which have exited via acquisition or IPO.
- What stage does NOW Japan invest at?
- NOW Japan invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- What is NOW Japan's typical check size?
- NOW Japan typically writes checks of $771K – $30M.
- What sectors does NOW Japan focus on?
- NOW Japan focuses on Crypto & Web3, Marketing Tech, Media & Entertainment, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is NOW Japan located?
- NOW Japan is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.
- Who does NOW Japan co-invest with?
- NOW Japan most often shares deals with Global Brain, GMO VenturePartners, Hiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd., among 60 tracked co-investors.
Images
Co-investors · 2
Z Venture Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in and supports innovative startups pursuing transformative societal change, drawing on the resources, expertise, and assets of the LY Corporation Group.
BEENOS is a global incubator that leverages its business expertise and entrepreneurial mindset to build international networks, focusing on business support, strategic partnerships, and cross-border distribution solutions.
Firms observed investing alongside NOW Japan, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with NOW Japan's recorded portfolio.
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