SMBC Venture Capital
Venture capitalTokyo · Pre-Seed–Late Stage · 27 people tracked
Also known as SMBCベンチャーキャピタル株式会社
Investment thesis
Corporate VC with ¥15B fund pairing bank, VC, consultancy and talent—offers in‑house sector specialists and post‑investment executive dispatch, requires impact reporting, targets aging and climate startups.
Source: firm website, verified Jul 31, 2026.
Team · 27 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 79 of 142 portfolio companiesSaaS ×31AI & Machine Learning ×22Enterprise Software ×15Biotech ×12Consumer ×12E-commerce ×12Deep Tech ×10Healthtech ×10
HQs:Japan×78
Investments · 142 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBetterEngage is an employee experience platform (EXP) that integrates and visualizes scattered HR data in real time, giving HR staff and managers a cross-cutting view of employee and organizational conditions.
AI & Machine LearningHR TechSaaSTokyo, JP
石原史章(代表取締役 (CEO))
Definer Inc. is a Tokyo-based consulting and IT solutions company that uses AI and other advanced technologies, and develops a product called PrismScaler.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Kentaro Sakamoto(Founder / CEO)
LINK-US Co., Ltd. develops, designs, and manufactures devices based on ultrasonic complex vibration and high-power ultrasonic technology, including room-temperature bonding equipment for joining same and dissimilar metal materials.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardwareTokyo, JP
Jun Mitsuyuki(Representative Director)
Morus Inc. is a Japanese company established in April 2021 and led by CEO Ryo Sato.
AgTechBiotechFoodTechSector AgnosticWellness & Fitness
Kunihiro Shiomi(Co-founder (Professor, Shinshu University))Ryo Sato(CEO)
Rehab for JAPAN develops and provides "Rehab Cloud," a SaaS platform for elderly care and rehabilitation providers, along with "Rehab Studio," an online rehabilitation service, and conducts R&D on AI-based care technology.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDigital HealthHealthtechLongevitySaaSTokyo, JP
大久保亮(代表取締役社長 CEO)
ROUTE06 builds AI-driven development platforms (Acsim, Giselle, Liam) and provides consulting, enterprise system development, and DX support services for large companies.
AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareTokyo, JP
遠藤 崇史(代表取締役 (CEO/Founder))松本 均(取締役 (Co-founder))重岡 正(取締役CTO (Co-founder))見浪 康平(執行役員CFO)
Exergy Power Systems develops and operates hybrid battery energy storage systems (BESS) and energy management systems for large-scale power consumers, factories, hospitals, and grid operators seeking to achieve net-zero targets.
CleantechClimate TechEnergyTokyo, JP
Dr Miura Daisuke(CEO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
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)
Asterisk is a Japanese IT company operating an AsReader product business and a systems integration business.
Enterprise SoftwareHardwareIoTSaaS
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Astroscale develops on-orbit servicing solutions, providing end-to-end services covering mission licensing, spectrum acquisition, insurance, and operations to support the circular space economy.
Circular EconomyDeep TechSpace TechTokyo, JP
Nobu Okada(Founder & CEO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Axelspace provides microsatellite services through its "AxelLiner" one-stop offering — covering design, manufacturing, launch arrangement, and post-launch operation — and operates the "AxelGlobe" Earth observation platform built on its GRUS satellite constellation.
Deep TechHardwareSpace TechTokyo, JP
Yuya Nakamura(President and CEO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
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))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Cacco is a Japanese company founded in 2011 that provides SaaS-based algorithm services using AI and proprietary data science, including fraud detection for e-commerce and finance, payment consulting, and business optimization.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityFintechSaaSTokyo, JP
岩井裕之(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Coconala operates an online marketplace, launched in 2012, where individuals and professionals sell skills and services such as logo design, website development, presentation decks, business plans, SEO advice, and app development.
ConsumerFuture of WorkMarketplaces
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
ExaWizards develops AI and generative AI solutions for enterprises, centered on its ExaBase Studio platform for building and operating AI agents.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareImpact & Social GoodSaaS
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Green Earth Institute is a Japanese company operating a corporate office in Tokyo and a research center in Kisarazu, Chiba.
BiotechTokyo, JP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
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
REIJI KOBAYASHIKOJI TOKIDA(Co-Founder/COO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Heartseed develops cardiac regenerative medicine, creating heart muscle cells from iPS cells for transplantation to treat heart failure, with its lead pipeline HS-001 nearing clinical trials.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Keiichi Fukuda(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Helpfeel provides a knowledge data platform that uses search technology and AI to organize and deliver company knowledge to customers and employees.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS京都, JP
洛西 一周 (Shūichi Nagata)(代表取締役/CEO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Hutzper builds practical AI, robotics, and IoT solutions for manufacturers, combining hardware and software to address factory-floor problems such as visual inspection and workforce allocation.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningRoboticsSaaSOsaka, JP
Hiroshi Onishi(Representative Director & CEO)Kota Kurose(Director & COO)Kazuki Yuba(Director & CTO)Shinichiro Takagi(Director & CFO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
KIYO Learning develops technology-based online learning services aimed at making study easier, clearer, and more sustainable for individuals and organizations.
EdTechHR TechSaaS
綾部 貴淑(代表 (CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Luup operates an electric micro-mobility sharing service providing electric kick scooters and pedal-assist bicycles for short urban trips in Japan.
ConsumerMobility & TransportationSaaSTokyo, JP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
New Innovations develops OMO (Online-Merge-Offline) services and solutions, along with robots for industrial automation.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareRoboticsSaaSTokyo, JP
Keito Nakao(Co-CEO & CTO)Tsutomu Yamada(Co-CEO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
note is a media platform that lets creators publish and monetize text, images, audio, and other content, supporting a range of creative activities.
Creator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentSocial
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Plaid (プレイド) is a Japanese technology company that builds products using data and technology to make large-scale, complex unstructured data intuitively usable by people.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSTokyo, JP
Kenta Kurahashi(Representative (CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Renascience is a Japanese biotechnology company that develops pharmaceutical and medical projects.
Biotech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
ROXX is a Japanese company that aims to raise the incomes of people without academic or career credentials by connecting individuals to opportunities and helping companies grow, using technology to address social challenges in Japan's shrinking labor market.
AI & Machine LearningB2B MarketplacesFuture of WorkHR TechSaaSTokyo, JP
Taro Nakajima(Representative Director & President (CEO))Daisuke Ueki(Senior Executive Officer, COO / SVP of Business)Hiroto Nishimura(Senior Executive Officer / SVP of Corporate)Toshiki Takase(Executive Officer, CAO)Kota Matsumoto(Executive Officer, CTO)George Yoshimoto(Executive Officer, CFO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Safie provides cloud-based video surveillance products, including networked cameras, portable devices, and AI applications for person search and people counting.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingCybersecurityHardwareIoTTokyo, JP
佐渡島隆平(代表取締役社長CEO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Schoo is an online learning platform offering live and on-demand courses for individual learners, with premium membership providing unlimited access to recorded lessons and exclusive content.
EdTechFuture of WorkSaaS
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Veritas In Silico develops AI-driven drug discovery platforms targeting RNA and nucleic acid-based therapeutics, partnering with pharmaceutical companies for small molecule and mRNA drug creation.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechMedical DevicesKawasaki, JP
Shingo Nakamura(CEO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Yappli (Yapp Inc. / 株式会社ヤプリ) provides an app development and operation platform used by businesses to build and run mobile apps, and also offers consumer-facing apps such as "Yappli Port." The company serves corporate clients in Japan for marketing, service delivery, and app management.
Enterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaS
庵原保文(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
WealthNavi is a Japanese fintech company that provides robo-advisory investment services and asset management solutions.
FintechTokyo, JP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Oisix is a Japanese food company that delivers safe, high-quality food ingredients and supports home dining through various services.
Direct to ConsumerE-commerceFoodTech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Caulis develops and provides fraud/unauthorized-access detection and identity verification services, primarily serving financial and other enterprises in Japan.
CybersecurityFintechSaaSTokyo, JP
Atsuyoshi Shimazu(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))島津敦好(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Cookbiz operates a job-placement and recruitment service focused on the food-service and restaurant industry in Japan, matching cooks, kitchen staff, and other hospitality workers with employers.
FoodTechHR TechMarketplaces
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Shinka develops "Kaikura," a communication platform that centralizes customer conversation history across landline, mobile, email, SMS, and in-person interactions for businesses ranging from local retailers to large listed companies.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSales TechSector Agnostic
江尻 高宏(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))Takahiro Ejiri(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Shinden is a Japanese company that supplies electronic components and systems including semiconductors, displays, batteries and power equipment, IoT solutions, and system products.
B2B MarketplacesHardwareIoTSemiconductors
Jun Suzuki(代表取締役社長 (President & Representative Director))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
SPIDER+ is a field management mobile app for construction sites, used to view drawings and manage on-site inspection and documentation work.
Cloud ComputingConstruction TechSaaSTokyo, JP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Solasia is a pharmaceutical company that in-licenses promising drug candidates from overseas and domestic pharma and biotech companies and develops them through clinical trials for the Japanese and Asian markets.
BiotechHealthtech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Double Scope (W-SCOPE) manufactures separator films for lithium-ion secondary batteries, used in PCs, smartphones, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.
Advanced ManufacturingEnergyNew Materials
Choi Won Kun(Representative Director & President)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Tama Home is a Japanese homebuilding company providing construction, architectural design, real estate, and insurance agency services.
Construction TechConsumerPropTechTokyo, JP
玉木 康裕(代表取締役会長 (Chairman))玉木 伸弥(代表取締役社長 (President))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Provides "PDB-Platform," a data platform composed of five services covering real estate operation and management, store-location decisions, document storage, partner contracts, and facility/equipment management.
Construction TechPropTechSaaS
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Petgo is a Japanese online store selling pet supplies for dogs and cats, including flea and tick medications, therapeutic and regular pet food, veterinary medicines, supplements, litter and toilet products, grooming items, and accessories.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies株式会社BALLAS · thesaasnews.com · Apr 23, 2026
Veritas In Silico · finance.yahoo.com · Apr 21, 2026
LUUP · japanstartupobserver.substack.com · Dec 5, 2025
Helpfeel Inc. · thesaasnews.com · Sep 3, 2025
HAKKI · techmoran.com · Sep 1, 2025
New Innovations · itbusinesstoday.com · May 27, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does SMBC Venture Capital invest at?
- SMBC Venture Capital invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage stages.
- What is SMBC Venture Capital's typical check size?
- SMBC Venture Capital typically writes checks of $2.3M – $269M.
- What sectors does SMBC Venture Capital focus on?
- SMBC Venture Capital focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, Biotech, Data & Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Healthtech, Medical Devices, New Materials, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is SMBC Venture Capital located?
- SMBC Venture Capital is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.
- Does SMBC Venture Capital lead rounds?
- SMBC Venture Capital typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Similar investors
CIBC is a Canadian retail and commercial bank offering personal banking, investing (CIBC Investor's Edge), and financial advisory services to consumers.
Industrial Technology Investment Corporation is the venture capital arm of Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), backing startups across multiple stages and sectors while providing access to ITRI's R&D resources.
IDG Capital is a multi-strategy investment platform founded in 1993 that supports entrepreneurs across the full business lifecycle, bridging East and West with a global presence and over 300 professionals.
DCVC (Data Collective) is a venture capital firm that backs founders building companies which apply technology to major challenges across areas such as energy, biotech, agriculture, and machine learning.