SMBC Venture Capital
Corporate VCTokyo · 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
As one of Japan's established venture capital firms with more than two decades of investing experience, SMBC Venture Capital takes a long-term investment approach. It draws on relationships with auditing firms, securities companies, and other investors that support startups, and as part of the broader Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group it offers seamless, stage-appropriate support through the group's global network and integrated financial capabilities, accompanying entrepreneurs as their businesses grow.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 24, 2026.
Team · 27 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 105 of 148 portfolio companiesSaaS ×35AI & Machine Learning ×29Enterprise Software ×19Biotech ×16Consumer ×14Deep Tech ×14Healthtech ×14E-commerce ×13
HQs:Japan×102
Who they back
founder profiles across 29 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×252 founders×23 founders×2
Where their founders studiedfrom 14 founders with education data
The University of Tokyo ×2Waseda University ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 12 founders with career history
ABeam Consulting ×2McKinsey & Company ×2
Investments · 148 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 12023 · 23 dated
bellFace builds AI agents for sales teams, combining human and AI to handle sales work.
AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales Tech
Kazuaki Nakajima(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))Hidenori Onuma(取締役 (Director))
Co-investorsSpiral CapitalAizawa Asset ManagementAxiom Asia Private CapitalCanal VenturesGlobis Capital PartnersResona Capital Co. Ltd.+2 more
BetterEngage 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))
Co-investorsDG Ventures, Inc.Open Network Lab
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)
Co-investorsMiyako CapitalShizuoka CapitalKepple GroupMitsubishi UFJ CapitalMizuho CapitalSumitomo Mitsui Trust nvestment Co. Ltd.
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)in
Co-investorsDG Daiwa VenturesANRIGlobisHachijuni CapitalMizuho CapitalSamurai Incubate+1 more
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)in
Co-investorsCapital Medica VenturesEISAI CO.,LTDMitsubishi UFJ CapitalMonex VenturesMTG VenturesNissay Capital+5 more
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))Tadashi Shigeoka(Founder)in見浪 康平(執行役員CFO)Takafumi Endoin
Co-investorsDelight VenturesALL STAR SAAS FUNDGenesia VenturesJAFCO GroupMitsubishi UFJ CapitalMizuho Capital
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
Co-investorsMitsubishi UFJ CapitalNissay CapitalGlobal Brain
Ookuma Diamond Device develops diamond semiconductor technology, aiming to apply diamond-based devices across various fields.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductorsSapporo, JP
星川 尚久(代表者 (Representative))
Co-investorsaSTARTCoral CapitalGlobis Capital PartnersFFG Venture Business PartnersHokuhoku CapitalMitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital+1 more
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)
Co-investorsHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Japan Post Capital Co. Ltd.Shizuoka CapitalAozora Corporate InvestmentCyberAgent CapitalDai Nippon Printing+7 more
Kyash is a Japanese mobile payment app that lets users load funds into their balance from bank accounts, credit or debit cards, Pay-easy, and dedicated deposit accounts, with no deposit fees and options for scheduled or automatic top-ups.
ConsumerFintechTokyo, JP
Shinichi Takatori(Representative Director & President (Founder))in
Co-investorsAltos VenturesBlock IncGoodwater CapitalGreyhound CapitalJAFCO GroupMitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital+5 more
A team/recruitment page for Mazrica, listing company members and links to hiring materials.
AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales TechTokyo, JP
黒佐英司(代表取締役CEO)Eiji Kurosain
Co-investorsDnx VenturesIyogin CapitalNTT DOCOMO VenturesOita Venture CapitalArchetype VenturesKiraboshi Capital+5 more
Co-investorsCoreline VenturesDBJ CapitalDCM VenturesGlobis Capital PartnersGMO VenturePartners
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)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsaSTARTSumitomo Mitsui Trust nvestment Co. Ltd.UTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.Energy & Environment Investment
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
Co-investorsJIC Venture Growth InvestmentsNippon Venture Capital
BASE Inc. operates e-commerce and payment services in Japan, including online store creation and the Pay ID payment service with installment "buy now, pay later" options.
E-commerceFintechSaaSTokyo, JP
Yuta Tsuruoka(Representative Director)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobal Brain
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
秋山 勝(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsi-nest capital
Manufacturing technology company; MGP invested in its Series C extension round (2025).
Yushiro Kato(Founder)in
Co-investorsMinerva Growth PartnersAtomicoDCM VenturesGlobal BrainGlobis Capital PartnersMitsubishi UFJ Capital+1 more
Cancer therapeutics development (RNA regulation abnormalities).
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsKyoto University Innovation CapitalNippon Venture CapitalShinsei Capital PartnersUTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.
Cyfuse Biomedical develops a platform technology that builds three-dimensional tissues and organs from spheroids using its proprietary Bio 3D Printer.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalNippon Venture Capital
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsNippon Venture Capital
GMO Financial Gate provides payment processing solutions including multi-payment terminals, embedded payment systems for automated machines (vending machines, ticket machines, parking and laundry kiosks), and a PCI DSS-compliant payment center for cashless transactions.
FintechHardwareRetail Tech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGMO Internet
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
Co-investorsSony Ventures CorporationSustainable Conversion VenturesUniversal Materials IncubatorUTEC
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
KOJI TOKIDA(Co-Founder/COO)Reiji Kobayashi(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsFunds StartupsGlobal BrainGlobis Capital PartnersHeadline
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
Co-investorsAngel Bridge Co.,Ltd.Astellas Venture Management LLCKeio Innovation InitiativeMedical Incubator Japan K.K.Sumitomo Mitsui Trust nvestment Co. Ltd.UTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.
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
Co-investorsGlobal BrainGlobis Capital PartnersZ Venture CapitalOne CapitalSalesforce Ventures
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))Kiyoshi Ayabe(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsfreebit investmentMIRAI SOUZOU
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
Co-investorsDG IncubationGlobal Braini-nest capitalOpen Network LabPKSHA Technology CapitalTBS Innovation Partners+2 more
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
Co-investorsGlobal BrainKDDI Open Innovation FundShizuoka CapitalNissay CapitalSBI Investment
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
Co-investorsFemto PartnersJAFCO GroupNippon Venture CapitalTBS Innovation Partners
Perseus Proteomics (PPMX) is a Japanese biotech company that uses proprietary antibody technology to develop new antibody-based drugs.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalKyoto University Innovation CapitalNewton BiocapitalNippon Venture Capital
PRD Therapeutics is a drug-discovery startup developing first-in-class oral SOAT2-selective inhibitors (PRD compounds derived from pyripyropene A) to regulate lipid metabolism.
BiotechLongevityTokyo, JP
細田 莞爾(代表取締役社長 / President & Co-Founder)供田 洋(社外取締役 / Co-Founder)
Co-investorsJIC Venture Growth InvestmentsJAFCO GroupMizuho Capital
QD Laser develops semiconductor laser technology, including ultrashort-pulse DFB lasers for non-thermal micromachining of materials and its Visirium retinal-projection technology that projects images directly onto the retina for people with low vision.
HardwareMedical DevicesSemiconductors
Mitsuru Sugawara(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsBeyond Next VenturesMIRAI SOUZOUMitsui Global InvestmentOita Venture CapitalUntroD CapitalUTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.+1 more
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))inDaisuke 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
Co-investorsJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.Seibu Shinkin CapitalSkyland Ventures
Schoo is an online learning service offering live, interactive video lessons and recorded courses on practical work skills across 19 categories, with over 9,000 lessons and 1,000+ recorded classes available free.
EdTechFuture of WorkMedia & Entertainment
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobal BrainAozora Corporate InvestmentIncubate Fund
SymBio Pharmaceuticals develops and delivers prescription pharmaceuticals, providing product information on its medical drugs to healthcare professionals in Japan.
BiotechHealthtech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalNippon Venture CapitalTNP Partners Corporation
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
Co-investorsGlobal BrainKDDI Open Innovation FundNippon Venture CapitalShinsei Capital Partners
YAMAP is a hiking and outdoor app that shows a user's current location on trail maps even without cell signal, helping prevent getting lost.
ConsumerMobility & TransportationSocial
Co-investors15th RockOita Venture Capital
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))Yasubumi Ihara(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
WealthNavi is a Japanese fintech company that provides robo-advisory investment services and asset management solutions.
FintechTokyo, JP
Kazuhisa Shibayama(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalGlobal BrainSony Ventures CorporationSTRIVESumitomo Mitsui Trust nvestment Co. Ltd.UTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.
Oisix is a Japanese food company that delivers safe, high-quality food ingredients and supports home dining through various services.
Direct to ConsumerE-commerceFoodTech
YUSUKE TSUTSUMI(Founder)in
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
島津敦好(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))Atsuyoshi Shimazu(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsSony Ventures Corporation
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
Co-investorsNippon Venture Capital
COVER Corp. runs businesses across virtual spaces, from VTubers to the metaverse, and operates the VTuber agency hololive production.
Creator EconomyGamingMedia & Entertainment
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDIMENSIONi-nest capitalmint VCSTRIVE
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
kenji yabuno(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Toru Kawanishiin
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsMedical Incubator Japan K.K.
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
Co-investorsHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Nippon Venture Capital
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
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
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
Co-investorsNTT DOCOMO Ventures
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
Co-investorsNippon Venture Capital
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
Co-investorsEnergy & Environment Investment
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
Pixie Dust Technologies develops hardware products and services based on ultrasonic and sound research, including a hair care device using non-contact vibration pressure stimulation, open-ear earphones and TV speakers using gamma-wave sound, sound-absorbing materials, and indoor positioning and spatial DX platforms.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareHealthtechMedia & EntertainmentNew Materials
Yoichi Ochiai(代表取締役 CEO (Representative Director & CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobal BrainJR East Start UPKDDI Open Innovation FundAbies Ventures
Japanese holding company for the BizReach group, operating HR Tech, M&A, logistics DX and cybersecurity businesses.
Soichiro Swimmy Minami(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobis Capital PartnersZ Venture Capital
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
Co-investorsHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.MIRAIDOOR Co. Ltd.
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
Co-investorsNippon Venture Capital
Bergearth develops and sells grafted seedlings, including its next-generation "e-nae" seedling series and fertilizers co-developed with Ajinomoto, combining traditional grafting techniques with new technology.
AgTechFoodTech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ Capital
Applies microwave technology to chemical manufacturing processes such as calcination, pyrolysis, refining, organic synthesis, and drying, aiming to reduce energy use and support carbon neutrality.
CleantechClimate TechNew Materials
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalOSAKA University Venture Capital
Meeq (ミーク) provides mobile connectivity, IoT, and AI services to businesses, including MVNO communications and system integration built on technology developed since its Sony Group origins in 2013.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareIoT
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsMobile Internet Capital, Inc.
Mobilus provides AI-driven customer experience (CX) solutions for enterprise contact centers, including live chat products such as MOBI AGENT and operation-support AI, along with CX consulting to design and run customer service.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsSumitomo Mitsui Trust nvestment Co. Ltd.Z Venture Capital
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
MUSCAT GROUP (formerly Rice Curry) is a Japanese company operating SNS/social media marketing support, community media, SaaS, and consumer beauty brands, running several subsidiaries across marketing and product lines.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentSocial
大久保 遼(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
インターネットを主な販売チャネルとする日本の独立系オンライン生命保険会社（東証プライム上場・証券コード7157）。
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobis Capital Partners
Masahisa Kishimotoin
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobal BrainKDDI Open Innovation Fund
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobal BrainNippon Venture CapitalZ Venture Capital
Zenkoku Hosho is a Japanese credit guarantee company that provides loan guarantee services—including housing loans, card loans, education loans, apartment loans, and group credit life insurance—working in partnership with financial institutions.
FintechInsurTech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
I-ne is a beauty company that develops and sells consumer beauty and personal care products under a "Social Beauty Innovators" philosophy focused on customer experiences.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceWellness & Fitness
Yohei Onishi(Founder & President)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Aiming is a Japanese game company that develops and operates online and smartphone games, including titles such as "Inazuma Eleven Cross," "Master of Garden," and "Ginga Eiyu Densetsu Die Neue Saga." It is a publicly listed company producing licensed and original mobile RPG and simulation games.
Gaming
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsZ Venture CapitalIncubate Fund
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Amazia operates freemium manga apps including "マンガBANG!" and "マンガトート," along with an original manga label, WebToon production, and a cross-border e-commerce site ("Fandom Tokyo").
ConsumerE-commerceMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
佐久間 亮輔(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))江口 元昭(取締役CTO)神津 光良(取締役CFO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsAPOLLO CAPITALNippon Venture Capital
BALLAS designs, develops, manufactures, and sells construction materials.
Advanced ManufacturingB2B MarketplacesConstruction TechSaaSTokyo, JP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsANOBAKAGlobal Brainmint VCAozora Corporate InvestmentDaiwa House VenturesKyoto Capital Partners+4 more
Chatwork is a business messaging and communication application offering team chat and login via Apple and Google accounts.
Enterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkSaaS
Toshi Yamamoto(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGMO VenturePartnersJAFCO Group
ELEMENTS is a Japanese company developing image recognition engines, data analysis platforms, and identity verification (eKYC) and biometric authentication solutions, along with GPU cloud services and data centers.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingConsumerCybersecurityTokyo, JP
長谷川 敬起(代表取締役社長)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
eWeLL provides cloud services for Japan's home medical care sector, centered on iBow, a cloud-based electronic medical record system for home-visit nursing stations.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthSaaS
中野剛人(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Gu3 develops content and services using blockchain, XR, and AI technologies, including a crypto asset called "OSHI" and prediction-related services.
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3Media & Entertainment
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalNippon Venture CapitalNTT DOCOMO Ventures
JTOWER operates infrastructure sharing services for mobile telecom networks in Japan, consolidating carrier equipment through indoor and outdoor tower-sharing solutions.
CleantechHardwareIoT
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalIT-Farm CorporationJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.
QPS Institute (株式会社QPS研究所) develops, manufactures, and operates small SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellites and related equipment, and provides Earth-observation data and services derived from them.
Deep TechHardwareSpace TechFukuoka, JP
八坂 哲雄 (Tetsuo Yasaka)(Founder)桜井 晃(Co-founder)舩越 国弘(Co-founder)大西俊輔(President (社長))大西 俊輔 (Shunsuke Onishi)(代表取締役社長 CEO)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsOita Venture CapitalUntroD Capital
TORICO Co., Ltd. operates an e-commerce business, an events business (including manga exhibitions), and a digital asset business.
ConsumerCrypto & Web3E-commerceMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
Takuro Ando(Representative Director)Makoto Koinuma(Managing Director)
BoardJun Hamada(Director)Junji Oshita(Director)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsCARTA VENTURES, Inc.
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
株式会社イーディーピー (EDP) is a company based in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, operating a headquarters, development department, and multiple factories.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechNew MaterialsSemiconductorsToyonaka, JP
藤森 直治(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))髙岸 秀滋(代表取締役副社長 (Executive Vice President))林 雅志(常務取締役 (Managing Director))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Nippon Venture Capital
Interfactory provides EC (e-commerce) platform and related services in Japan, including the "EBISU PIM" product data integration/management platform and the "EBISU AGENT" AI service for e-commerce operations.
E-commerceRetail TechSaaSTokyo, JP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Intimate Merger operates IM-DMP, a large-scale data management platform holding around 1 billion audience data records, offering platform provisioning, data analysis, and data-utilization consulting to client companies.
AdTechData & InfrastructureMarketing Tech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsMobile Internet Capital, Inc.Z Venture Capital
airCloset is a fashion subscription service in which professional stylists select and ship coordinated outfits to subscribers' homes, offering monthly plans with rental, exchange, or purchase options.
Circular EconomyConsumerE-commerceTokyo, JP
Yusuke Maekawa(Founder)in
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
Makoto Haruta(Founder)inKo Ishiyamain
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsScrum Ventures
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Edia Co., Ltd. is a Japanese company operating in IP (intellectual property) and publishing businesses, with clients including major platform and gaming companies such as Apple, Google, Nintendo, Valve, and Sony Interactive Entertainment.
E-commerceGamingMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
Yoshinari Kashima(代表取締役社長 (President & Representative Director))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
ENERES is a Japanese energy company providing decarbonization (GX) support, corporate PPA arrangements, J-Credit creation and trading, power aggregation, and electricity retail and business support services.
CleantechClimate TechEnergyTokyo, JP
Goro Suzuki(代表取締役社長 (President & Representative Director))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Chiome is a Japanese biotech venture that discovers and develops antibody drugs targeting unmet medical needs.
BiotechHealthtech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsFast Track Initiative
Caster is a Japanese company operating in the future-of-work space with a focus on reworking how work is done, offering work-related services (details limited on the page).
Future of WorkHR Tech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsSTRIVEAozora Corporate InvestmentIncubate Fund
Goodpatch is a design company; the page is a company-overview navigation index and does not describe its products or services in detail.
Enterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkSaaSTokyo, JP
Naofumi Tsuchiya(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDG Daiwa Ventures
Creema is an online marketplace where creators sell original handmade works directly to consumers, offering promotion tools, anonymous shipping, and craft events.
Creator EconomyE-commerceMarketplaces
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.KDDI Open Innovation FundW Inc.Globis Capital Partners
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsFast Track InitiativeNippon Venture Capital
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
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
StemRIM is a biopharmaceutical company developing regenerative medicine therapies.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsMiyako CapitalNippon Venture Capital
SmartDrive develops an AI Mobility OS, an integrated data platform for vehicle and fleet management, offering products such as fleet management, alcohol-check compliance, and personal-car commuting management for fleet operators and the automotive industry.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureIoTMobility & TransportationSaaSTokyo, JP
Retsu Kitagawa(代表取締役 (CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsINCJ, Ltd.Sony Ventures Corporation
Smaregi provides a cloud-based POS (point-of-sale) and register system for retail and store operations.
Cloud ComputingRetail TechSaaS
Takuya Mochizuki(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Cele Corporation is an apartment-building manufacturer focused on steel-frame apartments for young people in the Tokyo metropolitan area, operating under its flagship "My Style vintage" brand.
Advanced ManufacturingConstruction TechPropTech
Takanori Yamaguchi(President and Executive Officer (代表取締役 社長執行役員))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Ogishima Koji(Founder)in
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDnx VenturesNippon Venture Capital
Japanese fabless semiconductor company developing graphics and edge AI IP cores, SoCs and vision software, listed on TSE Growth (3652).
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsGlobis Capital Partners
Nagaoka manufactures water treatment and intake equipment (including groundwater intake screens, water processing systems, and seawater intake technology) and oil refining equipment such as reactor screen internals.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechEnergyHardwareNew MaterialsOsaka, JP
Yasuhisa Umetsu(Representative Director & President)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsNippon Venture Capital
A digital marketing company that uses data to maximize customer lifetime value (LTV) by optimizing user spending, retention, and advertising cost efficiency.
AdTechData & InfrastructureMarketing Tech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalMobile Internet Capital, Inc.
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Fixstars provides high-performance computing services, software acceleration, and optimization for technologies such as multicore processors, GPUs, FPGAs, and quantum computing.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareQuantum Computing
Satoshi Miki(Founder)inMasana Murasein
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
Co-investorsFemto PartnersBlackRockFranklin TempletonNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)Ribbit Capital
Prodelight develops communication tool systems centered on telephone technology, aiming to help people connect anywhere and with anyone.
Cloud ComputingEnterprise SoftwareSaaSOsaka, JP
小南 秀光(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))山口 延弥(取締役事業管理本部長 (Director, Business Management))吉田 圭子(取締役管理本部長 (Director, Administration))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Best One Dot Com is an online travel agency (OTA) specializing in cruise travel and sea voyages, handling bookings across major cruise lines such as MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Princess Cruises.
E-commerceFintechMarketplacesTravel & Hospitality
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Hotland operates and manages restaurants (including its takoyaki business) and engages in the import, export, processing, and sale of food and other products, with operations in Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.
ConsumerFoodTechTokyo, JP
Morio Sase(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Mynet is a Japanese company centered on entertainment, operating businesses in game development and operations, sports DX, and solutions for various industries.
GamingMedia & EntertainmentSports Tech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsDIMENSION
Metaps Holdings is a holding company that invests in technology companies and supports their growth.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechTokyo, JP
Yuichiro Yamazaki(Representative Director)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsNippon Venture CapitalSX Capital, Inc.
Subsidiary of Impact Holdings that runs a BPO center handling back-office field-marketing work such as mystery shopping, in-store promotional material installation, and surveys, and operates field marketing and IoT digital signage services in the Kyushu and Okinawa regions of Japan.
HR TechIoTMarketing TechRetail TechNago, JP
内添 正伸(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
MedRx is a Japanese pharmaceutical company developing new drugs based on transdermal delivery technologies such as its ILTS and NCTS platforms and microneedle arrays.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Yonehiro Matsumura(Representative Director & President)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsNippon Venture Capital
Modalis Therapeutics develops therapeutics using CRISPR gene-editing technology and provides its platform technology for drug development.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechTokyo, JP
Haruhiko Morita(代表取締役CEO (President & CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsMedical Incubator Japan K.K.Nippon Venture CapitalShinsei Capital PartnersUTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.
Morpho, Inc. is an imaging technology R&D company founded in 2004 that combines digital image processing with AI and deep learning to create "imaging AI" applications.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardware
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsNGP Capital
Monstarlab is a digital platform services provider that combines strategy, design, and development to build mobile-first software and digital products for business clients.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Hiroki Inagawa(Group CEO / Representative Director)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Japan Post Capital Co. Ltd.Mobile Internet Capital, Inc.Z Venture Capital
Uzabase builds economic and business information infrastructure aimed at supporting people making business decisions, positioning itself as a leading provider of such data services in Asia.
Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareMedia & EntertainmentSaaSTokyo, JP
Yusuke Umeda(Founder)inYusuke Inagaki(Founder)inRyosuke Niino(Founder)in稲垣 裕介(代表取締役 CEO / Founder)
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsCarlyle GroupGlobis Capital PartnersGMO VenturePartnersZ Venture Capital
Ribomic is a company with a U.S. subsidiary engaged in research and development, including pharmaceutical and research-ethics-related activities.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechTokyo, JP
Yoshikazu Nakamura(President & CEO (代表取締役社長))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Co-investorsNippon Venture Capital
Renascience is a Japanese biotechnology company that develops pharmaceutical and medical projects.
Biotech
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
JARMeC operates advanced-care animal hospitals that provide specialized veterinary medicine across 12 clinical departments, working in partnership with primary-care veterinary clinics.
HealthtechMedical DevicesKawasaki, JP
平尾 秀博(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Kubota Holdings is an ophthalmic healthcare solutions company focused on developing pharmaceuticals and medical devices to help maintain and restore vision for people with eye diseases.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
PartnerHiroya Ota· solo GP
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Chordia Therapeutics · markets.businessinsider.com · Aug 14, 2026
Perseus Proteomics · tipranks.com · Aug 13, 2026
SymBio Pharmaceuticals · tipranks.com · Aug 10, 2026
株式会社プレイド · valueaddvc.com · Aug 2, 2026
Astroscale Holdings · finance.yahoo.com · Jun 19, 2026
株式会社BALLAS · thesaasnews.com · Apr 23, 2026
Veritas In Silico · finance.yahoo.com · Apr 21, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has SMBC Venture Capital made?
- SMBC Venture Capital has 128 tracked investments.
- 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.
- Who does SMBC Venture Capital co-invest with?
- SMBC Venture Capital most often shares deals with Nippon Venture Capital, DBJ Capital, Global Brain, among 58 tracked co-investors.
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