TBS Innovation Partners
Corporate VCSeed–Growth
Also known as TBSイノベーション・パートナーズ合同会社
Investment thesis
The firm believes capital alone is not enough to build the future founders envision; startups also need people who empathize with and support that vision. Drawing on TBS's background in journalism and entertainment, which has promoted diverse values and lifestyles, the firm offers a distinctive form of investment focused on attractively communicating a startup's often abstract vision and extending it to a broader audience. It positions the power to build empathy and awareness as essential, especially for more ambitious visions.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
What they invest in
from 24 of 37 portfolio companiesMedia & Entertainment ×11Consumer ×8SaaS ×7Creator Economy ×6Enterprise Software ×6AI & Machine Learning ×3Cloud Computing ×2Deep Tech ×2
HQs:Japan×23United States×1
Investments · 37 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathPreferred Networks vertically integrates computer science technologies from semiconductors and computing infrastructure to solutions and applications, developing AI/machine learning systems including the domestically-built large language model PLaMo and the MN-Core AI processor series.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareSemiconductorsTokyo, JP
西川徹(Co-founder)岡野原大輔(Co-founder)
Co-investorsDevelopment Bank of JapanMitsubishi UFJ Asset ManagementMitsui & CoSumitomo Mitsui Trust BankTEL Venture Capital, Inc.
Fogg operates several of its own products, including the online lottery/raffle platform "RAFFLE" and "Butterfly," a service that lets rights-holders run fan businesses under their own brand.
ConsumerMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Co-investorsW Inc.
Co-investorsNTT DOCOMO Ventures
Co-investorsSony Ventures Corporation
ispace is a lunar transportation company that builds lunar landers and rovers to carry customer payloads to lunar orbit and the Moon's surface, offering high-frequency, low-cost transportation services.
HardwareRoboticsSpace Tech
Co-investorsBeyond Earth VenturesUntroD Capital
Co-investorsAPOLLO CAPITALZ Venture Capital
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
Co-investorsDG IncubationGlobal Braini-nest capitalOpen Network LabPKSHA Technology CapitalANRI+2 more
Magocoro Support (まごころサポート) is a service for seniors that helps with everyday tasks and needs, from light chores like changing light bulbs and house cleaning to arranging professional services, expert referrals, and gift selection, delivered by local staff called "concierges." It also offers "Magocoro Support Plus," a smartphone basics support service, and operates in areas of Japan such as Fukushima and Okinawa.
ConsumerHealthtechWellness & Fitness
Money Forward provides financial services and a "money platform" for individuals and businesses, aiming to help users manage money and solve financial challenges.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Co-investorsDnx VenturesGlobis Capital PartnersGMO VenturePartners
MUGENUP is a Japanese company that provides illustration and creative content production services, including character design, and offers related training courses.
Creator EconomyEdTechMedia & Entertainment
Mysta is a video platform (mysta.tv) offering services for both individual users and corporate clients, with features for video posting and events.
ConsumerCreator EconomyMedia & Entertainment
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
Co-investorsFemto PartnersJAFCO GroupNippon Venture CapitalSMBC Venture Capital
Okage offers a business product referred to as the "Okage DX Platform" (formerly the Okage series).
Enterprise SoftwareFoodTechRetail TechSaaSTokyo, JP
内田善久(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
Co-investorsKDDI Open Innovation Fund
Open8 (オープンエイト) develops AI and video technology, positioning its work around the shift toward rich video content in the 5G era.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechMedia & Entertainment
Co-investorsGlobis Capital PartnersShizuoka Capital
Pickleball One operates media and event platforms for pickleball in Japan, including national tournaments and news content aimed at growing participation in the sport.
Media & EntertainmentSports Tech
Shusaku Kumakura(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
The Chain Museum operates art-related services including ArtSticker, a gallery, and art project coordination.
ConsumerMarketplacesMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
遠山正道(Founder (Smiles / involved with The Chain Museum))Masamichi Toyama(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
BoardNaoki Ito(取締役 (Director))Jun Tanaka(取締役 (Director))Dai Miyagawa(取締役 (Director))
Co-investorsGOLDWIN VENTURE PARTNERSKDDI Open Innovation Fund
Tyffon develops location-based mixed reality (MR) entertainment content and operates an XR theme park facility called TYFFONIUM.
ConsumerCreator EconomyGamingMedia & EntertainmentWest Hollywood, US
Ken Fukazawa(CEO / CCO)Teruyuki Nakahashi(Executive Officer, Director)Takeshi (Ken) Fukazawa(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardTohru Akaura(Director)
Co-investorsCanal VenturesTechstarsIncubate FundMizuho Capital
Runs various energy businesses including sales of renewable energy to individuals and companies.
Voice x technology company aiming to build an exciting society.
Yoshidumi Holdings is a Japanese holding company whose group includes cloud services businesses (such as Cloud Ace) working as a Google Cloud partner.
Cloud ComputingEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
iRidge develops app-based business solutions centered on OMO (online-to-offline) capabilities for retail and commerce customers.
Developer ToolsE-commerceEnterprise SoftwareRetail TechSaaSTokyo, JP
Kenta Oda(Representative Director & President)
Co-investorsGlobal BrainKDDI Open Innovation Fund
Startbahn provides Startrail, a blockchain-based platform for the art market that records the provenance, authenticity, and ownership history of artworks, using NFC tags and NFTs to verify pieces and enable resale royalties for creators.
Crypto & Web3Media & EntertainmentSaaS
Co-investorsMiyako CapitalSX Capital, Inc.
Co-investorsAtinum Investment Co. Ltd.DBJ CapitalDentsu VenturesFunds StartupsGlobal BrainKDDI Open Innovation Fund+2 more
Co-investorsCARTA VENTURES, Inc.Colopl NextGlobal Brain
Blue Innovation is a Japanese company that develops an Edge-to-Cloud platform (BEP) for operating and managing drones, robots, and devices, along with drone-based inspection and disaster-response solutions such as indoor inspection using the ELIOS 3 spherical drone, power-line inspection (BEPline), and tsunami-alert drone systems.
Cloud ComputingIoTRobotics
Takayuki Kumada(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))
BoardMasayuki Kumada(取締役 (Director))
Co-investorsDRONE FUNDJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.Nippon Venture Capital
Yoani Group is the parent holding company for the Yoani anime production group, responsible for strategic planning and management support across its subsidiary companies.
Creator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
Masashi Kurata(Representative Director)
Co-investorsDentsu VenturesGlobal BrainGlobis Capital PartnersShizuoka CapitalW Inc.Z Venture Capital
ABEJA is a Japanese AI company that develops industry-specific large language models (LLMs) and privacy-focused AI learning methods, including work on efficient AI training that preserves data confidentiality.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise Software
Co-investorsJapan Post Capital Co. Ltd.NTT DOCOMO Ventures
BitStar is a Japanese company operating creator support and content production businesses, including influencer marketing solutions for brands and businesses.
AdTechCreator EconomyMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentTokyo, JP
渡邉 拓(代表取締役 社長執行役員CEO (Founder & CEO))原田 直(執行役員 (Co-founder))山下 雄太(執行役員CTO)出水 厚輝(執行役員CPO)
Co-investorsColopl NextKDDI Open Innovation FundRegrowth Capital Management
Co-investorsW Inc.
Toysub! is a subscription service that delivers personalized educational toys for children up to age 6, selecting from over 1,800 toy types via toy planners based on each child's development and interests.
ConsumerEdTechMarketplaces
Fermenstation develops and manufactures ethanol and food ingredients from food waste and other unused biomass through fermentation, and provides OEM/ODM production of cosmetics and sundry goods.
BiotechCircular EconomyFoodTechTokyo, JP
Rina Watanabe (Sakai)(Representative Director (CEO))Shota Kitabatake(Director & COO)Toshikazu Sugimoto(CTO)
Co-investorsSX Capital, Inc.Global BrainJR East Start UP
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesLUUP · japanstartupobserver.substack.com · Dec 5, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has TBS Innovation Partners made?
- TBS Innovation Partners has 37 tracked investments.
- What stage does TBS Innovation Partners invest at?
- TBS Innovation Partners invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What sectors does TBS Innovation Partners focus on?
- TBS Innovation Partners focuses on Crypto & Web3, Media & Entertainment, Sector Agnostic.
- Who does TBS Innovation Partners co-invest with?
- TBS Innovation Partners most often shares deals with Global Brain, KDDI Open Innovation Fund, Globis Capital Partners, among 38 tracked co-investors.
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