Fundraising Fox

Akira Kurabayashi

Investor

Managing Partner / Head of Japan at Dnx Ventures

Tokyo

About

Kurabayashi leads DNX Ventures' Japan investments, focusing on B2B/SaaS startups where he invests as a lead investor from the early stage and serves as an outside director. Before joining DNX in 2015, he was Japan head at Salesforce Ventures and Globespan Capital Partners, and earlier worked at Mitsui & Co. and Fujitsu. He holds an MBA from Wharton and a doctorate from Doshisha University.

Invests in

Enterprise SoftwareSaaS

Experience

  1. HERP, Inc.Board Observercurrent2026 — present
  2. HERP, Inc.Board Member2022 — 2026Tokyo, Japan
  3. HERP, Inc.Board Observer2019 — 2022Greater Tokyo Area
  4. ROMS, IncBoard Observercurrent2026 — present
  5. ROMS, IncBoard Member2020 — 2026Tokyo, Japan
  6. AdacotechBoard Observercurrent2026 — present
  7. AdacotechBoard Member2019 — 2026Greater Tokyo Area
  8. EmiumBoard Membercurrent2026 — presentTokyo, Japan
  9. EmiumInvestor2022 — 2025Tokyo, Japan
  10. CommuneBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
  11. CommuneBoard Observer2020 — 2024Tokyo, Japan
  12. 株式会社NOVARCABoard Observercurrent2025 — present
  13. 株式会社NOVARCABoard Member2017 — 2025Tokyo, Japan
  14. TableCheckInvestorcurrent2024 — present
  15. TableCheckBoard Member2020 — 2024Tokyo, Japan
  16. TableCheckInvestor2019 — 2020
  17. TableCheckBoard Member2019
  18. ZeroboardBoard Membercurrent2023 — present
  19. ZeroboardBoard Observer2021 — 2023Tokyo, Japan
  20. アルファス株式会社Board Membercurrent2023 — present

Education

  1. Harvard Business SchoolGeneral Management Program2024
  2. Hitotsubashi UniversityMaster of law, Corporate Governance2022 — 2024
  3. The University of TokyoExecutive Management Program2017
  4. Doshisha UniversityPh.D., Technology and Innovation Management2013 — 2016
  5. The Wharton SchoolMBA, Entrepreneurial Management and Finance2007 — 2009
  6. Doshisha UniversityBA, Business/Commerce1993 — 1997

Skills & more

Venture Capital25Mergers & Acquisitions8Corporate Development22Start-ups15Strategic Partnerships15Entrepreneurship6Due Diligence11Business Strategy13Mobile Devices4Private Equity4Competitive Analysis3Go-to-market Strategy3
+5 moreBusiness DevelopmentProduct ManagementSaaSSoftware as a Service (SaaS)Strategy
  • General Management Program (GMP36)Harvard Business School Executive Education
  • FinTechHarvard University
  • Pricing: Using Data to Improve Pricing PerformanceMIT Sloan School of Management
  • Business and Climate Change: Towards Net Zero EmissionsCambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
  • Corporate Governance: Maximize Your Effectiveness in the BoardroomThe Wharton School

From Akira's professional profile.

Investments

Board seats

FLUXROMSScalebaseShippioUPWARDデータX

Investor

1st HoldingsBeceem CommunicationsSansanSmart SignaltoBeマーケティングUPSIDER

Per the firm's website.

Colleagues at Dnx Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Where does Akira Kurabayashi work?
Akira Kurabayashi is Managing Partner / Head of Japan at Dnx Ventures.
What does Akira Kurabayashi invest in?
Akira Kurabayashi invests in Enterprise Software, SaaS.

Same school

Shared employers