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
- HERP, Inc.Board Observercurrent2026 — present
- HERP, Inc.Board Member2022 — 2026Tokyo, Japan
- HERP, Inc.Board Observer2019 — 2022Greater Tokyo Area
- ROMS, IncBoard Observercurrent2026 — present
- ROMS, IncBoard Member2020 — 2026Tokyo, Japan
- AdacotechBoard Observercurrent2026 — present
- AdacotechBoard Member2019 — 2026Greater Tokyo Area
- EmiumBoard Membercurrent2026 — presentTokyo, Japan
- EmiumInvestor2022 — 2025Tokyo, Japan
- CommuneBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- CommuneBoard Observer2020 — 2024Tokyo, Japan
- 株式会社NOVARCABoard Observercurrent2025 — present
- 株式会社NOVARCABoard Member2017 — 2025Tokyo, Japan
- TableCheckInvestorcurrent2024 — present
- TableCheckBoard Member2020 — 2024Tokyo, Japan
- TableCheckInvestor2019 — 2020
- TableCheckBoard Member2019
- ZeroboardBoard Membercurrent2023 — present
- ZeroboardBoard Observer2021 — 2023Tokyo, Japan
- アルファス株式会社Board Membercurrent2023 — present
Education
- Harvard Business SchoolGeneral Management Program2024
- Hitotsubashi UniversityMaster of law, Corporate Governance2022 — 2024
- The University of TokyoExecutive Management Program2017
- Doshisha UniversityPh.D., Technology and Innovation Management2013 — 2016
- The Wharton SchoolMBA, Entrepreneurial Management and Finance2007 — 2009
- Doshisha UniversityBA, Business/Commerce1993 — 1997
Skills & more
Venture Capital25Mergers & Acquisitions8Corporate Development22Start-ups15Strategic Partnerships15Entrepreneurship6Due Diligence11Business Strategy13Mobile Devices4Private Equity4Competitive Analysis3Go-to-market Strategy3
+5 more
Business DevelopmentProduct ManagementSaaSSoftware as a Service (SaaS)Strategy- General Management Program (GMP36) — Harvard Business School Executive Education
- FinTech — Harvard University
- Pricing: Using Data to Improve Pricing Performance — MIT Sloan School of Management
- Business and Climate Change: Towards Net Zero Emissions — Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
- Corporate Governance: Maximize Your Effectiveness in the Boardroom — The 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
Also attended Harvard Business School1,971
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter Capital; architect of Invest America; BG2 co-hostAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMike Maples JrCo-founding Partner at FloodgateMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner Perkins
+ 1,965 more
Also attended Hitotsubashi University12
Keita Yazakiシニア・アソシエイト (Senior Associate) at CyberAgent CapitalMilano FurutaDirector – Chief Financial Officer at Takeda VenturesNoemi HipperInvestment Managerin at YabeoAurél PásztorPartner at PortfoLion Capital PartnersOsuke HondaGeneral Partner at Coreline VenturesKolbeinn BjörnssonVenture Partner at Brunnur Ventures GP
+ 6 more
Also attended The University of Tokyo79
Kazunori YamaguchiPartner at Global BrainShinji AmahaVice President at Acario InnovationMasaji MatsuokaManaging Director at E12 Venture Capital, LlcYuki ShiratoSenior Advisor at Pangaea Ventures Us Inc.Taka KodaPartner, Director at RDiscoveryShinichi NikkuniManaging Partner at NordicNinja
+ 73 more
Shared employers
Also worked at KKR & Co. Inc.72
David PhuController at Felicis VenturesMasoud AdinaHead of Compliance at GreycroftChloe LinAssociate at Sapphire VenturesRalph DeBernardoPartner, Investor Relations at Sapphire VenturesLacy BalsamaSenior Executive Assistant at Sapphire VenturesRohan BhargavaInvestor at 8VC
+ 66 more
























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