Sony

Sony Group Corporation, a Japanese multinational conglomerate based in Tokyo, develops and manufactures a wide range of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for both consumer and professional markets. The company is known for its diverse portfolio, which includes iconic brands like Walkman for portable audio, Vaio for personal computers, Xperia for smartphones, Cybershot and Alpha for digital cameras, and PlayStation for video game consoles. Sony operates through seven main business segments that encompass electronic appliances, gaming, devices and semiconductors, entertainment content, and financial services. This multifaceted approach reflects Sony's commitment to innovation and its ability to adapt to changing market demands.

Antonio Avitabile

Managing Director

Kazuhito Hadano

CEO

Tiffany Huang

Senior Associate

Costantino Mariella

Senior Venture Capital Investment Manager

Roy Meirom

Investor

Austin Noronha

Managing Director, Growth Ventures and Innovation

Tony Seeff

Senior Investment Director

Chieko Tazuke

Investment Director

Joseph Tou

Managing Director

Moto Tsuchikawa

Chief Investment Manager

Gen Tsuchikawa

Chief Investment Manager

Kenichiro Yoshida

CEO

Timo Kilp

Investment Professional

Past deals in Tokyo

Pictoria

Series A in 2024
Pictoria Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the production of events and virtual reality content. The company handles a diverse array of entertainment events, ranging from traditional talk shows to technologically advanced experiences utilizing 3D motion capture. Additionally, Pictoria operates a virtual platform that supports the development of a virtual YouTuber business, creating patented characters and proposing innovative communication methods to connect the virtual and real worlds.

Techtouch

Series B in 2023
Techtouch, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2018 that specializes in developing TechTouch, a digital transformation platform designed to improve operational efficiency for businesses. Its software provides an intuitive website user manual by overlaying explanatory guidance directly onto existing web systems through a browser plug-in and server-side integration. This approach allows for real-time navigation assistance, minimizing the challenges associated with complex system operations. By enhancing system education for employees and promoting better utilization of web resources, Techtouch aims to reduce operational burdens and streamline business processes.

SORACOM

Venture Round in 2021
Soracom is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in providing a comprehensive Internet of Things (IoT) platform. Its services are built on scalable cloud technologies utilizing Amazon Web Services (AWS), enabling IoT solution providers and developers to efficiently manage and expand their services. Soracom's offerings include secure data communication for IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) devices through its Air SIM service, which facilitates LTE and 3G mobile connectivity. Users can manage their IoT device configurations and monitor data traffic via a web console or API. Additionally, Soracom Beam allows for the secure offloading of data from IoT devices to the cloud, ensuring high encryption and remote management capabilities without direct internet exposure. By providing flexible, customizable solutions, Soracom aims to reduce the time and costs associated with deploying IoT services. The company officially launched its services in September 2015 and continues to support a wide range of applications within the IoT ecosystem.

Ubitus

Venture Round in 2021
Ubitus Inc. is a technology company that specializes in cloud computing solutions, particularly for the gaming industry and digital media services. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Tokyo, with a research and development center in Taipei, Ubitus offers a software platform designed for fixed-mobile convergence applications. Its products include ubiLive, which enables users to access and share online content across devices, and commercial mobile cloud gaming services. The company's innovative GameCloud technology allows for the streaming of both gaming and metaverse content on multiple devices, catering to game developers, telecommunications service providers, and device manufacturers. Ubitus has established strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Alibaba Cloud and Kokusai Kogyo Co. Ltd., to enhance its service offerings and expand its market reach.

KAKEHASHI

Venture Round in 2020
KAKEHASHI Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2016 that develops a software as a service (SaaS) application tailored for health insurance claim and drug history management, specifically designed for dispensing pharmacists using iPads. The company aims to bridge the gap between medical treatment and patients, reflecting its mission to connect medical care with a brighter future. As Japan faces an aging population, with projections indicating that by 2060, one in four individuals will be over 75 years old, KAKEHASHI seeks to innovate and enhance healthcare delivery. The organization's focus on leveraging Japan's advanced medical technology and systems aligns with the need for effective solutions that support healthy life expectancy in an increasingly elderly society.

minma

Venture Round in 2020
Minma, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in January 2011 that focuses on the development and operation of online marketplaces. It operates Curama, a peer-to-peer platform that connects users with local services and jobs. Through this innovative marketplace, Minma facilitates the exchange of services, allowing individuals to offer and find various local solutions efficiently.

AI Medical Service

Series B in 2019
AI Medical Service Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in developing artificial intelligence technologies aimed at enhancing endoscopic medical care. The company focuses on creating extensive training data to analyze endoscopic images, thereby providing valuable support to endoscopists in diagnosing conditions affecting the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. By integrating the expertise of Japanese endoscopic specialists, AI Medical Service aims to improve clinical practices while ensuring that ultimate diagnostic decisions remain in the hands of trained physicians. This approach fosters safer medical interventions and contributes to the advancement of endoscopic care on a global scale.

Midokura

Acquisition in 2019
Midokura is a subsidiary of Sony Group, with offices in Tokyo and Barcelona, specializing in cloud networking solutions. The company develops an overlay network virtualization platform that provides advanced operational tools, including analytics and visualization for data-driven monitoring and control. This enables clients to create and manage isolated networks in software while utilizing existing network hardware. Midokura focuses on facilitating the deployment and management of AI workloads on edge devices and clusters of IoT devices, leveraging AI accelerators. Their software as a service (SaaS) platform allows for the seamless integration and management of complex distributed workloads across fog/MEC and cloud environments.

Linc'well

Seed Round in 2019
Linc'well Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that develops a software system specifically designed for the healthcare industry. Founded in 2018, Linc'well offers a software as a service (SaaS) platform that includes web inquiry, call handling, payment processing, and electronic medical record management. Additionally, the company supports clinic operations through its brand CLINIC FORE and provides online services such as medical supplement subscriptions. By focusing on technological solutions, Linc'well aims to address inefficiencies in medical institutions and enhance both patient experiences and clinic management efficiency. The company's offerings cater primarily to healthcare institutions and clinics.

Sight Machine

Series C in 2019
Sight Machine Inc. develops a manufacturing analytics platform that provides real-time visibility and actionable insights across manufacturing operations. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tokyo, Japan; and Taichung, Taiwan, the company serves Global 500 clients in various sectors, including aerospace, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. Its offerings include FactoryTX Edge and FactoryTX Cloud for multi-factory IoT data management, as well as a Manufacturing Data Platform that integrates multiple data sources such as data historians, RDBMS, MES, and ERP systems. The platform leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to help manufacturers enhance quality, productivity, and sustainability by continuously analyzing assets and processes at all levels of the organization.

Trustdock

Series B in 2019
Trustdock Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in identity verification solutions. The company offers an identity confirmation platform that provides an API service for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, allowing businesses to outsource identity verification efficiently. Trustdock's platform complies with various Japanese laws, including those related to criminal profit transfer prevention and fraud prevention. It supports a wide range of applications, making it suitable for diverse sectors such as FinTech and shared economy services. By facilitating individual identity confirmation, personal number acquisition, and risk assessments, Trustdock enables individuals and businesses to authenticate digital identities in a convenient manner, fostering trusted business relationships and transactions.

Aroma Bit

Series A in 2019
Aroma Bit, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in the development, production, and sale of electronic equipment, particularly compact odor imaging sensors. The company focuses on digitizing smell through innovative technology that converts various odors into visual patterns, allowing for the collection of digital olfactory data. This technology enables businesses to identify ingredients in food through a simple touch device and assists healthcare providers in detecting diseases. Aroma Bit's products and services aim to enhance the understanding and utilization of the olfactory sense, which is often overlooked despite the variety of scents present in everyday life.

Digital Grid

Venture Round in 2019
Digital Grid Inc. operates in the electricity retail sector, focusing on non-electrification areas and off-grid communities in Africa. Founded in 2013 and based in Tokyo, the company utilizes a fee-based electricity credit system, allowing kiosk owners to provide charging services for phones, lanterns, and other electronic appliances. Digital Grid offers a range of rental rechargeable devices, including LED lanterns, portable radios, and mobile charging solutions. Additionally, the company provides leasing options for various equipment such as solar panels and batteries, which can be controlled via a smartphone app for agents. Through its platform, Digital Grid facilitates direct transactions between electric power generators and buyers, aiming to alleviate energy constraints and promote accessibility to electricity in underserved regions.

Digital Grid

Venture Round in 2019
Digital Grid Inc. operates in the electricity retail sector, focusing on non-electrification areas and off-grid communities in Africa. Founded in 2013 and based in Tokyo, the company utilizes a fee-based electricity credit system, allowing kiosk owners to provide charging services for phones, lanterns, and other electronic appliances. Digital Grid offers a range of rental rechargeable devices, including LED lanterns, portable radios, and mobile charging solutions. Additionally, the company provides leasing options for various equipment such as solar panels and batteries, which can be controlled via a smartphone app for agents. Through its platform, Digital Grid facilitates direct transactions between electric power generators and buyers, aiming to alleviate energy constraints and promote accessibility to electricity in underserved regions.

Caulis

Series A in 2018
Caulis Inc. is a Tokyo-based cybersecurity startup founded in 2015 that specializes in fraud detection services. The company has developed an open security platform called Fraud Alert, which focuses on identifying fraud and identity theft by analyzing users' online behavior. Its risk detection engine is designed to safeguard users from malicious access attempts. Additionally, Caulis offers cloud-based services for corporate clients, including unauthorized access detection and anti-phishing measures. The platform proactively identifies phishing sites and registers them with major web security services. It also monitors account resale information by tracking and reporting fraudulent activity related to account purchases on social media platforms.

WAmazing

Venture Round in 2017
WAmazing, founded in 2016 and based in Tokyo, Japan, offers essential services for foreign travelers visiting the country. The company provides free SIM cards that allow tourists to register before arriving in Japan, facilitating access to mobile internet services of up to 500MB through its app. This service addresses challenges faced by visitors, such as navigating Japanese sign-up pages that require local phone numbers for free Wi-Fi access. In addition to SIM cards, WAmazing's platform serves as a multilingual travel guide, offering tour applications, reservation information, and tourism consulting services for local governments and tourism organizations. By enabling tourists to access vital information through their smartphones, WAmazing enhances the travel experience in Japan.

Caulis

Seed Round in 2017
Caulis Inc. is a Tokyo-based cybersecurity startup founded in 2015 that specializes in fraud detection services. The company has developed an open security platform called Fraud Alert, which focuses on identifying fraud and identity theft by analyzing users' online behavior. Its risk detection engine is designed to safeguard users from malicious access attempts. Additionally, Caulis offers cloud-based services for corporate clients, including unauthorized access detection and anti-phishing measures. The platform proactively identifies phishing sites and registers them with major web security services. It also monitors account resale information by tracking and reporting fraudulent activity related to account purchases on social media platforms.

ZMP

Corporate Round in 2015
ZMP Inc. is a Tokyo-based company specializing in robotics and autonomous vehicle technology. Founded in 2001, it develops and sells a range of products, including humanoid robots, logistics support robots, and technology for advanced driver assistance systems. The company focuses on automatic operation technology and offers solutions for mobile manufacturers, research institutions, and universities. Its product lineup includes autonomous driving development tools, on-road vehicle testing equipment, imaging solutions, and various sensors. ZMP employs a diverse workforce, with a significant number of engineers from countries such as Australia, China, and France, and aims to continue attracting international talent. Through its integration of mechanics, electronics, control systems, and software, ZMP seeks to enhance safety and comfort in the automotive industry.

Sony Mobile Communications

Acquisition in 2012
Sony Mobile Communications, founded in 2001 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a key division of Sony that specializes in telecommunications equipment. The company produces a diverse portfolio of high-end mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart wear, and accessories, marketed under the Xperia brand. By leveraging Sony's advanced technology and engineering capabilities, Sony Mobile aims to enhance everyday experiences through innovative design, premium services, and seamless connectivity.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.