Global Brain

Global Brain is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm founded in 1998, specializing in early-stage investments across various sectors, including e-commerce, software, gaming, media, IoT, education, entertainment, and fintech. The firm has expanded its investment activities to the US and Asia, targeting series A-stage technology companies. Since its inception, Global Brain has invested in approximately 30 companies, achieving seven initial public offerings and seven mergers and acquisitions. The firm supports its portfolio companies by providing not only capital but also strategic guidance, partnerships, and team-building resources to help them reach their milestones. Global Brain is particularly adept in e-commerce, operating a platform called EC-PLANET, which encompasses several group companies, including a large online sports goods store and a logistics firm offering comprehensive fulfillment services. This network, along with Global Brain's connections to established Japanese companies, facilitates market entry for US and Asian businesses into Japan.

Kaori Akiba

Principal, Corporate Management Group

Tatsunori Arai

Director, Investment Group

Megumi Asatsuma

Corporate Management Group, Director

Anjani Bansal

Partner, India Office Representative

Brooke Beers

Partner

Takuji Chida

Director, Investment Groups

Hogil Doh

General Partner, Investment Group

Thomas Duong

Principal

Brian Flucht

Partner and Head, US Division

Daisuke Furukawa

Venture Partner

Hajime Furuya

Venture Partner

Kenji Hayashi

Principal, Investment Group

Shohei Hayashi

Partner

Harue Hayashi

Partner and Vice Chief Fund Management Officer

Yosuke Hirai

Director

Joopyo Hong

Partner Investment Group

Naoki Horie

Principal, Investment Group

Jang Hyeokjin

Principal, Investment Group

Shohei Ichimiya

Partner, US Office

Nozomu Ikuta

Principal

Kotona Inaida

Director, Fund Management Group

Tomoaki Ishikure

Investment Group Partner

Yoshinari Ito

Venture Partner

Yuki Ito

Director

Hiroyuki Izumi

Partner, Investment Group

Ken Kajii

General Partner, Investment Group

Naoki Kamimaeda

Partner and Europe Division Head

Masaru Kaneshiro

Principal

Daisuke Kashiro

Partner, Investment Group

Kirin Kato

Principal

Takashi Kato

Partner, San Francisco Office Representative

Masaya Kawakami

Partner

Hiroyuki Kawamoto

Principal

Ko Kawaragi

Director

Maiko Kayata

Principal

ByeongJin Kim

Principal, Fund Management Group

Jungyong Kim

Principal, Investment Group

Riichiro Kimura Ph.D

Director, Investment Group

Kenta Kitsuka

General Partner

Issei Kokubu

Principal, Investment Group

Yoshiomi Kubota

Principal

Jinya Kurita

Director

KyungHun Lee

Partner, South Korea Office Representative

YingQi Liang(Joy)

Principal, Investment Group

Chukaku Lin

Principal

Atsushi Matsuda

Venture Partner

Akira Matsumoto

Principal, Investment Group

Natsumi Matsuoka

Principal

Hiroshi Mihayashi

Principal

Tomoko Minagawa

Director, Investment Group

Ai Minamizaki

Principal, Investment Group

Shigeru Mitarai

Principal

Kazuhiko Miyama

General Partner

Shuhei Mori

Principal

Seiichiro Mukai

Director

Satoko Murata

Principal, Investment Group

Kohtaro Nagawa

Director, Investment Group

Tasuke Nakagawa

Partner / M&A

Mitsutaka Nakao

Principal, Investment Group

Shien Nakayama

Director, Investment Group

Yuya Namiki

Director

Ying Jian Ng

Director, Investment Group

Daisuke Nishida

Partner, Investment Group

Akiko Noguchi

Director, Corporate Management Group

Rina Obi

Investment Director

Sho Ohtani

Principal, Investment Group

Tetsui Okada

Director, Investments Group

Mayu Okamoto

Principal

Akane Okuyama

Director

Shingo Otaki

Partner, Investment Group

Naoki Sadakuni

Venture Partner

Enen Sai

Principal, Fund Management Group

Kazuki Sakuragawa

Partner and Editor in Chief, Corporate Management Group

Masumi Sato

Principal

Naoki Sato

Principal, Investment Group

Tomoki Sekiguchi

Principal

Rie Shibata

Director, Fund Management Group

Takeru Shigemura

Director

Miku Shimamura

Principal

Hiroshi Shimazu

Managing Director

Masamune Shin

General Partner, Investment Group

Ayu Shinoyama

CFO and Board Member

Chisa Shinsakaue

Director

Divyansh Singh

Principal

Hiroto Sorita

Director, Investment Group

Sachiko Sugiura

Principal

Yusuke Suzuki

Partner

Kazumo Tachibana

Director

Mana Takabayashi

Director, Investment Group

Hiroki Takai

Director, Investment Group London Office

Toko Takao

Principal

Hideyuki Tanaka

Principal

Marika Tazaki

Partner

Hirotaka Togashi

Director, Investment Group

Haruka Tsujii

Principal

Atsushi Ueda

Principal, Investment Group

Takuya Ukai

Principal, Investment Group

Tetsuya Urimoto

Director, Investment Group

Noriko Usui

Partner and Chief Fund Management Officer

Keita Washizu

Principal

Hirokazu Watanabe

Partner

Keita Wazhizu

Principal, Investment Group

Masao Yamada

Senior Partner, Investment Groups

Kazunori Yamaguchi

Partner, Investment Group

Ryozo Yamamoto

Partner, Investment Group

Michiko Yamazaki

Principal, Investment Group

Isao Yasuda

Senior Partner

Takuro Yoda

Principal, Investment Group

Sayaka Yoshino

Director

Miku Yoshio

Partner, Investment Group

Yasuhiko Yurimoto

Founder and President and CEO & Board Member

Miyazawa Yusuke

Venture Partner

Lusheng Zou

Director, Investment Group

Past deals in EdTech

Elephantech

Series D in 2023
Elephantech Inc., founded in January 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan, focuses on innovating the manufacturing of electronic circuits. The company seeks to revolutionize this field by employing inkjet printing technology, which allows for the precise application of metal only where needed, in contrast to traditional photolithography methods that waste materials and increase costs. This novel approach not only reduces the quantity of materials used but also minimizes the number of manufacturing processes, resulting in a significant cost reduction of up to 80% for prototype production. Elephantech's technology is particularly advantageous for on-demand manufacturing, making it an appealing option for small-batch production without the need for substantial initial investment. With a commitment to enhancing global manufacturing capabilities, Elephantech aims to lead the industry with its advanced techniques for producing printed wiring boards.

Estate Technologies

Series B in 2022
Estate Technologies Inc. operates a sophisticated platform that analyzes real estate price, life, and risk from a multi-layered perspective. Founded in 2019 and based in Tokyo, Japan, the company offers tools such as the Dr. Asset Checker, which provides real-time property value analysis, and the Dr. Asset Recommender, which suggests potential property purchases. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the platform collects data on comparable properties by considering factors like room size, proximity to transit, and property age, allowing users to derive objective and detailed insights from extensive property data. In addition to its analytical tools, Estate Technologies provides information system design, development, and consulting services that integrate IT technology with real estate expertise.

estie

Series A in 2022
estie, inc. is a company based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2018, that specializes in designing and developing an online platform tailored for the real estate industry. The company offers a software as a service (SaaS) solution aimed at enhancing the commercial real estate sector by digitalizing information and transaction processes. By providing innovative software tools, estie enables clients to access valuable insights and make informed, data-driven decisions in their real estate dealings.

Workstyletech

Series A in 2021
Workstyletech is supporting employees to create an enviroment where they can thrive and fulfill their dreams. With its unique service using HR technology and data, Workstyletech helps companies around the world to create a culture that fosters each and every employee's confidence.

Aidemy

Series B in 2021
Aidemy Inc. provides online artificial intelligence (AI) programing services for individuals to learn AI technology and a Software as a service product for companies to manipulate AI technology using their accumulated data on their own. The company’s platform is used to learn about block chain through practical applications, such as mining, adding transactions, and consensus algorithms. Its solutions are used by corporations primarily in the manufacturing industry, such as companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and small companies and university laboratories. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

manebi

Venture Round in 2021
manebi is an Career development support platform business to support human transformation.

Studist

Seed Round in 2021
Studist Corporation, founded in 2010 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in providing a cloud-based documentation tool designed to enhance knowledge sharing within businesses. The company has developed the platform "Teachme Biz," which enables the creation and management of standard work procedure manuals using images and videos. This platform facilitates the instant delivery and browsing of manuals, allowing employees to easily create and share business documentation by selecting visuals and adding descriptions. Studist aims to address the challenges of information transmission loss in enterprises, promoting a more efficient exchange of knowledge and fostering an environment where intellectual contributions are accessible to all.

manebi

Venture Round in 2020
manebi is an Career development support platform business to support human transformation.

SpeakBUDDY

Series B in 2020
SpeakBUDDY is a web / mobile app development company that believes in "creating something that shouldn't be there now, not something you've seen before". Ourselves solved the difficult English learning problems and released “A serious English conversation! "Lapping English" and "Last English Learning! Two works of “Majitan” have won the first place in the AppStore rankings.

Cozre

Series B in 2019
Cozre the outing and the lessons of the babies and children, to solve the problem of child-rearing.

Eden

Series B in 2019
Eden Technologies, Inc. is a workplace management platform based in San Francisco, California, that offers a comprehensive suite of software solutions designed to streamline office operations for companies in the United States. Founded in 2001, the platform facilitates various functions, including visitor registration, employee ticketing and helpdesk requests, room booking, and facility maintenance management. Additionally, it supports administrative tasks such as catering, cleaning, corporate events, and IT support. Recently, Eden introduced a COVID Team Safety app to assist teams in safely returning to the office. By enhancing communication and productivity, Eden aims to create a better work environment for employees while enabling organizations to make informed decisions based on data. The company has attracted investments from notable firms, including Y Combinator and Bessemer Venture Partners.

Schoo

Venture Round in 2019
Schoo Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that operates an online learning platform known as Schoo Web Campus. Founded in 2011, the platform provides free live lessons and a unique radio-style learning experience, catering to a diverse audience. It focuses on livestreamed lectures and offers a variety of online education courses, notes, and video learning tools. The company aims to facilitate continuous learning by creating a community where individuals can engage in educational activities. Additionally, Schoo Inc. seeks to integrate its learning videos into university curricula and offers resources to newspaper owners and freelancers, promoting accessible education for all.

KidsDiary

Venture Round in 2019
KidsDiary, Inc. specializes in developing daycare management software that supports children's learning and streamlines daily operations in nursery facilities. Founded in 2016 and based in Tokyo, Japan, the company's application offers features such as attendance management, automatic calculation of extended hours, bus service management, and parent-teacher communication solutions. By reducing paperwork and enhancing job efficiency, KidsDiary's platform helps nursery facility owners and staff effectively manage their daily tasks, ultimately alleviating workloads for both parents and administrators.

Aoi.co

Series B in 2015
Aoi Co. is a Tokyo-based company that provides "Aoi Zemi," a free online lecture service designed for junior high and middle school students. The platform has successfully attracted over 3,000 users and boasts an impressive entrance exam passing rate of 86.3% for students aiming for their preferred universities. Aoi Co. is focused on enhancing its system development capabilities and plans to launch a learning state monitoring app for parents in September.

Cozre

Seed Round in 2015
Cozre the outing and the lessons of the babies and children, to solve the problem of child-rearing.

Edmodo

Series D in 2014
Edmodo, Inc. operates an online platform that serves as a global education network, enabling educators to connect and collaborate with students, parents, and fellow teachers. Founded in 2008 and based in San Mateo, California, Edmodo has grown to encompass over 77 million users across approximately 550,000 schools worldwide. The platform focuses on enhancing communication and collaboration while protecting the privacy of its users. It offers tools for school leaders to utilize analytics, deliver professional development, and improve learning outcomes through frequent formative assessments. Edmodo allows educators to share resources, post classroom materials, and access important school information, thereby fostering a dynamic learning community. In May 2018, Edmodo became a subsidiary of Best Assistant Education Online Limited, further expanding its reach and capabilities in the educational sector.

Edmodo

Series D in 2014
Edmodo, Inc. operates an online platform that serves as a global education network, enabling educators to connect and collaborate with students, parents, and fellow teachers. Founded in 2008 and based in San Mateo, California, Edmodo has grown to encompass over 77 million users across approximately 550,000 schools worldwide. The platform focuses on enhancing communication and collaboration while protecting the privacy of its users. It offers tools for school leaders to utilize analytics, deliver professional development, and improve learning outcomes through frequent formative assessments. Edmodo allows educators to share resources, post classroom materials, and access important school information, thereby fostering a dynamic learning community. In May 2018, Edmodo became a subsidiary of Best Assistant Education Online Limited, further expanding its reach and capabilities in the educational sector.
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