Global Brain Corporation, founded in 1998 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in seed, early, and later-stage startups. The firm has a diverse portfolio, having invested in over 300 companies across various sectors, including e-commerce, software, gaming, media, IoT, disruptive technology, education, entertainment, and fintech. Global Brain is recognized for its hands-on support approach, which has contributed to 25 initial public offerings and 61 mergers and acquisitions among its portfolio companies. In addition to managing traditional investment funds, Global Brain also provides Venture Capital as a Service (VCaaS) solutions and collaborates with leading public companies in sectors such as telecommunications, real estate, financial services, beverages, agriculture, logistics, and electronic devices.
Investment Group Partner and Fellow Chief of Space Lab
Tatsunori Arai
Director
Megumi Asatsuma
Director
Anjani Bansal
Partner / India Office Representative
Brooke Beers
Partner
Takuji Chida
Director
Hogil Doh
General Partner
Thomas Duong
Principal
Brian Flucht
Partner / US Division Head
Hajime Furuya
Venture Partner
Kenji Hayashi
Principal
Shohei Hayashi
Partner
Harue Hayashi
Partner / Vice Chief Fund Management Officer
Jie He
Director China office Representative
Yosuke Hirai
Director
Joopyo Hong
Partner Investment Group
Naoki Horie
Principal
Jang Hyeokjin
Principal
Shohei Ichimiya
Partner / US Office
Nozomu Ikuta
Principal
Kotona Inaida
Director
Tomoaki Ishikure
Partner
Yoshinari Ito
Venture Partner
Yuki Ito
Director
Hiroyuki Izumi
Partner
Ken Kajii
General Partner
Naoki Kamimaeda
Partner and Europe Division Head
Daisuke Kashiro
General Partner
Kirin Kato
Principal
Takashi Kato
Partner, San Francisco Office Representative
Masaya Kawakami
Principal, Investment Group
Hiroyuki Kawamoto
Principal
Ko Kawaragi
Director
Maiko Kayata
Principal
ByeongJin Kim
Principal
Riichiro Kimura
Director / US NY Office
Kenta Kitsuka
General Partner
Issei Kokubu
Director
Yoshiomi Kubota
Principal
Jiro Kumakura
General Partner and Board Member
Jinya Kurita
Director
KyungHun Lee
Partner
YingQi Liang(Joy)
Principal
Chukaku Lin
Director
Atsushi Matsuda
Venture Partner
Tatsuya Matsumoto
Partner / Singapore Office Representative
Akira Matsumoto
Principal
Yuki Matsuo
Director
Natsumi Matsuoka
Principal
Tomoko Minagawa
Director
Ai Minamizaki
Principal
Shigeru Mitarai
Director
Kazuhiko Miyama
General Partner
Shuhei Mori
Principal
Seiichiro Mukai
Director
Satoko Murata
Principal, Investment Group
Kohtaro Nagawa
Director
Mitsutaka Nakao
Principal, Investment Group
Shien Nakayama
Director
Yuya Namiki
Director
Ying Jian Ng
Director
Daisuke Nishida
General Partner
Yukari Nishiyama
Director, Investment Group
Akiko Noguchi
Director
Rina Obi
Investment Group Director, Berlin Office
Sho Ohtani
Principal
Tetsui Okada
Director
Mayu Okamoto
Director
Akane Okuyama
Director
Shingo Otaki
Partner
Rampalli Karthik
Principal
Naoki Sadakuni
Venture Partner
Enen Sai
Principal
Youichi Sakagawa
Director, Investment Group
Kazuki Sakuragawa
Partner / Editor in Chief
Masumi Sato
Principal
Naoki Sato
Principal, Investment Group
Tomoki Sekiguchi
Principal
Rie Shibata
Director
Takeru Shigemura
Director
Miku Shimamura
Principal
Masamune Shin
General Partner
Ayu Shinoyama
CFO and Board Member
Chisa Shinsakaue
Director
Divyansh Singh
Principal
Hiroto Sorita
Director
Sachiko Sugiura
Director
Yusuke Suzuki
Partner
Kazumo Tachibana
Director
Mana Takabayashi
Director
Hiroki Takai
Director
Toko Takao
Principal
Hideyuki Tanaka
Director
Marika Tazaki
Partner
Hirotaka Togashi
Director
Haruka Tsujii
Director
Atsushi Ueda Ph.D
Principal, Investment Group
Takuya Ukai
Principal, Investment Group
Tetsuya Urimoto
Director
Noriko Usui
Partner / Chief Fund Management Officer
Keita Washizu
Principal
Masao Yamada
Senior Partner
Kazunori Yamaguchi
Partner, Investment Group
Kazunor Yamaguchi
Partner
Ryozo Yamamoto
Partner
Michiko Yamazaki
Principal, Investment Group
Takuro Yoda
Principal, Investment Group
Sayaka Yoshino
Director
Miku Yoshio
Partner
Miyazawa Yusuke
Venture Partner
Lusheng Zou
Director
Takuya Hosomura
Partner
Sho Ikeda
Partner / Indonesia Office Representative
Past deals in Advertising
Lokal
Series B in 2023
Lokal provides users with hyperlocal information such as daily commodity prices, local jobs, real estate, matrimonial, local business advertorials, and classifieds that would otherwise be scattered across local newspapers. Lokal, which was founded in 2018, aims to strengthen hyperlocal communities by allowing its mostly non-English users to share, interact, and transact in their native language. The app has 10 million downloads and is available in 100+ districts across South India in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Marathi.
iPrice Group
Corporate Round in 2022
iPrice Group operates as an online price comparison platform in Southeast Asia, aimed at enhancing the shopping experience by offering a wide selection of products and brands from numerous partners. The company allows consumers to compare prices, discover products, and secure the best deals from thousands of online retailers, catering to various categories including electronics, fashion, home improvements, and baby products. Founded with the goal of increasing transparency, convenience, and trust in the e-commerce market, iPrice has expanded its reach across seven markets, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the Philippines. Supported by investments from the Asia Venture Group, iPrice has developed expertise in technology, online marketing, and business operations, positioning itself as a key player in the region's online shopping landscape.
JX Press
Series C in 2021
JX PRESS Corporation operates as Japan's virtual news agency, specializing in delivering real-time news through its "FASTALERT" service. This service provides breaking news bulletins on urgent incidents, such as accidents and natural disasters, utilizing artificial intelligence to monitor and disseminate information. It serves all six major television broadcast stations in Japan, including NHK, as well as over 100 local stations. JX PRESS also offers "NewsDigest," a popular app with over 1 million downloads, designed for consumers to receive AI-generated news alerts. The platform is increasingly used by journalists as a standardized service for reporting. In addition to its news services, JX PRESS employs technology to filter misinformation, allowing companies to access reliable data for digital marketing. Key stakeholders include prominent entities like KYODO NEWS, TV Asahi, Fuji TV, and the Nikkei Group, highlighting its significant role in Japan's media landscape.
FIREBUG
Venture Round in 2020
FIREBUG Inc., established in 2016 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in media content production and marketing services. The company supports a diverse range of talents, including comedians, actresses, models, and artists, by providing production plans and developing intellectual property and advertising items tailored to their social media presence. FIREBUG offers comprehensive marketing solutions that encompass both traditional and digital channels, including marketing planning, public relations support, TV commercial production, and media buying. Additionally, the firm organizes events and distributes video content for mobile platforms, catering to the evolving needs of its clients in the entertainment and advertising sectors.
Lanchester
Series A in 2020
Lanchester operates EAP, an Engagement Application Platform that offers one-stop marketing, customer relationship management, and e-commerce solutions. EAP charges its clients based on the number of users (MAU: Monthly Active Users) who used the app during a certain period, not the number of app downloads. Lanchester also provides a wide range of services from planning and development to operation of web and smartphone sites and iOS and Android apps.
One Media
Venture Round in 2019
One Media, Inc. specializes in visual storytelling through animated messages and video content production. Founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan, the company provides a range of services including YouTube channel production, social media video creation, live stream planning, and video distribution. One Media focuses on transforming clients' messages into engaging video content while conducting in-house analysis of viewing data to enhance the effectiveness of its productions. By integrating creative planning with comprehensive video distribution, the company aims to deliver unique value to its clients.
JX Press
Series C in 2019
JX PRESS Corporation operates as Japan's virtual news agency, specializing in delivering real-time news through its "FASTALERT" service. This service provides breaking news bulletins on urgent incidents, such as accidents and natural disasters, utilizing artificial intelligence to monitor and disseminate information. It serves all six major television broadcast stations in Japan, including NHK, as well as over 100 local stations. JX PRESS also offers "NewsDigest," a popular app with over 1 million downloads, designed for consumers to receive AI-generated news alerts. The platform is increasingly used by journalists as a standardized service for reporting. In addition to its news services, JX PRESS employs technology to filter misinformation, allowing companies to access reliable data for digital marketing. Key stakeholders include prominent entities like KYODO NEWS, TV Asahi, Fuji TV, and the Nikkei Group, highlighting its significant role in Japan's media landscape.
Mirrativ
Venture Round in 2019
Mirrativ Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2015 that specializes in mobile game streaming services. Its application allows users to live-stream content directly from their smartphones and tablets, enabling real-time sharing of gameplay experiences. The platform incorporates user interaction features similar to those of established live-streaming services, allowing viewers to comment and show appreciation for streams. Although current broadcasts are not saved for later viewing, the application facilitates seamless communication among users through texting and sharing of videos during streams. In addition to gaming, Mirrativ is also focused on developing a game distribution platform and exploring innovative advertising solutions within the live gaming space.
YouAppi
Series B in 2016
YouAppi Inc. specializes in mobile advertising technology aimed at acquiring and retaining mobile customers. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company offers a range of solutions including OneRun, a platform that incorporates video advertisements into user acquisition campaigns, and ReAppi, a managed programmatic retargeting service that enhances app retention for marketers and app developers. Additionally, YouAppi provides a Re-Engagement solution that facilitates real-time bidding and enables multiple interactions between brands and users. Its Software Development Kit extends the OneRun platform to support rewarded videos and video interstitials for publishers and app developers. The company operates not only in the United States but also has a presence in China and several countries across Asia, Europe, and beyond, helping clients effectively grow app revenue through targeted advertising strategies.
Wing Style
Series A in 2016
Wing Style is a marketing & advertising company.
Logly
Corporate Round in 2015
Logly, Inc. is a technology company based in Tokyo, Japan, that specializes in media technology, advertising technology, and data marketing. It operates several key platforms, including Logly Lift, an advertising service that delivers corporate content by leveraging media and brand recognition; Loyalfarm, a tool for analyzing user engagement and actions to foster repeat visits; and Zenback, a widget designed to gather information from various online sources about articles. Logly primarily caters to the needs of advertisers and distributors, providing innovative solutions to enhance audience interaction and content delivery. Founded in 2006, the company continues to play a significant role in the evolving landscape of digital marketing in Japan.
Logly
Venture Round in 2015
Logly, Inc. is a technology company based in Tokyo, Japan, that specializes in media technology, advertising technology, and data marketing. It operates several key platforms, including Logly Lift, an advertising service that delivers corporate content by leveraging media and brand recognition; Loyalfarm, a tool for analyzing user engagement and actions to foster repeat visits; and Zenback, a widget designed to gather information from various online sources about articles. Logly primarily caters to the needs of advertisers and distributors, providing innovative solutions to enhance audience interaction and content delivery. Founded in 2006, the company continues to play a significant role in the evolving landscape of digital marketing in Japan.
q CORPORATION
Venture Round in 2015
q CORPORATION is a soup and curry shop with advertising. Chicken vegetables, Shimeji chicken, shimeji chicken vegetables, sausage, cheese hamburger, Shimeji vegetables, minced meat natto, seafood, Chai, grain coffee, plain lassi, mango lassi, ice tea, iced grain coffee, apple juice, mango juice, and other beverages are on the menu.
Q
Venture Round in 2015
Q co. offers advertising, promotional planning, web design and web development services.
Live Aid
Venture Round in 2015
Live Aid is a provider of web and application services for smartphones, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company specializes in developing applications for devices such as iPhones and Androids, as well as web applications and system contract development. Live Aid enhances advertisement delivery services on smartphones through its product, AID, which focuses on delivering the latest information and engaging content across various genres, including virtual reality. Additionally, the company offers services that include verifying guest identities and managing check-in tasks.
Tapjoy
Seed Round in 2014
Tapjoy is a mobile app monetization and marketing platform that provides engagement and monetization services for advertisers and app developers. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company offers a range of rewarded advertising solutions, including video and rich media ads, through its Maximum Impact Platform™. The Tapjoy SDK is integrated into over 15,000 mobile applications, enabling access to a monthly active user base of 520 million. Tapjoy's innovative Interplay™ ads have been shown to significantly enhance brand performance, as evidenced by a 2016 comScore™ study that reported a threefold increase in brand metrics. The company collaborates with Fortune 500 brands and top-grossing app developers, leveraging its mobile expertise to help clients acquire and monetize users effectively. With a global presence that includes more than a dozen offices, Tapjoy is positioned as a leader in the mobile advertising landscape.
Supership
Funding Round in 2013
Supership continuously develops optimized ad platform products and provides them to advertisers and publishers because they demand only the best advertising solutions. The most important thing for advertisers is a platform that can analyze data and achieve results through optimized promotions. Our platform offers a number of demand side solutions, such as, 「AppVador's Video Ad Network」 and 「ScaleOut DSP」 that targets users with precision based on advertiser goals, a DMP that contains a wealth of data which makes data-driven marketing a reality, a SSP(「Ad Generation」) that is highly valued for generating revenue, especially in the app business. The combination of these products provides our customers with a total advertising solution that can meet a wide range of digital marketing needs.
Jimoty
Venture Round in 2012
Jimothy is a free advertisement bulletin board for 9 million people a month! You can post information such as buying and selling second-hand goods, announcement of the event, recruitment information, recruitment of members, real estate information etc.
Geniee
Seed Round in 2011
Geniee Inc. is a prominent player in the AdTech and MarTech sectors, founded in 2010 by Tomoaki Kudo. Headquartered in Japan, the company operates internationally with offices in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, while previously having a presence in the USA, China, and India. Geniee specializes in providing software-as-a-service solutions that enhance client success in digital advertising. Its offerings include the Geniee Supply-Side Platform (SSP), which facilitates comparisons of various advertising deals; the Geniee Trading Desk for integrated display ad operations; a Data Management Platform (DMP) that analyzes marketing and user data; and a Data Exchange service for delivering online and email ads using audience data. Through these services, Geniee helps clients optimize their advertising strategies and maximize revenue.
RETAILIGENCE
Series A in 2011
Retailigence Corporation operates an online-to-offline marketing platform that enhances in-store product sales through innovative technology. The company offers a software-as-a-service (SAAS) solution that utilizes machine learning for various applications, including store clustering, assortment optimization, in-store monitoring, and customer segmentation. Its adPOP Engine provides a seamless application programming interface that integrates data into programmatic advertising, enabling location-based user experiences across mobile and digital advertising channels. Additionally, Retailigence delivers a mobile application that displays local store-level product availability and serves as a central data distribution point for retailers, brands, and marketing solutions. The company caters to various clients, including advertising solutions providers, application developers, agencies, and brick-and-mortar stores in the United States. Founded in 2009 and based in Redwood City, California, Retailigence operates as a subsidiary of ShopAdvisor, Inc. after a strategic partnership with Gimbal, Inc.
Stipple
Seed Round in 2010
Stipple is the future of the visual web where the web's biggest asset, digital images, transform into experiences that drive discovery, engagement, purchase, and loyalty in-image. Stipple’s image-based marketing technology stack detects, recognizes, and identifies the content inside images at scale and enables Advertisers and Publishers to apply interactive curated content, accurate native advertising solutions, and connects organically to commerce. Only Stipple's marketing technology offers image analytics, advertising & messaging inside images web-wide and without widgets or embed code at scale. Stipple is based in San Francisco and funded by Floodgate, Kleiner Perkins, Relevance Capital and a syndicate of prominent early-stage investors.
RETAILIGENCE
Seed Round in 2010
Retailigence Corporation operates an online-to-offline marketing platform that enhances in-store product sales through innovative technology. The company offers a software-as-a-service (SAAS) solution that utilizes machine learning for various applications, including store clustering, assortment optimization, in-store monitoring, and customer segmentation. Its adPOP Engine provides a seamless application programming interface that integrates data into programmatic advertising, enabling location-based user experiences across mobile and digital advertising channels. Additionally, Retailigence delivers a mobile application that displays local store-level product availability and serves as a central data distribution point for retailers, brands, and marketing solutions. The company caters to various clients, including advertising solutions providers, application developers, agencies, and brick-and-mortar stores in the United States. Founded in 2009 and based in Redwood City, California, Retailigence operates as a subsidiary of ShopAdvisor, Inc. after a strategic partnership with Gimbal, Inc.
Tri-Stage
Seed Round in 2007
Tri-Stage is a leading provider of direct marketing support services in Japan, specializing in assisting marketing companies. The company leverages its extensive experience to offer high-quality solutions aimed at enhancing client mail-order sales. Tri-Stage utilizes various media channels, including television and the Internet, to support product and service marketing, customer acquisition, and overall sales processes. By focusing on comprehensive customer management, Tri-Stage aims to maximize the effectiveness of its clients' marketing efforts.
Tri-Stage
Angel Round in 2006
Tri-Stage is a leading provider of direct marketing support services in Japan, specializing in assisting marketing companies. The company leverages its extensive experience to offer high-quality solutions aimed at enhancing client mail-order sales. Tri-Stage utilizes various media channels, including television and the Internet, to support product and service marketing, customer acquisition, and overall sales processes. By focusing on comprehensive customer management, Tri-Stage aims to maximize the effectiveness of its clients' marketing efforts.
Tri-Stage
Angel Round in 2006
Tri-Stage is a leading provider of direct marketing support services in Japan, specializing in assisting marketing companies. The company leverages its extensive experience to offer high-quality solutions aimed at enhancing client mail-order sales. Tri-Stage utilizes various media channels, including television and the Internet, to support product and service marketing, customer acquisition, and overall sales processes. By focusing on comprehensive customer management, Tri-Stage aims to maximize the effectiveness of its clients' marketing efforts.
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