Global Brain

Global Brain Corporation, established in 1998, is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm that invests in technology-focused startups globally, from seed to pre-IPO stages. With a track record of 300+ investments, 25 IPOs, and 61 M&As, the firm provides hands-on support to its portfolio companies. Global Brain manages both independent and corporate venture capital funds, partnering with tier 1 public companies across various industries.

Kaori Akiba

Director

Hidetaka Aoki

Investment Group Partner and Fellow Chief of Space Lab

Tatsunori Arai

Director, Investment Group

Megumi Asatsuma

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

Hajime Furuya

Venture Partner

Harue Hayashi

Partner / Vice Chief Fund Management Officer

Kenji Hayashi

Principal

Shohei Hayashi

Partner, Investment Group

Jie He

Director China office Representative

Yosuke Hirai

Director

Joopyo Hong

Partner Investment Group

Naoki Horie

Principal

Jang Hyeokjin

Principal, Investment Group

Shohei Ichimiya

Partner, US Office

Sho Ikeda

Partner, Indonesia Office Representative

Nozomu Ikuta

Principal

Kotona Inaida

Director

Tomoaki Ishikure

Investment Group Partner

Yuki Ito

Director

Yoshinari Ito

Venture Partner

Hiroyuki Izumi

Partner

Ken Kajii

General Partner, Investment Group

Daisuke Kashiro

Partner, Investment Group

Takashi Kato

Partner, San Francisco Office Representative

Kirin Kato

Principal

Masaya Kawakami

Principal, Investment Group

Hiroyuki Kawamoto

Principal

Ko Kawaragi

Director

Maiko Kayata

Principal

ByeongJin Kim

Principal

Riichiro Kimura

Director, Investment Group

Issei Kokubu

Principal, Investment Group

Yoshiomi Kubota

Principal

Jinya Kurita

Director, Investment Group

KyungHun Lee

Partner, South Korea Office Representative

YingQi Liang(Joy)

Principal

Chukaku Lin

Director

Atsushi Matsuda

Venture Partner

Akira Matsumoto

Principal

Yuki Matsuo

Director

Natsumi Matsuoka

Principal

Tomoko Minagawa

Director, Investment Group

Ai Minamizaki

Principal, Investment Group

Shigeru Mitarai

Director

Shuhei Mori

Principal

Seiichiro Mukai

Director

Satoko Murata

Principal, Investment Group

Kohtaro Nagawa

Director, Investment Group

Tasuke Nakagawa

Partner, M&A

Mitsutaka Nakao Ph.D

Principal, Investment Group

Shien Nakayama

Director

Yuya Namiki

Director

Ying Jian Ng

Director, Investment Group

Daisuke Nishida

General Partner

Yukari Nishiyama

Director, Investment Group

Akiko Noguchi

Director

Rina Obi

Investment Group Director, Berlin Office

Sho Ohtani

Principal, Investment Group

Tetsui Okada

Director, Investments Group

Mayu Okamoto

Director

Akane Okuyama

Director

Shingo Otaki

Partner, Investment Group

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

Hiroshi Shimazu

Managing Director

Masamune Shin

General Partner

Ayu Shinoyama

CFO

Chisa Shinsakaue

Director

Divyansh Singh

Principal

Hiroto Sorita

Director, Investment Group

Sachiko Sugiura

Director

Yusuke Suzuki

Partner

Kazumo Tachibana

Director

Mana Takabayashi

Director, Investment Group

Hiroki Takai

Director, Investment Group London Office

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, Investment Groups

Kazunor Yamaguchi

Partner

Kazunori Yamaguchi

Partner, Investment Group

Ryozo Yamamoto

Partner, Investment Group

Michiko Yamazaki MD

Principal, Investment Group

Isao Yasuda

Senior Partner

Takuro Yoda

Principal, Investment Group

Sayaka Yoshino

Director

Miku Yoshio

Partner, Investment Group

Yasuhiko Yurimoto

Founder, Owner, CEO and General Partner

Miyazawa Yusuke

Venture Partner

Lusheng Zou

Director, Investment Group

Takuya Hosomura

Partner

Past deals in Aerospace

Basetwo AI

Series A in 2025
Basetwo AI is a technology company that provides an artificial intelligence platform designed specifically for the manufacturing sector. The platform serves as an AI co-pilot for process engineers, offering real-time recommendations to optimize production yield, cycle time, and operational costs. By connecting to production and quality databases, Basetwo builds explainable hybrid AI simulation models that enable manufacturers to enhance their critical equipment and processes. The company's solutions have successfully aided Fortune 500 manufacturers worldwide, achieving significant reductions in scale-up time and operational costs, with improvements of over 20%. Basetwo's focus spans various industries, including pharmaceuticals, materials, chemicals, and aerospace, ultimately fostering efficiency across the global manufacturing supply chain.

Zenno Astronautics

Seed Round in 2024
Zenno Astronautics Limited is a New Zealand-based company that specializes in the development and manufacture of propulsion systems and software for small satellites and space exploration. Established in 2017 and located in Auckland, the company offers innovative products, including its Drive system, which serves as an orbital simulator for mission licensing and management of satellite propulsion. Zenno Astronautics focuses on advanced superconducting technologies to meet the demanding positioning requirements of satellites, ensuring efficient repositioning in orbit to enhance commercial value. Its products are designed to make space exploration more sustainable and economically viable, thereby contributing to the overall advancement of the space industry.

Aeronext

Series B in 2024
Aeronext Inc. is a Japanese startup focused on the research and development of drone technology. The company specializes in center of gravity control technology, which enhances the performance of drone aircraft by optimizing their stability and maneuverability based on flight attitude and movement. This innovation enables safer and more efficient use of drones for various industrial applications. In addition to technological development, Aeronext engages in sales and promotional activities to support the adoption of its advanced drone solutions.

Pale Blue

Series B in 2024
Pale Blue Inc. is a technology company based in Kashiwa, Japan, specializing in the manufacture of thrusters for microsatellites. Founded in 2020, the company focuses on developing water propulsion systems, including water resistojet thrusters, water ion thrusters, and hybrid thrusters. These innovative propulsion devices are designed to enhance the maneuverability of small satellites in orbit while promoting sustainable space development by utilizing environmentally friendly water-based solutions instead of harmful chemicals like hydrazine. Pale Blue's contributions aim to advance satellite mobility infrastructure within the aerospace industry.

Axelspace

Series D in 2023
Axelspace Corporation, founded in 2008 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of micro-satellites and their components for both domestic and international markets. The company focuses on remote-sensing applications, with notable projects including the GRUS satellite constellation for Earth observation, WNISAT-1R for sea ice monitoring, and Hodoyoshi-1, which captures high-resolution images of the ground. Axelspace also develops various micro-satellite components such as sensors for attitude determination and GPS receivers for positioning. The firm aims to create a cost-effective global monitoring platform that provides daily coverage, enhancing access to quality satellite imagery. In addition to satellite development, Axelspace offers operational support and launch arrangements for its micro-satellites, positioning itself as a key player in the microsatellite industry.

Digantara

Series A in 2023
Digantara is a space technology company focused on developing advanced space surveillance systems. It provides a space-based surveillance platform that offers global real-time Earth coverage through a constellation of cost-efficient nanosatellites in Low Earth Orbit. Utilizing AI and machine learning algorithms, Digantara delivers predictive and robust situational awareness services, which are crucial for ensuring long-term spaceflight safety. In addition to enhancing safety, the company's technology facilitates the mapping of space, contributing to the broader objectives of the space industry.

GITAI

Series B in 2023
GITAI Inc. is a Tokyo-based manufacturer of humanoid telepresence robots designed for space exploration and development. Founded in 2016, the company aims to provide safe and cost-effective robotic solutions for tasks on space stations and lunar bases. GITAI's product lineup includes the G1 general-purpose robot, which automates various tasks in space environments, the S1 robot, specialized for specific tasks and on-orbit servicing, and the H1 manipulation system that allows for teleoperation of robots in space. By offering these advanced robotic systems, GITAI seeks to alleviate the workload on human astronauts, enhance efficiency, and significantly reduce the costs associated with space operations.

Aeronext

Series A in 2022
Aeronext Inc. is a Japanese startup focused on the research and development of drone technology. The company specializes in center of gravity control technology, which enhances the performance of drone aircraft by optimizing their stability and maneuverability based on flight attitude and movement. This innovation enables safer and more efficient use of drones for various industrial applications. In addition to technological development, Aeronext engages in sales and promotional activities to support the adoption of its advanced drone solutions.

Pale Blue

Series A in 2021
Pale Blue Inc. is a technology company based in Kashiwa, Japan, specializing in the manufacture of thrusters for microsatellites. Founded in 2020, the company focuses on developing water propulsion systems, including water resistojet thrusters, water ion thrusters, and hybrid thrusters. These innovative propulsion devices are designed to enhance the maneuverability of small satellites in orbit while promoting sustainable space development by utilizing environmentally friendly water-based solutions instead of harmful chemicals like hydrazine. Pale Blue's contributions aim to advance satellite mobility infrastructure within the aerospace industry.

Axelspace

Series C in 2021
Axelspace Corporation, founded in 2008 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of micro-satellites and their components for both domestic and international markets. The company focuses on remote-sensing applications, with notable projects including the GRUS satellite constellation for Earth observation, WNISAT-1R for sea ice monitoring, and Hodoyoshi-1, which captures high-resolution images of the ground. Axelspace also develops various micro-satellite components such as sensors for attitude determination and GPS receivers for positioning. The firm aims to create a cost-effective global monitoring platform that provides daily coverage, enhancing access to quality satellite imagery. In addition to satellite development, Axelspace offers operational support and launch arrangements for its micro-satellites, positioning itself as a key player in the microsatellite industry.

GITAI

Series B in 2021
GITAI Inc. is a Tokyo-based manufacturer of humanoid telepresence robots designed for space exploration and development. Founded in 2016, the company aims to provide safe and cost-effective robotic solutions for tasks on space stations and lunar bases. GITAI's product lineup includes the G1 general-purpose robot, which automates various tasks in space environments, the S1 robot, specialized for specific tasks and on-orbit servicing, and the H1 manipulation system that allows for teleoperation of robots in space. By offering these advanced robotic systems, GITAI seeks to alleviate the workload on human astronauts, enhance efficiency, and significantly reduce the costs associated with space operations.

Swift Navigation

Series C in 2021
Swift Navigation, Inc. is a technology company specializing in high-precision global positioning system (GPS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) solutions. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional location in Melbourne, Australia, the company aims to make accurate positioning technology more accessible and affordable. Swift Navigation offers a range of products, including the Piksi Multi GNSS Module and the ruggedized Duro Receiver, both providing centimeter-level accuracy through real-time kinematics (RTK) technology. Their offerings also include the Skylark cloud corrections service and the Starling GNSS positioning engine, which cater to various sectors such as automotive, agriculture, robotics, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The company is recognized for defining a new category of low-cost, high-accuracy GNSS systems, delivering significantly better performance than conventional GPS systems. Swift Navigation's innovative solutions have been acknowledged by prestigious lists, reflecting its role in transforming industries through automation and enhanced navigation capabilities.

Axelspace

Series B in 2018
Axelspace Corporation, founded in 2008 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of micro-satellites and their components for both domestic and international markets. The company focuses on remote-sensing applications, with notable projects including the GRUS satellite constellation for Earth observation, WNISAT-1R for sea ice monitoring, and Hodoyoshi-1, which captures high-resolution images of the ground. Axelspace also develops various micro-satellite components such as sensors for attitude determination and GPS receivers for positioning. The firm aims to create a cost-effective global monitoring platform that provides daily coverage, enhancing access to quality satellite imagery. In addition to satellite development, Axelspace offers operational support and launch arrangements for its micro-satellites, positioning itself as a key player in the microsatellite industry.

Axelspace

Series A in 2015
Axelspace Corporation, founded in 2008 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of micro-satellites and their components for both domestic and international markets. The company focuses on remote-sensing applications, with notable projects including the GRUS satellite constellation for Earth observation, WNISAT-1R for sea ice monitoring, and Hodoyoshi-1, which captures high-resolution images of the ground. Axelspace also develops various micro-satellite components such as sensors for attitude determination and GPS receivers for positioning. The firm aims to create a cost-effective global monitoring platform that provides daily coverage, enhancing access to quality satellite imagery. In addition to satellite development, Axelspace offers operational support and launch arrangements for its micro-satellites, positioning itself as a key player in the microsatellite industry.
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