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 Art

Activ8

Venture Round in 2023
Activ8 Inc. is a content development company based in Minato, Japan, founded in 2016. The company specializes in creating virtual content, focusing on virtualization and metaverse production. Its services encompass the development of digital avatars, including 3D model creation and 2D animation, as well as event sponsorship. Activ8 also offers a management tool called Bizfolio, which aids in the organization and promotion of projects within the animation, web development, and graphic design sectors. The company’s platform facilitates job matching for virtual talent and supports the sale of original goods, enhancing the planning and management capabilities for businesses engaging with virtual talent.

foriio

Series A in 2023
Foriio is a digital platform that facilitates the creation, management, and sharing of portfolios for digital creators. The company provides an online space where users can upload their work, provide descriptions, and connect with a community of artists and art enthusiasts. This platform is designed to enhance visibility for creators, allowing them to showcase their art and reach a broader audience. By enabling seamless sharing of portfolios, Foriio fosters an environment that supports collaboration and engagement within the creative community.

Gaudiy

Series B in 2022
Gaudiy Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2018 that specializes in application development and consulting services utilizing blockchain technology. The firm operates within the fan-economy sector, offering a platform known as Gaudiy Fanlink. This Web3-era platform enhances fan engagement by leveraging blockchain innovations such as NFTs and distributed IDs. Gaudiy's approach includes an IP community system that captures and analyzes fan activity data, fostering an ecosystem that accurately recognizes and rewards fan contributions and enthusiasm. Additionally, Gaudiy promotes digitization in the entertainment industry, focusing on manga, anime, games, sports, and idols, and aims to create a collaborative economic environment for product development and community activities.

The Chain Museum

Series A in 2020
The Chain Museum Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based organization that plans, curates, and manages a distinctive museum located within the Newman Yokohama commercial facility. Founded in 2018, the museum showcases a diverse array of artworks, including installations, paintings, and performance art, featuring both renowned artists and emerging talents. The Chain Museum aims to create an interactive platform where visitors can share their impressions of art, connect with artists, and support their work. Additionally, the company seeks to integrate art with technology, enhancing the experience for clients by enabling them to explore various art styles from around the globe.

Craftie

Series A in 2019
Craftie, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that operates an online workshop platform specializing in arts and crafts. Founded in 2016, Craftie connects users with teachers to provide diverse workshop experiences that promote handmade culture and support local communities. The platform offers various services, including a workshop reservation system and B2B services for enterprises, enabling businesses such as department stores and cafés to engage their customer base while promoting artisanal products. Through its digital platform, Craftie aims to empower individuals and foster a vibrant community around creative craftsmanship.

Japan Culture and Technology

Japan Culture and Technology assists artists and craftspeople in expanding their activities by providing IT support.
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