Global Brain

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.

Kaori Akiba

Director

Hidetaka Aoki

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 Art

Activ8

Venture Round in 2023
Activ8 Inc. is a content development company based in Minato, Japan, founded in 2016. It specializes in designing and developing virtual content, including the creation of 3D models, 2D illustrations, and 2D animations. The company's offerings encompass virtualization, metaverse production, and the development of a virtual talent platform that facilitates job matching for virtual talent and the sale of original goods. Activ8 also provides services such as event sponsorship and operates tools like Bizfolio, which serves as a management system, and STAR TIMES, a media outlet showcasing professionals in animation, web development, and graphic design.

foriio

Series A in 2023
Foriio is a digital platform that enables creators to share their work by allowing them to upload and manage their portfolios online. This platform serves as a space for digital creators to present their art, complete with detailed descriptions, and to connect with a community of users. By facilitating the sharing of creative work, Foriio provides a means for both creators and audiences to access and appreciate a diverse array of artistic expressions.

Gaudiy

Series B in 2022
Gaudiy Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Tokyo, Japan, operates in the fan economy by leveraging blockchain technology. The company has developed Gaudiy Fanlink, a platform that enhances fan engagement through Web3 innovations such as NFTs and distributed IDs (DIDs). Gaudiy's offerings include an IP community system that enables the tracking and accumulation of fan activity data, fostering an ecosystem that accurately recognizes and rewards fan contributions and enthusiasm. The company aims to digitize the entertainment sector by promoting community activities centered around manga, anime, games, sports, and idols, thereby creating a collaborative economic environment for these products.

The Chain Museum

Series A in 2020
The Chain Museum Co., Ltd., established in 2018 and based in Tokyo, Japan, operates a distinctive museum located within the Newman Yokohama commercial facility. The museum focuses on curating a diverse range of artistic expressions, showcasing works from renowned artists alongside emerging talents across various genres, including installations, paintings, and performing arts. In addition to its exhibition space, The Chain Museum offers a platform for viewers to engage with art, allowing them to express their impressions, connect with artists, and provide support. The museum also aims to integrate art with technology, enhancing the experience for clients and facilitating the exploration of different artistic styles from around the globe.

Craftie

Series A in 2019
Craftie, Inc. is an online workshop platform based in Tokyo, Japan, that connects users with teachers to facilitate arts and crafts experiences. Founded in 2016, the platform promotes handmade culture and supports local communities by offering a range of services, including a workshop reservation system and B2B services for enterprises. Craftie empowers various retailers, such as department stores and cafés, to enhance their product offerings while engaging their customer base through creative workshops. The company emphasizes the importance of fostering creativity and craftsmanship within communities.

Japan Culture and Technology

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