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 Entertainment

Utaite

Series A in 2024
Utaite is an operator of an entertainment platform that focuses on planning, production, and development of entertainment content.

AnotherBall

Seed Round in 2023
AnotherBall is a blockchain startup focused on digital entertainment, specifically through the development of a new VTuber project. The company aims to create a sustainable platform within the Web3 space, allowing users to express their identities and passions. By leveraging VTubing technology, AnotherBall provides opportunities for streamers, illustrators, and music and video producers to earn income from their creative endeavors. This approach fosters a community where participants can thrive while navigating the evolving landscape of digital entertainment and blockchain technology.

Sorajima

Series C in 2023
Sorajima is an entertainment and media company that provides comics, cartoon stories, anime, and content creation services.

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.

Unbereal

Series C in 2022
Unbereal Inc. is a Japanese company founded on May 7, 2012, that specializes in the development and operation of Topia, a virtual karaoke distribution platform. The platform allows users to engage in karaoke while also offering features for creating customizable three-dimensional avatars. In addition to its karaoke services, Unbereal's application supports the development of various gaming experiences, including shooting battle and action games, enhancing user interaction within an augmented and virtual reality environment.

Asoview

Series E in 2021
Asoview is an online booking platform that specializes in providing services for tours, activities, and attractions. The platform allows users to easily book a diverse range of experiences, including water and motorsports, sightseeing tours, horse trekking, cooking classes, and cultural activities. By offering a comprehensive selection of options, Asoview enables individuals to discover and secure reservations for various activities that align with their interests, enhancing their travel experiences.

SOFT GEAR

Series B in 2021
Soft Gear is a comprehensive service provider focused on technology development for the entertainment sector, particularly in Japan. The company specializes in online game development, offering contract-based services that include game design, debugging, and operational support. With expertise in in-game debugging and the development of essential high-speed network functions, Soft Gear enables clients to efficiently create, develop, and publish their video game projects. The company's approach caters to the specific needs of the gaming industry, ensuring a streamlined process for clients looking to enhance their online gaming offerings.

WHYNOT Media

Series C in 2021
WHYNOT Media Co., Ltd. is a South Korean company established in 2016 that specializes in developing and operating a video content streaming platform. The company offers a diverse range of entertainment, including web series, short films, and web dramas. Some of its notable web series are "Secret Crushes," "Always a Boyfriend," "Never a Boyfriend," and "Office Watch." WHYNOT Media focuses on creating engaging content that resonates with various cultural backgrounds, providing viewers with easily accessible entertainment. In addition to original productions, the company also engages in content IP production, branded content, and transmedia storytelling, further enhancing its offerings in the realm of web entertainment.

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.

SHOWROOM

Venture Round in 2020
SHOWROOM Inc. is a Japanese media company based in Tokyo, established in 2015. It operates a live video streaming platform primarily focused on showcasing live shows featuring Japanese idols and voice actors. As a subsidiary of DeNA Co., Ltd., SHOWROOM provides services that include program production and video content creation, catering to a diverse audience interested in entertainment and interactive experiences. The platform has gained popularity for its unique integration of live performances and viewer engagement.

Livestreamers

Venture Round in 2019
Livestreamers operate as production agencies focused on delivering specialized live streaming content. They provide a range of services, including video production and the live distribution of online content. Additionally, these agencies create and distribute media for promotional purposes, as well as manage processes and events. By leveraging these services, they enable businesses and customers to engage in new forms of live entertainment, enhancing the overall experience for audiences.

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.

Plumzi

Seed Round in 2013
Plumzi, Inc. is a provider of a story-driven entertainment technology platform designed for tablets and smartphones. Founded in 2012 and based in Redwood City, California, Plumzi enables children to engage with characters and influence the narrative through interactive features such as touch, voice, and tilt. The platform facilitates studios and creators in authoring and streaming appisodes, a novel form of interactive entertainment that can be experienced on various devices, including tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and virtual reality headsets.
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