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 Geospatial

Sagri

Series A in 2024
Sagri, Inc. is a company based in Tamba, Japan, that specializes in developing agriculture software for experienced farmers. Founded in 2016, Sagri focuses on creating a data platform that addresses agricultural challenges through the use of satellite data and machine learning. This innovative platform enables users to analyze the status of agricultural land in their regions, collaborating with local governments and financial institutions. By providing digital mapping of abandoned cultivated land, Sagri aids agricultural committees in reducing the burden of land investigations and enhancing overall agricultural management.

Geofla

Venture Round in 2024
Geofla is a business that specializes in creating and planning products and applications designed to encourage physical activity and stimulate foot traffic in various spaces. The company's offerings include advertising and promotional services, incentivizing users to move around businesses through a points-based system.

Essen

Seed Round in 2024
Essen is a technological company that specializes in mobility and data analysis, as well as using data to improve transportation.

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.

nearMe

Series B in 2023
NearMe Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in mobile application development for taxi ride-sharing services. The company's platform addresses social inefficiencies by facilitating real-time matching of individuals seeking to travel in the same direction, thereby enabling them to share taxi rides. NearMe's innovative approach aims to enhance the commuting experience, making it more comfortable and efficient for users. Through its technology-driven solution, the company seeks to contribute to a sustainable and enjoyable society by optimizing transportation options for its users.

WhereIsMyTransport

Series A in 2021
WhereIsMyTransport Ltd is an urban transportation technology company based in London, United Kingdom, with a presence in Cape Town, South Africa. The company specializes in providing comprehensive public transport data for emerging-market megacities, focusing on regions in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Europe, and South and Southeast Asia. By digitalizing network information from various modes of public transport, WhereIsMyTransport ensures data accuracy amidst the dynamic changes of these systems. Their platform offers a data collection framework for mapping both formal and informal transport networks, equipping businesses, municipalities, and citizens with essential information to enhance infrastructure and navigate urban environments effectively. Through its innovative products and data services, WhereIsMyTransport aims to improve the public transport experience for users and support industry stakeholders in their operational needs.

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.

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.

GeoSpock

Venture Round in 2020
GeoSpock Limited, established in 2013 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with offices in Tokyo and Singapore, specializes in developing a unique, cloud-native database platform, GeoSpock DB. This platform is optimized for querying and analyzing large-scale, location-tagged data, enabling efficient data fusion and rapid, complex queries using SQL. It integrates seamlessly with popular business intelligence tools and data science environments, empowering users to unlock insights from diverse IoT data sources, from real-time fleet tracking to local service applications.

Lime

Series C in 2019
Lime is a transportation company that focuses on providing sustainable solutions for urban mobility by offering electric scooters and bike-sharing services. The company partners with cities to deploy a fleet of electric bikes and scooters equipped with GPS and self-activating locks, which allows users to access affordable and reliable transportation options. Lime aims to address the first- and last-mile transportation challenges, promoting environmentally friendly alternatives that help reduce carbon footprints. By encouraging a shift in transportation behavior, Lime seeks to empower future generations to contribute to a more sustainable planet.

GeoSpock

Series B in 2019
GeoSpock Limited, established in 2013 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with offices in Tokyo and Singapore, specializes in developing a unique, cloud-native database platform, GeoSpock DB. This platform is optimized for querying and analyzing large-scale, location-tagged data, enabling efficient data fusion and rapid, complex queries using SQL. It integrates seamlessly with popular business intelligence tools and data science environments, empowering users to unlock insights from diverse IoT data sources, from real-time fleet tracking to local service applications.

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.

GeoSpock

Series A in 2018
GeoSpock Limited, established in 2013 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with offices in Tokyo and Singapore, specializes in developing a unique, cloud-native database platform, GeoSpock DB. This platform is optimized for querying and analyzing large-scale, location-tagged data, enabling efficient data fusion and rapid, complex queries using SQL. It integrates seamlessly with popular business intelligence tools and data science environments, empowering users to unlock insights from diverse IoT data sources, from real-time fleet tracking to local service applications.

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.

RealGlobe

Venture Round in 2011
RealGlobe, Inc. is a technology company based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2008. It specializes in developing Platform-as-a-Service solutions and Continuous Delivery-as-a-Service offerings that automate various operational tasks, including source building, system testing, and delivery. RealGlobe's services extend to educational solutions and emergency medical and disaster response technologies, incorporating drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, the company employs advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and robotics to support its mission of fostering a sustainable society through local production and consumption. Notably, RealGlobe also operates a graphical mapping platform that enhances information sharing between local governments and residents by creating high-fidelity digital twins of real-world environments, which are useful for sectors like construction, engineering, and facilities management.

RealGlobe

Seed Round in 2011
RealGlobe, Inc. is a technology company based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2008. It specializes in developing Platform-as-a-Service solutions and Continuous Delivery-as-a-Service offerings that automate various operational tasks, including source building, system testing, and delivery. RealGlobe's services extend to educational solutions and emergency medical and disaster response technologies, incorporating drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, the company employs advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and robotics to support its mission of fostering a sustainable society through local production and consumption. Notably, RealGlobe also operates a graphical mapping platform that enhances information sharing between local governments and residents by creating high-fidelity digital twins of real-world environments, which are useful for sectors like construction, engineering, and facilities management.
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