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

Kamimaeda, Naoki

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 Ph.D

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

Matsuda, Atsushi

Venture Partner

Tatsuya Matsumoto

Partner / Singapore Office Representative

Akira Matsumoto

Principal

Yuki Matsuo

Director

Natsumi Matsuoka

Principal

Tomoko Minagawa

Director

Minamizaki, Ai

Principal

Shigeru Mitarai

Director

Miyama, Kazuhiko

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

Shin, Masamune

General Partner

Ayu Shinoyama

CFO and Board Member

Shinsakaue, Chisa

Director

Divyansh Singh

Principal

Hiroto Sorita

Director

Sachiko Sugiura

Director

Yusuke Suzuki

Partner

Kazumo Tachibana

Director

Mana Takabayashi

Director

Hiroki Takai Ph.D

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

Yoshio, Miku

Partner

Miyazawa Yusuke

Venture Partner

Lusheng Zou

Director

Takuya Hosomura

Partner

Sho Ikeda

Partner / Indonesia Office Representative

Past deals in Lending

HAKKI AFRICA

Series C in 2025
HAKKI AFRICA Co., Ltd. is a microfinance company based in Kamakura, Japan, with a focus on providing small business loans to small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets, particularly in Kenya. Founded in 2018, the company aims to foster independence among local businesses by offering financial support and creating sustainable systems. HAKKI AFRICA develops credit scoring technology and APIs for credit as a service, catering to the needs of microfinance institutions and gig workers in Africa. Through its services, the company facilitates access to short-term and small-size loans, enabling businesses to secure the funding necessary for their operations and growth.

Upsider

Series D in 2024
Upsider is a provider of corporate cards and payment tools designed for fast-growing companies, including startups preparing for public raises. The company focuses on offering high spending limits and intuitive spending management features, which help clients manage their finances effectively. By integrating with external services such as accounting software, Upsider enhances governance and administration, addressing both financial and operational challenges faced by its customers. Additionally, Upsider aims to build trust among its users by organizing B2B transactions, thereby facilitating smoother business interactions.

Validus

Series C in 2022
Validus is a fintech company focused on providing growth financing solutions to underserved small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the ASEAN region, including Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The company employs data and artificial intelligence to facilitate access to short- and medium-term credit financing through its online marketplace, which operates on a peer-to-peer lending model. This platform connects SMEs with accredited investors, streamlining the financing process while minimizing costs associated with financial intermediation. Validus aims to foster inclusive growth for SMEs and the broader economy by partnering with corporations to enhance supply chain financing within SME ecosystems. The company is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and has also secured registration from Indonesia's OJK for its local operations.

AwanTunai

Series A in 2022
AwanTunai is a fintech company based in Jakarta Timur, Indonesia, founded in 2017. It focuses on transforming the Indonesian banking sector by providing a mobile application that grants micro merchants access to loans for working capital, particularly targeting those who lack access to traditional banking products. The platform digitizes the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain by facilitating online ordering, customer management, payment acceptance, and inventory management. AwanTunai monetizes its services primarily through embedded financing for inventory purchases within its integrated ecosystem, which connects borrowers with lenders. As a regulated fintech institution, it manages the full lifecycle of bank-compliant loan assets and collaborates with global insurance companies to offer micro-insurance protection. This approach aims to enhance financial accessibility and improve the welfare of consumers in Indonesia.

Plum Fintech

Series A in 2021
Plum Fintech Limited, based in London and founded in 2016 by Victor Trokoudes and Alex Michael, develops the Plum app, an artificial intelligence-based money tracking application that integrates with messaging platforms. The app automates personal finance tasks, enabling users to save effortlessly, manage their spending, and invest easily. Plum offers a range of financial products designed to help customers grow their wealth over time, including pensions and tax-efficient investment options. With a user base of over 2 million people across Europe, Plum has expanded its services to 10 countries and operates with a team of more than 200 employees across its offices in London, Athens, and Nicosia.

Upsider

Series B in 2021
Upsider is a provider of corporate cards and payment tools designed for fast-growing companies, including startups preparing for public raises. The company focuses on offering high spending limits and intuitive spending management features, which help clients manage their finances effectively. By integrating with external services such as accounting software, Upsider enhances governance and administration, addressing both financial and operational challenges faced by its customers. Additionally, Upsider aims to build trust among its users by organizing B2B transactions, thereby facilitating smoother business interactions.

AwanTunai

Venture Round in 2021
AwanTunai is a fintech company based in Jakarta Timur, Indonesia, founded in 2017. It focuses on transforming the Indonesian banking sector by providing a mobile application that grants micro merchants access to loans for working capital, particularly targeting those who lack access to traditional banking products. The platform digitizes the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain by facilitating online ordering, customer management, payment acceptance, and inventory management. AwanTunai monetizes its services primarily through embedded financing for inventory purchases within its integrated ecosystem, which connects borrowers with lenders. As a regulated fintech institution, it manages the full lifecycle of bank-compliant loan assets and collaborates with global insurance companies to offer micro-insurance protection. This approach aims to enhance financial accessibility and improve the welfare of consumers in Indonesia.

Upsider

Series B in 2021
Upsider is a provider of corporate cards and payment tools designed for fast-growing companies, including startups preparing for public raises. The company focuses on offering high spending limits and intuitive spending management features, which help clients manage their finances effectively. By integrating with external services such as accounting software, Upsider enhances governance and administration, addressing both financial and operational challenges faced by its customers. Additionally, Upsider aims to build trust among its users by organizing B2B transactions, thereby facilitating smoother business interactions.

Upsider

Venture Round in 2020
Upsider is a provider of corporate cards and payment tools designed for fast-growing companies, including startups preparing for public raises. The company focuses on offering high spending limits and intuitive spending management features, which help clients manage their finances effectively. By integrating with external services such as accounting software, Upsider enhances governance and administration, addressing both financial and operational challenges faced by its customers. Additionally, Upsider aims to build trust among its users by organizing B2B transactions, thereby facilitating smoother business interactions.

Plum Fintech

Venture Round in 2020
Plum Fintech Limited, based in London and founded in 2016 by Victor Trokoudes and Alex Michael, develops the Plum app, an artificial intelligence-based money tracking application that integrates with messaging platforms. The app automates personal finance tasks, enabling users to save effortlessly, manage their spending, and invest easily. Plum offers a range of financial products designed to help customers grow their wealth over time, including pensions and tax-efficient investment options. With a user base of over 2 million people across Europe, Plum has expanded its services to 10 countries and operates with a team of more than 200 employees across its offices in London, Athens, and Nicosia.

Solaris

Series C in 2020
Solarisbank operates as a Banking-as-a-Service platform, holding a full German banking license and specializing in embedded finance. The company enables businesses to seamlessly integrate a range of financial services, including digital bank accounts, payment cards, consumer and SME lending, and identification services, through a suite of APIs. By leveraging blockchain technology, Solarisbank allows companies to customize their banking solutions, facilitating cashless payments and enhancing customer engagement. With a significant investment backing from notable shareholders, Solarisbank is committed to increasing accessibility and efficiency in the financial sector, driving innovation to empower businesses with comprehensive digital financial solutions.

UangTeman

Series B in 2019
UangTeman is an online lending service that specializes in providing instant short-term microcredit to consumers in Indonesia. Founded in 2014, it aims to offer a convenient alternative to traditional lending models by delivering online financing solutions accessible anytime and anywhere. The platform provides unsecured loans of up to 3.5 million Rupiah, with repayment terms of a maximum of 30 days. UangTeman operates in several key regions, including Greater Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Solo, Magelang, Klaten, Bandung, Surabaya, Semarang, Bali, Makassar, Palembang, Lampung, Jambi, and Balikpapan, making it a significant player in Indonesia's financial technology landscape.

Staked

Seed Round in 2019
Staked, LLC provides infrastructure for institutional investors in digital currencies to enhance their crypto holdings through staking and lending. Founded in 2018 and based in Becket, Massachusetts, the company operates secure and efficient block production nodes for decentralized proof-of-stake protocols. Its platform enables cryptocurrency holders to earn yields on their assets by running staking nodes, allowing investors to take advantage of rewards from various proof-of-stake currencies. Staked offers services such as Service Level Agreements for block rewards, automatic payouts, and comprehensive reporting, ensuring a combination of security, scalability, and decentralization for its clients.

AwanTunai

Series A in 2018
AwanTunai is a fintech company based in Jakarta Timur, Indonesia, founded in 2017. It focuses on transforming the Indonesian banking sector by providing a mobile application that grants micro merchants access to loans for working capital, particularly targeting those who lack access to traditional banking products. The platform digitizes the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain by facilitating online ordering, customer management, payment acceptance, and inventory management. AwanTunai monetizes its services primarily through embedded financing for inventory purchases within its integrated ecosystem, which connects borrowers with lenders. As a regulated fintech institution, it manages the full lifecycle of bank-compliant loan assets and collaborates with global insurance companies to offer micro-insurance protection. This approach aims to enhance financial accessibility and improve the welfare of consumers in Indonesia.

Coins.ph

Series A in 2016
Coins.ph is a blockchain-based financial platform that provides consumers with a variety of banking and digital payment services. Founded in 2014, the platform enables local and international remittances, bill payments, online shopping, and the purchase of game credits through a mobile wallet. Coins.ph facilitates frictionless money transfers by leveraging blockchain technology, making financial services more accessible to both customers and small businesses. The platform distinguishes itself by offering no minimum cash-in amounts and no monthly fees, allowing users to perform transactions conveniently from their mobile devices.
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