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.
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 Smart Cities
IONATE
Series A in 2025
IONATE develops an innovative hardware-software system for smart grids, centered around its Hybrid Intelligent Transformer (HIT). This advanced device replaces traditional transformers, integrating the control of voltage, harmonics, and reactive power into a single unit. By utilizing magnetics, the HIT enables users to manage these critical power characteristics simultaneously, enhancing efficiency and minimizing energy loss. The technology is designed to stabilize power distribution across various applications, including power generation, industrial facilities, and data centers, while facilitating real-time control capabilities.
GEOFLA
Venture Round in 2024
Geofra develops Planning and creation of items that rejuvenate the movement of people in physical areas, regional revitalization initiatives
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.
Newmo
Seed Round in 2024
newmo delivers sustainable local public transportation create a user experience (UX) that people may utilize with peace of mind and comfort.
Hayden AI
Series B in 2023
Hayden AI focuses on developing artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies aimed at enhancing urban mobility and safety. The company specializes in automated enforcement solutions for dedicated bus lanes and bus stops, which are designed to expedite public transit and improve the overall quality of life in urban areas. By leveraging advanced technology and a network of mobile devices, Hayden AI works to create safer and smarter cities. Its platform enables clients to utilize AI-powered tools that can detect and analyze traffic incidents, contributing to more efficient traffic management and fostering a sustainable urban environment.
Yanekara
Venture Round in 2022
Yanekara specializes in developing and selling a V2X platform focused on smart grid technology and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The company offers innovative energy management services that transform electric vehicles into virtual storage batteries, allowing them to store and manage energy efficiently. By integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, with their charging systems, Yanekara enables users to optimize power storage and achieve carbon neutrality. Their solutions not only enhance the functionality of electric vehicles but also contribute to sustainable energy management and the advancement of clean energy initiatives.
Girasol Energy
Seed Round in 2021
Girasol Energy Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the development and installation of an Internet of Things (IoT) platform tailored for photovoltaic plants. The company's innovative technology utilizes solar radiation statistics derived from satellite data, making it applicable across Japan. Girasol Energy's platform features a cloud engine that collects data from sensor networks, allowing for detailed analysis at the individual panel level. By employing an artificial intelligence engine, it automatically identifies abnormalities and degradation in photovoltaic panels. This capability enables businesses to monitor their solar panel modules remotely, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional consulting services in the industry.
WhereIsMyTransport
Series A in 2021
WhereIsMyTransport Ltd is a mobility technology company focused on providing comprehensive public transport data for megacities in emerging markets. Headquartered in London, with an additional office in Cape Town, the company specializes in digitalizing network information from various modes of public transport across Africa, Latin America, Southeast Europe, and South and Southeast Asia. By employing a data collection playbook, WhereIsMyTransport maps both formal and informal transport networks, ensuring data accuracy as these systems evolve. The company's platform serves businesses, municipalities, and citizens, enhancing the public transport experience and facilitating informed decision-making for infrastructure improvements and market entry.
Girasol Energy
Series A in 2021
Girasol Energy Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the development and installation of an Internet of Things (IoT) platform tailored for photovoltaic plants. The company's innovative technology utilizes solar radiation statistics derived from satellite data, making it applicable across Japan. Girasol Energy's platform features a cloud engine that collects data from sensor networks, allowing for detailed analysis at the individual panel level. By employing an artificial intelligence engine, it automatically identifies abnormalities and degradation in photovoltaic panels. This capability enables businesses to monitor their solar panel modules remotely, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional consulting services in the industry.
UnaBiz
Venture Round in 2019
UnaBiz Pte Ltd is an Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider based in Singapore, with an additional office in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 2016, the company specializes in product design, manufacturing, and connectivity solutions, particularly through its partnership with SIGFOX to offer low-power wide-area network services. UnaBiz develops a range of wireless infrastructure and devices, including solutions for smart metering, asset management, and supply chain monitoring. Its product offerings include Unashield, UnaBell, ModBus Reader, GPS trackers, and various chipsets and modules. The company caters to various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, utilities, and building management, focusing on cost efficiency and sustainability to empower businesses in their operational growth.
UnaBiz
Series A in 2018
UnaBiz Pte Ltd is an Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider based in Singapore, with an additional office in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 2016, the company specializes in product design, manufacturing, and connectivity solutions, particularly through its partnership with SIGFOX to offer low-power wide-area network services. UnaBiz develops a range of wireless infrastructure and devices, including solutions for smart metering, asset management, and supply chain monitoring. Its product offerings include Unashield, UnaBell, ModBus Reader, GPS trackers, and various chipsets and modules. The company caters to various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, utilities, and building management, focusing on cost efficiency and sustainability to empower businesses in their operational growth.
Realglobe
Venture Round in 2011
Real Globe is a company that makes use of advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and Robotics. Real Globe has set a mission of "Freedom, just the right world" and aims to realize a sustainable society with local production and consumption by appropriate production and consumption by making the whole world WebAPI. I am.
Realglobe
Seed Round in 2011
Real Globe is a company that makes use of advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and Robotics. Real Globe has set a mission of "Freedom, just the right world" and aims to realize a sustainable society with local production and consumption by appropriate production and consumption by making the whole world WebAPI. I am.
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