Mitsui

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. is a prominent general trading company based in Japan, engaged in a diverse array of business sectors including energy, machinery, chemicals, food, textiles, logistics, and finance. The company focuses on addressing various industrial needs through the procurement, supply, and sales of iron and steel products, alongside investments in processing and distribution both domestically and internationally. Mitsui plays a crucial role in the trading and investment of mineral and metal resources, ensuring a stable supply essential for industry and society. Furthermore, it is involved in metal recycling and initiatives aimed at developing solutions to environmental challenges. The company provides a wide range of services, including sales, financing, leasing, transportation, and project investment for large-scale machinery and infrastructure. Mitsui is also active in the energy sector, trading in oil, natural gas, and other resources while pursuing next-generation energy solutions. Additionally, it adapts to changing consumer demands by investing in sectors such as food resources, healthcare, and real estate, all while leveraging its capabilities in ICT, finance, and logistics to foster innovation and strengthen its business operations.

Masaji Matsuoka

General Manager, Venture Capital Business Dept. Private Equity Div

Shoei Utsuda

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Past deals in Japan

FRD Japan

Venture Round in 2023
FRD Japan is a land-based aquaculture company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Saitama, Japan. The company focuses on promoting sustainable aquaculture practices that do not rely on natural seawater or groundwater. FRD Japan employs a unique biofiltration technology that utilizes bacteria to efficiently circulate 100% of tap water, minimizing water exchange in the aquaculture process. This innovative approach supports the cultivation of salmon and aims to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional sea-based aquaculture. By leveraging its advanced filtration system, FRD Japan is committed to revolutionizing the aquaculture industry while addressing environmental concerns.

Kyoto Fusioneering

Series C in 2023
Kyoto Fusioneering is a privately funded technology start-up established in 2019 and based in Kyoto, Japan. The company specializes in developing advanced technologies for commercial fusion reactors, including gyrotron systems, tritium fuel cycle technologies, and breeding blankets for tritium production and power generation. By providing innovative solutions such as liquid metal and molten salt systems, as well as tritium treatment and high-frequency microwave gyrotrons, Kyoto Fusioneering aims to support both public and private fusion developers globally. The company's efforts contribute to the acceleration of fusion energy as a sustainable and carbon-free power source for the future.

LayerX

Series A in 2023
LayerX Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in blockchain consulting and planning services aimed at promoting the digitization of business processes for large corporations and government agencies. As a subsidiary of AnyPay Inc. and Gunosy Inc., LayerX offers a range of services including technical consulting, empirical research, and the development of a cryptocurrency mining platform. The company also produces reports that analyze various case studies and the latest trends in blockchain technology, enabling businesses to automate and manage diverse tasks and processes effectively.

PowerX

Series A in 2022
PowerX brings power transfer technology to life, allowing for greater usage of renewable energy sources. PowerX was founded on March 22, 2021 and is located in Tokyo, Japan.

Terra Drone

Series B in 2022
Terra Drone is a drone and software manufacturer, based in Tokyo. By using drone, Terra Drone also delivers civil engineering surveying services for construction companies and analyzes data. With a wide range of usecase of drone, Terra Drone also helps companies to carry out inspection of complex job sites, such as those in construction, oil and gas extraction, agriculture.

Allm

Series A in 2021
Allm Inc. is a medical ICT company based in Tokyo, Japan, that focuses on enhancing healthcare communication through advanced technologies. Founded in 2001, Allm offers a variety of applications designed to facilitate communication among healthcare professionals, including Kaigo for home care workers, Kango for home care nurses, and MySOS for first-aid support and medical record management. Additionally, the company provides AcaMed, an online community aimed at advancing medical research, and FollowUP, a business intelligence system for real-time management information. Allm's solutions are utilized in over 18 countries across regions such as the US, South America, Europe, Japan, the Middle East, and Africa, contributing to improved efficiency and quality of care in community healthcare systems. The company, formerly known as SkillUpJapan Corp., rebranded to Allm Inc. in January 2015 and operates several subsidiaries globally.

Bulk Homme

Corporate Round in 2020
BULK HOMME is a men's skincare brand that provides products with solid evidence that have both instantaneous value and long-term value. Its products include an array of facial cleanser, lotion, and emulsions that are created through repeated research and development without compromising on men's bare skin that enables men to access a brand that fulfills their basic daily skincare needs. BULK HOMME was established in 2013 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Ceva Santé Animale

Venture Round in 2020
Ceva Santé Animale S.A. specializes in the research, development, production, and marketing of veterinary pharmaceuticals and vaccines for both companion and farm animals. The company provides a diverse range of products, including treatments for behavior, cardiology, nephrology, dermatology, locomotion, parasitology, and reproduction management for companion animals. For farm animals, Ceva offers anti-infective products, vaccines, and reproductive management solutions for cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and poultry. Additionally, the company has developed tools such as the Ceva Lung Program, a mobile application that helps manage lung health in livestock. Established in 1988 and headquartered in Libourne, France, Ceva operates pharmaceutical and research facilities in various countries, including Canada, Brazil, Italy, Hungary, the United States, Japan, Mexico, China, and Canada. The company is actively involved in global welfare initiatives, collaborating with local organizations to enhance animal health and welfare.

GRID

Venture Round in 2019
GRID is a Japanese technology company which develops the AI framework "ReNom". We focus on enhancing social infrastructure under the mission "INFRASTRUCTURE + LIFE + INNOVATION". Specifically, we intend to deploy AI services using our in-house developed AI technology for "social infrastructure" such as operation optimization of plant, operational improvement of power plant, failure detection for manufacturing line in various business verticals including natural resources, traffic management, manufacture, medical and finance.

LeapMind

Series C in 2019
LeapMind Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in hardware architecture and platforms for deep learning applications. The company focuses on making deep learning technology compact and accessible, particularly within the evolving Internet of Things (IoT) sector. LeapMind has developed its own algorithms and innovative chip architectures that enhance the accuracy of neural network models while reducing the computational complexity necessary for implementation in small computing environments. This approach enables the use of advanced deep learning capabilities in devices with limited power and memory, facilitating advancements in both the IoT and robotics industries.

Digital Asset Markets

Seed Round in 2019
Digital Asset Markets, Inc., founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operates within the cryptography industry as a subsidiary of Intertrade Co., Ltd. The company focuses on modernizing capital markets through Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, complying with the Financial Services Agency of Japan's regulations. Digital Asset Markets facilitates the ownership, management, and trading of RWA tokens, including "Zipangcoin," a commodity asset-backed token. The firm operates as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) and collaborates with other VASPs for RWA token distribution. Additionally, it offers a data preservation service called "Digital Shelter," which incorporates quantum computer cryptanalysis resistance features. Digital Asset Markets also plans to develop new business opportunities leveraging the data structures managed by Digital Shelter. The company attracts funding from various banks and securities firms in Japan, with numerous undisclosed investors, including notable names in the financial sector.

Legoliss

Acquisition in 2019
Legoliss Inc. is a marketing services provider based in Shibuya-ku, Japan, founded in 2015. The company specializes in data-driven marketing, offering a range of services including media consulting, content planning, advertisement distribution, and data analysis. Legoliss supports businesses in managing and utilizing large volumes of data generated through daily operations, providing data management platforms for effective storage and analysis. As of May 2019, Legoliss operates as a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

AGRIGATE

Venture Round in 2018
Aggregate is a business service provider for the agriculture industry. The company's SPF business services include purchasing, distribution, manufacturing, and sales. It also provides human resource services. By integrating information from purchasing to sales in the production area and visualizing each operation digitally, IT is used for labor productivity.

Organ Technologies

Venture Round in 2018
Organ Technologies Inc. specializes in the manufacture, sale, import, and export of pharmaceuticals and materials for regenerative medicine. The company also offers contract manufacturing services for therapeutic cells, tissues, and organs, as well as medical and industrial equipment. Its research and development efforts focus on transplantation and regenerative medicine technologies. Key projects include the development of three-dimensional human artificial skin, hair regeneration treatments, dental regenerative medicine, and a three-dimensional organ culture system. Founded in 2008 and based in Tokyo, Japan, Organ Technologies aims to advance global health and welfare through innovative bio-engineering technologies that replicate the functionality of natural organs.

Medcare

Series A in 2018
MEDCARE, Inc. is a healthcare technology company based in Tokyo, Japan, that specializes in telemedicine services aimed at health insurance associations. The company's platform, DoctorsCrowd, focuses on addressing lifestyle-related diseases by providing patients with access to a variety of digital health tools. These services include online medical consultations, meal guidance, motion monitoring, mental health support, and risk score reports. By leveraging smartphones and wearable devices, MEDCARE enables patients to engage in preventive care and optimize their health management, ultimately aiming to transform the traditional healthcare model into a more proactive system.

Plaid

Venture Round in 2018
Plaid, Inc. operates KARTE, a cloud-based customer experience platform in Japan that focuses on analyzing customer behavior on websites and apps to facilitate personalized communication. The company also manages EC-specialized media, Shopping Tribe, and CX-specialized media, XD. Plaid serves various industries, including finance, insurance, human resources, retail, apparel, real estate, IT, media, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, and education. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Tokyo, Plaid aims to simplify the process of customer data analysis and improve site performance, helping businesses optimize their customer engagement strategies.

Connectec Japan

Corporate Round in 2018
Connectec Japan Corporation specializes in the development and provision of semiconductor and electrical products. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Myoko, Japan, the company offers foundry services for semiconductor packaging, along with technical support for surface-mount technology (SMT). Additionally, it provides evaluation, analysis, and reliability testing services. Connectec Japan is recognized for its expertise in semiconductor chip bonding and low-temperature MEMS chips, as well as small desktop semiconductor assembly equipment. The company also supports device bonding on low-heat-resistant substrates and facilitates prototype development. With a satellite office in Kyoto and sales offices in Seoul, Korea, and Suzhou, China, Connectec Japan serves a diverse clientele across various industrial applications.

FOLIO

Venture Round in 2018
Folio offers AI-driven and automated investment services and a platform for financial institutions to manage discretionary investments.

Preferred Networks

Venture Round in 2017
Preferred Networks, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2014 that specializes in developing software and hardware solutions leveraging advanced machine learning technologies. Its core focus areas include transportation systems, manufacturing, and bio-healthcare, while also exploring applications in personal robotics, materials discovery, and sports analytics. The company provides a range of services, including data analytics, edge computing, and computer vision, to various sectors such as retail, automotive, healthcare, and public safety. By integrating data from both physical and digital realms, Preferred Networks aims to create practical applications that enhance automation and efficiency across industries. Additionally, the company has a subsidiary located in Burlingame, California, further expanding its reach and capabilities.

AZAPA

Venture Round in 2017
AZAPA Engineering, founded in 2008 and based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, specializes in the automotive industry, offering advanced engineering services and strategic process methods tailored for automobile development. The company focuses on enhancing system performance architecture through model-based automotive technology, which connects various subsystems to improve energy and motion performance. In addition to its automotive initiatives, AZAPA engages in diverse sectors including energy, information technology, and communication, aiming to optimize renewable energy and explore new communication technologies via mobility management. The firm is committed to leveraging advanced technology and innovative ideas to foster peace and abundance, particularly targeting the base of the pyramid market.

FRD Japan

Venture Round in 2017
FRD Japan is a land-based aquaculture company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Saitama, Japan. The company focuses on promoting sustainable aquaculture practices that do not rely on natural seawater or groundwater. FRD Japan employs a unique biofiltration technology that utilizes bacteria to efficiently circulate 100% of tap water, minimizing water exchange in the aquaculture process. This innovative approach supports the cultivation of salmon and aims to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional sea-based aquaculture. By leveraging its advanced filtration system, FRD Japan is committed to revolutionizing the aquaculture industry while addressing environmental concerns.

FRD Japan

Acquisition in 2017
FRD Japan is a land-based aquaculture company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Saitama, Japan. The company focuses on promoting sustainable aquaculture practices that do not rely on natural seawater or groundwater. FRD Japan employs a unique biofiltration technology that utilizes bacteria to efficiently circulate 100% of tap water, minimizing water exchange in the aquaculture process. This innovative approach supports the cultivation of salmon and aims to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional sea-based aquaculture. By leveraging its advanced filtration system, FRD Japan is committed to revolutionizing the aquaculture industry while addressing environmental concerns.

GRID

Corporate Round in 2017
GRID is a Japanese technology company which develops the AI framework "ReNom". We focus on enhancing social infrastructure under the mission "INFRASTRUCTURE + LIFE + INNOVATION". Specifically, we intend to deploy AI services using our in-house developed AI technology for "social infrastructure" such as operation optimization of plant, operational improvement of power plant, failure detection for manufacturing line in various business verticals including natural resources, traffic management, manufacture, medical and finance.

Connectec Japan

Venture Round in 2017
Connectec Japan Corporation specializes in the development and provision of semiconductor and electrical products. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Myoko, Japan, the company offers foundry services for semiconductor packaging, along with technical support for surface-mount technology (SMT). Additionally, it provides evaluation, analysis, and reliability testing services. Connectec Japan is recognized for its expertise in semiconductor chip bonding and low-temperature MEMS chips, as well as small desktop semiconductor assembly equipment. The company also supports device bonding on low-heat-resistant substrates and facilitates prototype development. With a satellite office in Kyoto and sales offices in Seoul, Korea, and Suzhou, China, Connectec Japan serves a diverse clientele across various industrial applications.

SORACOM

Series B in 2016
Soracom is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in providing a comprehensive Internet of Things (IoT) platform. Its services are built on scalable cloud technologies utilizing Amazon Web Services (AWS), enabling IoT solution providers and developers to efficiently manage and expand their services. Soracom's offerings include secure data communication for IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) devices through its Air SIM service, which facilitates LTE and 3G mobile connectivity. Users can manage their IoT device configurations and monitor data traffic via a web console or API. Additionally, Soracom Beam allows for the secure offloading of data from IoT devices to the cloud, ensuring high encryption and remote management capabilities without direct internet exposure. By providing flexible, customizable solutions, Soracom aims to reduce the time and costs associated with deploying IoT services. The company officially launched its services in September 2015 and continues to support a wide range of applications within the IoT ecosystem.

Mercari

Series D in 2016
Mercari, Inc. is a marketplace application company that operates in Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Mercari enables individuals to buy and sell new and used items, including electronics, clothing, and various media such as books and CDs. It is recognized as the largest peer-to-peer selling platform in Japan, boasting over 22 million monthly active users and commanding more than 70% of the C2C marketplace app market. The company facilitates a mobile marketplace experience, allowing users to safely sell and ship their items, and has seen over 100 million downloads of its app. In addition to its marketplace operations, Mercari is involved in the development of internet services and has a domestic fintech business. The majority of its gross merchandise value is generated from its Japanese operations, which account for over 95% of its total sales.

Tokyo Otaku Mode

Venture Round in 2015
Tokyo Otaku Mode Inc. is a platform dedicated to Japanese otaku culture, providing a wide array of content including news, event reports, and user-generated contributions related to anime, manga, and cosplay. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with a branch in Mitaka-shi, Japan, the company operates the website otakumode.com, which features English-language articles on otaku topics and showcases artwork and photos from fans. Tokyo Otaku Mode also supports creators by promoting their works globally, offering services such as English translation and international portfolios. In addition, the company runs an e-commerce site that facilitates access to Japanese pop culture merchandise for fans around the world, thereby bridging the gap between Japan's otaku goods and international enthusiasts. The brand enjoys a significant following, with over 10 million fans on its Facebook page, solidifying its position as a key player in the global dissemination of Japanese pop culture.

Uhuru

Corporate Round in 2015
Uhuru Corporation is a technology service company based in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in Internet of Things (IoT) products and solutions. Founded in 2006, Uhuru offers a comprehensive suite of services including IoT consulting, system integration, cloud development, and data analytics. The company provides tailored solutions for businesses, helping them to navigate digital transformation through effective marketing, consulting, and social media operations. It also develops cloud systems and integrates services for notable platforms such as Salesforce.com and Google App Engine. Overall, Uhuru aims to enhance organizational efficiency and drive innovation through its diverse technological offerings.

MonotaRO

Venture Round in 2001
MonotaRO Co. is a Japanese e-Commerce company of industrial supply products based in Hyogo, Japan.
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