Vertex Ventures Japan announces first closing and strengthens leadership team
Vertex Ventures Japan (VVJ) has completed the first closing of its inaugural fund, Vertex Ventures Japan Fund I (“VVJFI”), targeting JPY 10bn. This milestone was achieved with the participation of LP investors representing key sectors across industry, government, and academia, with the support of government institutions. VVJ will commence investments to foster Japan’s next generation of global champions.
VVJ has strengthened its foundation to enable Japanese startups to access major global markets and accelerate their growth by welcoming Vertex Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, as its anchor investor.
VVJFI will focus on investments in high-growth sectors, including deep tech, AI, digital transformation (DX), and the creator economy. VVJ collaborates with innovation hubs in Southeast Asia, India, the US, Israel, and China, offering startups growth capital, international expansion support, and partnership opportunities with global enterprises.
Alongside launching its investment activities, VVJ has also strengthened their leadership team with two seasoned industry experts to support the creation of global leaders from Japan by connecting Japanese startups with global innovation hubs and enhancing access to capital, strategic partnerships, and business opportunities.
A Step Towards Creating Global Leaders from Japan
VVJ is committed to facilitating strategic partnerships between Japanese startups and key global market leaders, driving innovation and strengthening competitiveness.
For startups to scale successfully, access to capital alone is not enough. Collaboration with global market leaders through partnerships for market entry, technology integration, and business expansion is essential. The Vertex network of funds has leveraged its global investment network and deep understanding of emerging markets to nurture global leaders, including:
- Grab – Southeast Asian super-platform
- Waze – Israel-based navigation app acquired by Google
- Geek+ – Leading AI-driven logistics robotics company
- Horizon Robotics – Chinese autonomous driving technology company
VVJ utilizes Vertex Group’s global investment network and extensive industry connections to provide Japanese startups with direct access to extensive corporate networks.
Through the Vertex global platform, Japanese startups can access global innovation hubs in Southeast Asia, India, the US, Israel, and China to secure growth capital and expand business opportunities through collaborations with industry leaders.
Strengthening the Leadership Team – Investment Strategy Driven by Industry Experts
VVJ has strengthened its leadership team with two seasoned industry experts to drive its investment strategy:
- Naonori Kurokawa – A seasoned deep-tech investor with over 15 years of experience, has been appointed General Partner (GP).
- Akiko Kihara – A founding member of ZOZO, Kihara contributed to growing the company into a publicly listed firm with a market capitalization of JPY 1trn and has joined the team as a Venture Partner.
With this addition, VVJ will provide hands-on support to next-generation startups as a partner in capital allocation, business strategy, and market expansion.
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