- Vertex Ventures Japan launches $64M fund for Japanese startups.
- Fund focuses on deep tech, AI, creator economy.
- It partners with University of Tokyo to boost startup ecosystem.
Yen for innovation
Vertex Ventures Japan (VVJ) unveils its inaugural fund, the Vertex Ventures Japan Fund I, anchored by Vertex Holdings and valued at an impressive 10 billion yen (US$64.2 million).
This fund targets early-stage Japanese startups, leveraging Vertex’s global venture capital presence spanning China, Israel, Southeast Asia, India, and the US.
The launch of this new fund coincides with the recent $541 million raise by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India for its fifth fund in September 2023.
While independently managed, these funds share a common goal: fueling innovation across diverse industries.
Tomodachi tech trailblazers
VVJ’s focus areas include deep tech, digital transformation, AI, and the creator economy.
Led by Managing Partner Takashi Tomita and General Partner Tomohiro Miyasaka, the team will scout for promising investments and cultivate relationships with new and existing capital sources.
In a strategic move, Vertex Holdings has partnered with the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) and UTokyo IPC to bolster startup investment, human resource development, and R&D initiatives within the Japanese and Singaporean startup ecosystems.
This collaboration aligns with the Japanese government’s increasing support for startups, as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged “bold investments” into areas like “startups, innovation, and decarbonization” in December 2022.
To read the original article: https://www.techinasia.com/vertex-ventures-japan-presents-jpy-10bn-fund-japanese-startups
