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Top VCs for Japanese startups

Updated 23 Oct 2026

922
Startups in Japan with investors recorded
130
VCs backing 3 or more
43 / 50
Of the top list based in Japan
VC firms by startups backed in Japan, ten largestMitsubishi UFJ Capital117SMBC Venture Capital113Mizuho Capital98Global Brain Corporation96SBI Investment59ANRI56East Ventures56Incubate Fund52JAFCO43Nissay Capital38
Figure 1. VC firms by startups backed in Japan, ten largest. Source: FundingWatcher. Data as of 23 October 2026. Base: 922.

Venture capital firms

#InvestorBased in StartupsSince 2024Best-funded companies
1 Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Tokyo, Japan 117 66 LayerX, LegalOn Technologies, Enechain
2 SMBC Venture Capital Tokyo, Japan 113 54 NOT A HOTEL, LegalOn Technologies, Newmo
3 Mizuho Capital Tokyo, Japan 98 46 LayerX, Telexistence, Newmo
4 Global Brain Corporation Tokyo, Japan 96 41 Gojo & Company, Telexistence, Newmo
5 SBI Investment Minato, Japan 59 21 Mujin, Gojo & Company, Freee
6 ANRI Tokyo, Japan 56 33 NOT A HOTEL, LayerX, dinii
7 East Ventures 56 25 Paytner, Elephantech, Shippio
8 Incubate Fund Tokyo, Japan 52 25 Paytner, Sharing Energy, Pale Blue
9 JAFCO Tokyo, Japan 43 17 Gojo & Company, LegalOn Technologies, Atama plus
10 Nissay Capital Tokyo, Japan 38 18 ElevationSpace, Aillis, Medley
11 DNX Ventures San Mateo, United States 37 17 Facilo, Diggle, Resilire
12 MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE Venture Capital (MSIVC) Tokyo, Japan 35 19 Pale Blue, Aillis, Miresso
13 ANOBAKA Shibuya, Japan 32 17 Piazza, Compass, Superworm
14 Genesia Ventures Shibuya, Japan 29 16 ElevationSpace, Miresso, MOSH Japan
15 Salesforce Ventures San Francisco, United States 22 5 Freee, Knowledge Work, Helpfeel
16 Coral Capital Tokyo, Japan 21 11 Facilo, Hacomono, Dioseve
17 Globis Capital Partners Tokyo, Japan 18 7 Knowledge Work, Facilo, Ascend
18 XTech Ventures Tokyo, Japan 17 9 Creator's X, Nulab, Yondemy
19 Energy & Environment Investment Higashi-shinagawa, Japan 17 8 Sharing Energy, T2, Shippio
20 Delight Ventures Shibuya, Japan 16 11 Shippio, Ababa, Tensor Energy
21 Archetype Ventures Tokyo, Japan 16 8 Diggle, Dioseve, Resilire
22 UTEC - The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners Tokyo, Japan 16 6 Mujin, Forest, Triorb
23 Spiral Capital Tokyo, Japan 15 9 Shippio, Restore Vision, Dioseve
24 World Innovation Lab Palo Alto, United States 15 7 LegalOn Technologies, Open8, PeopleX
25 Monex Ventures Minato, Japan 15 3 Compass, Lebo Robotics, STUDIO
26 STRIVE Tokyo, Japan 14 4 Gaudiy, Candee, Resilire
27 Nippon Venture Capital Tokyo, Japan 14 3 Magic Moment, Cranebio, Arsaga Partners
28 W ventures Berlin, Germany 13 9 Indent, Tradom, Yondemy
29 Miraidoa Kyoto, Japan 13 5 HACARUS, Ababa, YeLL
30 Daiwa Corporate Investment Tokyo, Japan 13 4 Spectronix, Lisse, TopoLogic
31 FFG Venture Business Partners Fukuoka, Japan 12 9 ElevationSpace, Tensor Energy, QibiTech
32 Headline Asia (formerly Infinity Ventures) Tokyo, Japan 12 7 Infobox, STRACT, Driver Technologies
33 F Ventures Fukuoka, Japan 12 6 Yondemy, Rezon, Blankr
34 D4V Minato, Japan 12 5 MTU, Shinsekai Technologies, Yondemy
35 DCM Ventures Menlo Park, United States 12 3 Freee, Enechain, Atama plus
36 GMO VenturePartners Tokyo, Japan 11 6 NOT A HOTEL, Newmo, Hacomono
37 Angel Bridge Nagatacho, Japan 10 6 Facilo, PeopleX, Canary
38 MIRAISE Tokyo, Japan 10 6 SUSHI TOP MARKETING, Yuurea, Spiral
39 Mobile Internet Capital Tokyo, Japan 10 6 SecureNavi, Ken Robotec, Varytex
40 Resona Capital Koto, Japan 9 6 HACARUS, Ken Robotec, TechMagic
41 PE&HR Tokyo, Japan 9 5 Astra Food Plan, Meme, Best Beer Japan
42 ITOCHU Technology Ventures Tokyo, Japan 9 3 Simplex Quantum, Quollio Technologies, KAICO
43 B Dash Ventures Tokyo, Japan 9 1 Ascend, Fixx, Atta
44 Gazelle Capital Saint Petersburg, United States 8 7 Marsdy, MTU, DrumRole Co
45 Keio Innovation Initiative Tokyo, Japan 8 7 Nanofiber Quantum Technologies, ElleThermo, Skygate Technologies
46 GREE Ventures Tokyo, Japan 8 6 Infobox, Shinsekai Technologies, Trailblaze Asset Management
47 NES Venture Capital Tokyo, Japan 8 6 Shinsekai Technologies, Varytex, Yadokari
48 Money Forward Venture Partners Tokyo, Japan 8 5 Brave group, Thinkr, Manpuku Holdings
49 Resona Bank Osaka, Japan 8 5 Forest, X Mile, Spectee
50 Yokohama Capital Yokohama, Japan 8 4 Gexval, EV Motors Japan, Al Travel

Venture capital firms by startups in Japan in their portfolio. Source: FundingWatcher. Data as of 23 October 2026. Base: 922 startups.

Accelerators, incubators and public funders

#InvestorTypeBased in StartupsSince 2024
1 CyberAgent Capital Startup accelerator, Venture capital firm Shibuya, Japan 32 7
2 Skyland Ventures Startup incubator, Venture capital firm Tokyo, Japan 25 11
3 Deepcore Startup incubator, Venture capital firm Tokyo, Japan 20 9
4 DBJ Capital Government investment office, Venture capital firm Otemachi, Japan 18 9
5 Samurai Incubate Startup incubator, Venture capital firm Tokyo, Japan 17 6
6 500 Global Startup accelerator, Micro VC fund, Venture capital firm Palo Alto, United States 14 3
7 NTT DOCOMO Ventures Startup accelerator, Corporate venture arm, Startup incubator, Venture capital firm Minato, Japan 14 3
8 UTokyo Innovation Platform Startup accelerator, Startup incubator, Venture capital firm Tokyo, Japan 13 8
9 Beyond Next Ventures Startup accelerator, Startup incubator, Venture capital firm Tokyo, Japan 10 8
10 Lifetime Ventures Startup incubator, University program, Venture capital firm Yokohama, Japan 10 2
11 DG VENTURES Corporate venture arm, Fund of funds, Startup incubator, Secondary purchaser, Venture capital firm Tokyo, Japan 10 0
12 G-STARTUP Startup accelerator Tokyo, Japan 9 3
13 i-nest capital Startup incubator Tokyo, Japan 8 2
14 Open Network Lab Startup accelerator, Startup incubator Tokyo, Japan 7 1
15 DG Incubation Startup incubator Tokyo, Japan 5 5
16 Plug and Play Startup accelerator, Co-working space, University program, Venture capital firm Sunnyvale, United States 5 3
17 Kusabi Startup accelerator, Venture capital firm Kayabacho, Japan 4 4
18 Japan startup support Association Startup accelerator, Venture capital firm Ikeda, Japan 4 3
19 MetaProp Startup accelerator, Venture capital firm New York, United States 3 3
20 HAKOBUNE Startup incubator, Venture capital firm Tokyo, Japan 3 2

Accelerators, incubators and government investors by startups in Japan. Source: FundingWatcher. Data as of 23 October 2026. Base: 922 startups.

Method

A startup counts for an investor when the investor is among the investors recorded for the company across all its rounds. The startups are companies headquartered in Japan whose most recent round is pre-seed, seed, angel or Series A through J. "Since 2024" counts the companies whose most recent round is dated 1 January 2024 or later. Venture capital firms are investors typed as venture capital or micro VC and not also as accelerator, incubator or government office. An investor needs 3 companies to be ranked. Ties go to the higher count since 2024. Best-funded companies are the three with the most total funding.

Other countries

United States3,096 China574 United Kingdom438 Germany303 India263 Canada227 France219 Israel168 Singapore166 South Korea137 Brazil111 Australia102 Spain84 The Netherlands78 Switzerland66 Mexico54 Indonesia47 Poland45 Sweden44 United Arab Emirates40 Turkey40 Italy36 Finland36 Denmark31 Saudi Arabia28 Belgium26
Cite: FundingWatcher, top vcs for japanese startups, 23 October 2026. https://fundingwatcher.com/investors/top/japan/