Vertex Ventures Japan (VVJ) — part of the Vertex network — has launched its inaugural JPY10 billion fund Vertex Ventures Japan Fund I (VVJFI), anchored by Vertex Holdings, Temasek’s venture capital arm.
The fund focuses on investing in leading Japanese startups with high growth potential and strong underlying growth drivers.
VVJ was established to tap on early-stage investment opportunities in Japan, modelled after the success of its sister funds in China, Israel, Southeast Asia and India, as well as the US. These early-stage funds are independently managed by their respective general partners (GPs) which centre around different investment areas in their geographic regions.
VVJ is led by managing partner Takashi Tomita and GP Tomohiro Miyasaka, whose responsibilities focus on sourcing new investment opportunities, managing relationships with new and existing sources of capital, and leading growth efforts.
Concurrently, Vertex Holdings also announced that it will work with the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) and the UTokyo Innovation Platform Co within the sector of startup investments. This collaboration focuses on the promotion of human resource development and research cooperation to develop startups in Japan and Singapore.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has positioned this initiative as a central initiative of the “Japan-Singapore Co-Creation Platform”, which the two countries agreed to establish at the Japan-Singapore Public-Private Economic Dialogue held on April 17.
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VVJ is confident that by working closely with the METI, it will become a platform that promotes cross-border collaboration between industry, academia and government, fostering innovation and technological advancement as well as providing access to global markets.
The startup ecosystem in Japan provides many opportunities for growth, says Chua Kee Lock, CEO of Vertex Holdings.
He explains that Vertex Holdings recognises the strong market potential of technology companies in Japan which includes the areas of deeptech, digital transformation (DX), artificial intelligence and the creator economy.
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“Leveraging on our global network of venture capital funds, VVJ is well-positioned to support the development of Japan’s innovation ecosystem,” Chua adds.
