Japan has long been known for world-class engineering and craftsmanship, but not for startups. Vertex Ventures Japan Managing Partner Takashi Tomita explains why that is changing, and why the convergence of government support, university innovation, foreign capital, and founder ambition makes 2026 a pivotal moment for Japan’s startup ecosystem.
UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC; President & CEO: Kosuke Ueda), based in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, announced today that it has made a limited partner (LP) investment in the “Vertex Ventures Japan Fund I,” managed by Vertex Ventures Japan (VVJ; headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Managing Partner: Takashi Tomita). The investment was made through the Academic Startup Acceleration Fund (ASA Fund), operated by UTokyo IPC with support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government under its startup strategy “Global Innovation with STARTUPS.”
株式会社OPERe（本社：東京都千代田区、代表取締役CEO：澤田 優香、読み方 オペリ、以下、OPERe）は、この度、プレシリーズAラウンドにおいて、ジャフコ グループ株式会社、DNX Ventures、Vertex Ventures Japanを引受先とする第三者割当増資により、総額４億円の資金調達を実施したことをお知らせいたします。
Vertex Ventures Japan is pleased to announce the completion of the first closing of its inaugural fund, Vertex Ventures Japan Fund I, targeting JPY 10 Billion. This milestone was achieved with the participation of LP investors representing key sectors across industry, government, and academia, with the support of government institutions. Vertex Ventures Japan will commence investments to foster Japan’s next generation of global champions.
Vertex Ventures Japan (Managing Partner: Takashi Tomita) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Kohei Terada, President of Warehouse TERRADA and Vice Chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (KEIZAI DOYUKAI), as Senior Advisor.
The flow of foreign investments into Japan may have slowed, but the weaker yen and reforms pushing Japanese conglomerates to divest non-core business assets may yet turn the tide. The weak yen is a draw for foreign investors looking to buy Japanese assets as they will fork out less foreign currency for their acquisitions. Chua Kee Lock (Group President & CEO of Vertex Holdings) and Takashi Tomita (Managing Partner of Vertex Ventures Japan) share their perspectives on the new fund in Japan.