# Top 50 Mobile Apps Startup Investors in Japan in May 2026 ## UB Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 5 - Stages: Seed, Series B - Focus: Information Technology, Software, Task Management UB Ventures is venture capital firm. ## East Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 4 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, E-Commerce East Ventures is an early stage venture capital (VC) focused on Southeast Asia, Indonesia & Japan. Success cases include Tokopedia, Traveloka, and Mercari. ## Genesia Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Information Technology, Software, Content Genesia Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on seed/early-stage startups in Japan and Southeast Asia. ## Incubate Fund - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Information Technology, E-Commerce Incubate Fund is an independent early-stage venture capital that specializes in providing capital to technology startups at the seed stage. The firm built a portfolio of over 300 companies in Asia, taking 12 companies to public and 20 companies to M&A exit since 2010. ## Monex Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Minato, Chiba, Japan - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Software, Financial Services, Information Technology Monex Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Japan that finances seed and early stage investments in startup companies. ## Nissay Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Health Care, Internet, Medical Nissay Capital is a venture capital Company specializing in seed, start-up, growth capital, middle stage, and later stage investment. ## Ayataro Nakagawa - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Internet, Software, Information Technology 2011 At university, participated in the founding period as a director of Atcole Co., Ltd., and started the web service experience.2012 Founded Peroli Co., Ltd., which operates a curation platform for women "MERY" .2014 Founded Peroli Co., Ltd. Sold to DeNA 2015 Jointly established Tokyo Founders Fund as an angel investor and startedinvesting in startups in Japan and overseas 2019 Appointed outside director of FIREBUG Co., Ltd. ## Kotaro Chiba - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Internet, Drones, Software Kotaro Chiba is the founder of ChibaDojo Fund. Kotaro Chiba attended Keio University. ## F Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Internet, Information Technology, Human Resources F Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Japan. ## Mitsubishi UFJ Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series B, Series A - Focus: Software, Health Care, Information Technology Mitsubishi UFJ Capital is a venture capital firm focusing on life science, ICT, and high technology investments. ## Komura Fujio - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Content, Ethereum, Marketing Komura Fujio ## Takashi Shibayama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Music, EBooks, Gaming Takashi Shibayama ## YJ Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Software, Information Technology, Internet YJ Capital is a Corporate Venture Capital of Yahoo Japan. Our value is to help global minded entrepreneurs build successful and lasting internet companies. We invest in all stages, all sectors in Asia, US and Israel.YJ Capital has a unique access to Yahoo Japan's operational experience and unparalleled Japan market entry support. Oursole LP allows us to focus only on our portfolio companies and make fast decision making. ## Future Venture Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Information Technology, Manufacturing, Health Care Future Venture Capital Co., Ltd. is a venture capital firm specializing in early stage investment. The firm invests in diversified investment in a broad range of industrial sectors. It seeks to invest in Japan. The firm prefers to be the lead investor in its portfolio companies. Future Venture Capital Co., Ltd. was founded in 1998 and is based inKyoto, Japan with offices in Tokyo, Aomori, Iwate, Yamagata, Kanazawa, Mie, Sakai, Kobe, and Ehime. ## Soichiro Kawai - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Media and Entertainment, Information Technology, Internet Soichiro Kawai - CEO @ ReBoost ## Beenos Partners - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: E-Commerce, Internet, Mobile Beenos is a platform for startups. Our in-house team of entrepreneurs-in-residence and specialists help you get your ideas off the ground. We’re (the) experts in engineering, design, data science, and business management. We know how to launch a company in this ever changing IT industry, and we’d like to help establish and expand your present andfuture business.The company was founded in 1999 as NetPrice.com, a provider of eCommerce services. NetPrice.com established Beenos as an incubation program before ## Ceres - Type: VC Fund - Location: Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Corporate Round - Focus: Cryptocurrency, Content, Internet Ceres is a company providing internet marketing services and is engaged in the planning, development, and operation of smartphone media. ## Masahiko Inada - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Angel, Seed - Focus: SNS, Content, Finance Masahiko Inada is the Venture Advisor at DNX Ventures. He was Founder and Chairman at Kabuku Inc. He attended The University of Tokyo. ## SMBC Venture Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Health Care, Information Technology, Software Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and its group companies offer a broad range of financial services centered on banking. They are also engaged in the leasing, securities, credit card, investment, mortgage securitization, venture capital and other credit related businesses. The following lists the activities of SMBC, its subsidiaries andaffiliates in the various business segments. ## Venture United - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Internet, Software, Information Technology Venture United is a provider of venture capital for entrepreneurs, especially for internet-related businesses. ## DBJ Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Otemachi, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Series A, Seed - Focus: Software, Internet, Biotechnology DBJ Capital Co., Ltd. was founded in June 2010 through the integration of two venture capital firms of the DBJ Group, New Business Investment Co., Ltd. and Intellectual Properties Development & Investment, Inc. We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Development Bank of Japan Inc.At DBJ Capital, we focus on venture firms which use newtechnologies and business models to grow and compete on the global market, regardless of their industry or scale. To meet the particular needs of each client, we mobilize the entire DBJ Group to arrange the best investment solutions, ranging from growth-spurring equity investment to financing schemes drawing on DBJ's vast networks.We also assist in venture start-ups. Our value enhancement team provides the kind of comprehensive, hands-on support needed to commercialize outstanding intellectual property and technologies developed by firms, research labs, and universities, and to carve out a place for them in the market.DBJ Capital will continue to play in a part in Japan's economic revival - by helping the firms we invest in to grow, and by encouraging the creation of new industries in Japan. ## Yusuke Tanaka - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Tourism, Consulting, E-Commerce "Shin"ichiro joined Yahoo Japan in April 2013. From July 2013, he joined YJ Capital. He has served as COO of YJ Capital since January 2015. Prior to Yahoo! Japan, Shin was General Director of Dream Incubator Vietnam from 2007 to 2012, managing US$50 million private equity funds in Vietnam. He was formerly a Project Manager at DreamIncubator Japan. He started his career at Future Architect as a system engineer.Shin received his bachelor's degree in Policy Management from Keio University. ## Yusuke Sato - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Internet, Content, Food and Beverage Yusuke Sato is the Co-Representative and Co-Founder at Pulit. ## MUFG Bank - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Debt Financing, Series A - Focus: Financial Services, Energy, Renewable Energy MUFG Bank is Japan's largest bank. ; MUFG ## ANRI - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Health Care, Software, Information Technology ANRI is a Japanese venture capital firm that mainly invests in seed and early-stage startups. ## Toru Shimada - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Task Management, Manufacturing, Content Toru Shimada is a Senior Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten. Mr. Shimada is a Director of Rakuten Baseball, Inc., and Head of Asia Regional Headquarters Office of the Company.Mr. Shimada joined Rakuten in 2004. Prior to joining Rakuten, Mr. Shimada was founder and Director of INTELLIGENCE, LTD from 1989 to 2004. Prior to INTELLIGENCE, LTD.Mr. Shimada worked at RECRUIT CO., LTD. from 1987 to 1989. ## Investo - Type: VC Fund - Location: Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Angel - Focus: E-Commerce, Internet, Software Investo is a seed capital firm that invests both financial and intellectual capital in technology startups. The firm offers founders 24/7 access to advice and helps scale businesses, as well as provide key talent that may be needed. Inveseto provides guidance, talent and capital so game-changing companies can scale. ## KLab Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Internet, Video, UX Design Since 2009, with the rapid spread of social media, smartphones, and cloud computing, new internet services and software technologies are appearing faster than ever. In addition to this, we believe the current economic environment is more and more supportive of venture capital firms investing in the creation of new businesses. This is where KLabVentures Inc. comes in, bearing a proud lineage from two premier firms at the forefront of the modern world--KLab Inc. and SBI Investment Co., Ltd.KLab Inc., founded in 2000, is a firm commanding an impressive wealth of technical expertise, amassed from years of successful research and development. This innovation, used in tandem with proven business-building strategies, has allowed KLab Inc. to rise to the vanguard in its specialty fields of social media, cloud computing, licensing, and systems integration--all areas possessing a natural synergy. Together with SBI Investment Co., Ltd.--which since its founding in 1996 has overseen investment in about 700 domestic and foreign companies, and IPO and M&A exits of about 120 companies--KLab Ventures Inc. was founded.We are here to support venture enterprises seeking to become global leaders in cutting-edge internet fields, as well as other venture firms with expectations of significant growth, helping them to realize their potential to mature, succeed, and pioneer. Such is our mission at KLab Ventures. ## CJ ENM - Type: VC Fund - Location: Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Corporate Round - Focus: Software, 3D Technology, Digital Media CJ ENM is a Korean entertainment and mass media company. ## Shoji Kodama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series B - Focus: Real Estate, Internet, Construction Shoji Kodama - President @ Laxus Technologies ## giftee - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Debt Financing - Focus: Marketing, Internet, CRM giftee is an online service where you can send a small 'thank you' through small gifts by twitter and email. Supported by Open Network Lab. ## Angel Bridge - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Medical, Nursing and Residential Care, Consulting Angel Bridge is a angel investor groups in Japan and provide high quality and abundant funds to excellent companies. ## Masaru Tange - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Internet, E-Commerce, SaaS Masaru Tange graduated from Kyoto University and joined Incs Inc. in 2000 where he started their IT business and strategy consulting group with only 2 members and developed it into the company's main business with a team of 140 consultants with annual revenue of $50M in 5 years. He then founded SHIFT Inc in 2005 in his studio apartment. He wasthe only employee. The business world wasn't very kind to him - he made no revenue for a while but he kept experimenting with the business model listening to the needs of customers. In 2009, he finally found traction in the "software testing industry." In 2014, Masaru successfully IPO'ed the company. Shift now has 500 employees. ## DD Holdings Venture Capital - Type: VC Fund - Location: Minato, Chiba, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A - Focus: Content, Ethereum, Education DD Holdings Venture Capital is the investment arm of DD Holdings, a restaurant and amusement brand. ## ITOCHU Technology Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Series A - Focus: E-Commerce, Software, Information Technology ITOCHU Technology Ventures (ITV), based in Tokyo, is the venture capital arm of ITOCHU Corporation. ITOCHU is one of the world's largest corporations with offices in over 80 countries and operations that cover a broad spectrum of industries. ITV's mission is to invest and help build leading information technology companies by leveraging avast array of resources both domestically and internationally throughout ITOCHU and its group companies. The ITOCHU group has a long history of funding information technology companies with successes including Siebel Systems, NVIDIA, Openwave and Aruba Networks. Current portfolio includes, Box, Fab, Ooyala, WHILL, Tokyo Otaku Mode, etc. ## MTG Ventures - Type: VC Fund - Location: Nagoya, Aichi, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Marketing, Media and Entertainment, Food and Beverage MTG Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of MTG that invests in beauty and wellness tech, food tech, and sports tech sectors. ## Singapore Angel Network - Type: VC Fund - Location: Singapore, Central Region, Singapore - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: E-Commerce, Software, Health Care SGAN is an early stage VC anchored by the multi billion dollar Thakral Group of Companies and has investments across India, Singapore and the USA. ## Shintaro Yamada - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed - Focus: Internet, Finance, Information Technology During his years at Waseda University, Shintaro worked at Japan’s biggest e-commerce mall, Rakuten, Inc. On August 1st 2001, Shintaro established “Unoh Inc.” after graduating university. At Unoh he was responsible for designing and developing several web services, one of which was the online magazine subscription . Services provided by Unohinclude planning, development and management of the film enthusiast community site “Movie Life” (acquired by PIA Corporation) as well as “Sugu.CC” , “NeoAd” (both acquired by GMOAP) and the photo sharing site “Photozou” (acquired by Digital Garage).In 2009 Unoh entered into social gaming, creating multiple successful social games. Among these games, “Machitsuku!” has been its biggest hit with over 5 million users. On August 3rd 2010, Unoh joined Zynga and Shintaro became General Manager of Zynga Japan. He resigned on January 2012. After traveling around the world, He established the new company “Mercari, Inc.” on February 2013 and released the resale shopping app “Mercari” on July 2013 in Japan.He is a true Internet geek, spending a lot of time on the Internet and boasts around 180,000 followers on Twitter. ## Nobuyuki Nakagawa - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Angel - Focus: Apps, Mobile, Mobile Apps Nobuyuki Nakagawa - President and CEO @ Mynavi ## Line Games - Type: VC Fund - Location: Seocho, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A - Focus: Gaming, PC Games, Mobile Apps Only Fun, LINE Games ## Mirai Creation Fund - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Series A - Focus: Robotics, Information Technology, Software The Mirai Creation Fund invests in companies and projects that use the latest technologies and business models, supporting the growth of value in these companies and projects, wherever they are found around the world. ## Masao Ito - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel - Focus: Content, Social Media, Information Technology Masao Ito is a Founder & CEO at User Local. ## NOW Japan - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Content, Marketing, Information Technology Next One for the World. ## Sansei Capital Investment - Type: VC Fund - Location: Koto, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Content, Software, Medical Sansei Capital provides portfolio management, corporate management support, and financing services. ## Naver Webtoon - Type: VC Fund - Location: Seongnam, Kyonggi-do, South Korea - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Comics, Digital Entertainment, Media and Entertainment Naver Webtoon specializes in content research and development, design, business support, and technology services. ## Globis Capital Partners - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Series B - Focus: Internet, Information Technology, Software Globis Capital Partners (GCP) is one of Japan's leading venture capital firms. With its unique combination of local business presence through Globis Group and the experience of Western VC experience, GCP has set new VC standards in Japan, with hands-on, and in-depth industry expertise. ## JA Mitsui Leasing - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Manufacturing, Agriculture, Robotics JA Mitsui Leasing is a leasing company combining the features of an organization linked to an affiliate. ## Shinsegae - Type: VC Fund - Location: Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A - Focus: Apps, Mobile, Messaging In 1930, Shinsegae, the first department store of Korea, brought light to the history of distribution industry in Korea. With a dream toward the new world and passion for customers, the Main Store has been the symbol and confidence of Shinsegae pursuing to create a better world. Since then, Shinsegae has been continuously creating values in theireveryday life as a leader to modernize the distribution industry of Korea. Throught these efforts, Shinsegae is continuouly developing the new world of distribution.From Shinsegae and E-mart, the first department store and discount store of Korea, to premium outlets… Over the past 80 years, Shinsegae has been leading the affluent living culture of Korea by ceaselessly striving to advance in the distribution industry. The path Shinsegae has been pursuing is indeed the history and traditional of distribution indistry in Korea. Now, Shinsegae is creating a happy world through continuous value creation for customers and new attempts that take the world by surprise. ## SoftBank Group - Type: VC Fund - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series A, Series D - Focus: E-Commerce, Internet, Mobile SoftBank Group Corp. (Chairman & CEO: Masayoshi Son) Corporate and IR site provides company information such as our company profile, an overview of the company and Group companies, as well as IR and CSR. ## YG PLUS - Type: VC Fund - Location: Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Series A, Series C - Focus: Apps, Software, Media and Entertainment YG PLUS is an investment platform that develops YG's capabilities into the concept of entertainment content and lifestyle to create a valuable business for the people around the world. Making valuable changes in life is the ultimate goal of the YG family. # About Shizune Shizune.co is an investor database. Core features: - 48,091 startup investors (angels, VCs, accelerators, and others) - Email, phone, LinkedIn (for intros), socials, and other contact data - Updated daily from public funding news - CSV and Excel export The User can access the full database FOR FREE after signing up: shizune.co