Vertex Ventures Japan (VVJ) on Friday announced the launch of its 10 billion yen ($64 million) debut fund, which is anchored by Singapore-based Vertex Holdings.
VVJ is part of the Vertex family of funds that operate in China, Israel, Southeast Asia and India, as well as the US. Each fund is independently managed and focuses on different investment areas within its respective region.
VVJ said that its inaugural fund would leverage Vertex’s global venture capital network and invest in early-stage, high-growth Japanese startups. The fund will be led by managing partner Takashi Tomita and general partner Tomohiro Miyasaka.
“The startup ecosystem in Japan is a vibrant and dynamic one which presents many opportunities for growth. We believe in the strong market potential of technology companies in Japan such as in the areas of Deeptech, Digital Transformation (DX), AI and the creator economy. Vertex Ventures Japan’s inaugural fund will be well placed to capture the opportunities ahead,” said Vertex Holdings CEO Chua Kee Lock in a statement.
Vertex Holdings has also forged a partnership with the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) and the UTokyo Innovation Platform Co (UTokyo IPC) to promote human resource development and research, and develop startup ecosystems in Japan and Singapore. The initiative is supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
“VVJ aspires to be an innovation platform for cross-border collaborations between industry, government, and academia players. The innovation platform aims to facilitate collaborations between companies, universities, the central government of Japan and local governments in Japan to accelerate the growth of startups and create the next generation of industry champions,” said managing partner Takashi Tomita.
Singapore-based Vertex Holdings, a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, manages over $6 billion in assets. It provides funding and operational support to a global platform of venture capital funds across markets.
The Vertex network includes funds focused on early-stage technology, healthcare opportunities, and growth-stage investments, with over 300 active portfolio companies worldwide.