2080 Ventures · Investor guides
12 Early Stage VC firms in Japan
Compare 12 Early Stage VC firms in Japan, including First Light Capital, Global Brain Corporation, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital. Explore focus areas, stages and published contacts with 2080 Ventures.
Most frequent stage tags in this selection: Early Stage (12), Late Stage (9), Seed (9). These counts describe this directory, not total market activity.
Compare Early Stage VC firms in Japan
Use this comparison to check fit before contacting a firm. Country tags describe reported locations or country-list membership; they do not establish where a firm is willing to invest.
| Firm | Location | Focus | Stage | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 First Light Capital | Japan | Not listed | Early Stage | firstlight-cap.com |
 Global Brain Corporation | Japan | AI & ML, Audio Technology, Consumer, Enterprise | Early Stage, Late Stage, Pre-Seed, Seed | globalbrains.com |
 Mitsubishi UFJ Capital | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed | mucap.co.jp |
 Z Venture Capital | Japan | Enterprise, Fintech, Marketplace, SaaS | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed | zvc.vc |
 Delight Ventures | Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage | delight-ventures.com |
 Genesia Ventures | Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage, Seed | genesiaventures.com |
 JIC Venture Growth Investments | Marunouchi, Tokyo, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed | j-vgi.co.jp |
 Nissay Capital | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed | nissay-cap.co.jp |
 NTT DOCOMO Ventures | Minato, Chiba, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage, Late Stage, Private Equity, Seed | nttdocomo-v.com |
 SBI Investment | Minato, Chiba, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed | sbinvestment.co.jp |
 SMBC Venture Capital | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed | smbc-vc.co.jp |
 Mizuho Capital | Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan | Not listed | Early Stage, Late Stage | mizuho-vc.co.jp |
Build an outreach list that fits your company
Confirm how the firm defines Early Stage and what traction, round size, and ownership it expects. Labels vary, so discuss the specific funding requirement rather than relying only on a stage tag.
For Japan, confirm location eligibility before preparing a full pitch: where must the company be incorporated, where should the team operate, and does the investor back companies expanding into the market? A local office alone does not answer those questions.
- Check the mandate. Confirm sector, stage, geography, check size, and whether the firm leads or follows rounds.
- Find the relevant partner. Read current team profiles and recent investments before asking for an introduction.
- Make the fit specific. Explain your product, customer evidence, round size, and why this firm is a match.
- Use the correct submission route. A general office contact may not accept investment pitches. Look for a current pitch form or a partner’s published instructions.
Keep exploring
97 VC firms in Japan
9 Enterprise VC firms in Japan
9 Late Stage VC firms in Japan
15 Seed VC firms in Japan
906 Early Stage VC firms
17 Early Stage VC firms in Australia
How these guides are compiled. Directory labels may include source-list classifications. Confirm current activity and investment preferences directly with the firm.