Sony

Sony Group Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a multinational conglomerate engaged in the design, development, production, and sale of electronic equipment and devices. Its diverse portfolio spans six major business segments, including consumer electronics, gaming, devices and semiconductors, entertainment content, and financial services. Sony is renowned for its iconic brands such as Walkman, Vaio, Xperia, Cybershot, Alpha, and PlayStation. Additionally, Sony Innovation Fund, established in 2016, serves as the company's corporate venture capital arm, investing in and collaborating with early-stage startups across various technology sectors to foster innovation and business creation.

Antonio Avitabile

Managing Director

Roberta Ferrari

Investor

Kazuhito Hadano

CEO

Tiffany Huang

Investor

Farrukh Hussain

Investor

Mahesh Kumar

Investor

Costantino Mariella

Investor

Austin Noronha

Managing Director

Aadit Parikh

Investor

Namita Raichura

Investor

Satoko Suenaga

Investor

Chieko Tazuke

Investor

Joseph Tou

Managing Director

Emily (Goldberg) Tseng

Investor

Moto Tsuchikawa

Chief Investment Manager

Gen Tsuchikawa

Investor

Atsuto Ueno

Investor

Andrew Yi

Senior Associate

Kenichiro Yoshida

CEO

De Zhang

Investor

Timo Kilp

Investment Professional

Past deals in Japan

Pictoria

Series A in 2024
Pictoria Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the production of events and virtual reality content. The company manages a diverse range of entertainment events, including traditional talk events and those utilizing advanced technologies such as 3D motion capture. Pictoria operates an innovative entertainment platform that focuses on virtual services, including the development of a virtual YouTuber business featuring patented characters. This platform aims to create new methods of communication, effectively connecting the virtual and real worlds for its users.

Pafin

Venture Round in 2023
Pafin, formerly known as Cryptact Ltd, is a technology company based in Shinjuku, Japan, that focuses on providing a comprehensive platform for individual investors in the cryptocurrency space. Founded in 2018, the company specializes in profit and loss calculation, tax assistance, and financial management tools tailored for cryptocurrency portfolios. By leveraging advanced technology, Pafin aims to enhance investment and asset management activities, offering users valuable insights and support for managing their virtual currency investments effectively.

FLUX

Series B in 2023
FLUX Inc. is a company based in Shibuya-ku, Japan, that specializes in developing digital marketing solutions to enhance online business performance. Founded in 2018, FLUX offers a range of products, including the FLUX Header Bidding Solution, which fosters fair competition among advertisers and boosts advertising revenue. Additionally, the company provides FLUX LTV Analytics, a tool that utilizes customer data and advanced statistical methods to predict customer lifetime value. FLUX also features a Digital Experience Platform (DXP) that personalizes and optimizes the digital customer experience through its proprietary digital identification technology, enabling businesses to engage effectively across various digital touchpoints.

Techtouch

Series B in 2023
Techtouch, Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in developing an intuitive website user manual called TechTouch. The company's software enhances system education for employees, supports burden reduction, and promotes system utilization by overlaying explanation guidance on existing web systems. This is achieved through a plug-in introduced on the web browser side and JavaScript on the server-side. Techtouch's platform minimizes operational stress by displaying real-time navigation directly on the screen of running web systems, enabling businesses to handle complex operations accurately and efficiently.

Ac-Planta

Seed Round in 2022
Ac-Planta Inc. is a biotechnology research company based in Bunkyo, Japan, specializing in the development of acetic acid-based biostimulants and agrochemicals. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on creating innovative solutions to enhance the resilience of plants against environmental stressors such as heat, drought, and salinity. Its flagship product, Skeepon, leverages advanced epigenetic technology to promote plant adaptability in response to climate change challenges. Ac-Planta's mission is to address pressing global food and environmental issues by improving crop yields and quality while combating desertification and mitigating the impacts of abnormal weather patterns on agriculture.

Metcela

Series C in 2022
Metcela is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Kawasaki, Japan, developing fibroblast-based therapies for heart disease. Its approach uses VCAM-1–positive cardiac fibroblasts derived from a patient’s own heart to repair damaged tissue and reestablish a supportive microenvironment, rather than replacing cells. The lead program, MTC001, aims to restore heart function by promoting natural healing in preclinical studies. Metcela was founded in 2016.

Ac-Planta

Venture Round in 2022
Ac-Planta Inc. is a biotechnology research company based in Bunkyo, Japan, specializing in the development of acetic acid-based biostimulants and agrochemicals. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on creating innovative solutions to enhance the resilience of plants against environmental stressors such as heat, drought, and salinity. Its flagship product, Skeepon, leverages advanced epigenetic technology to promote plant adaptability in response to climate change challenges. Ac-Planta's mission is to address pressing global food and environmental issues by improving crop yields and quality while combating desertification and mitigating the impacts of abnormal weather patterns on agriculture.

AdInte

Venture Round in 2022
AdInte Co., Ltd. is a company based in Kyoto, Japan, that specializes in developing an advertising delivery platform tailored for smartphone advertising. Founded in 2009, AdInte offers a range of services including demand side platform (DSP) advertising, web marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and the management of a dental job site. The company also provides original ad network solutions and website creation services. With a focus on mobile internet, AdInte serves clients in both Japan and South Korea, delivering online and online-to-offline (O2O) advertising solutions.

Smart119

Series B in 2021
Smart119 Inc. is a Chiba, Japan-based company founded in 2018, focused on enhancing emergency and critical care through advanced technology, including computer science and artificial intelligence. The company develops and operates acute medical systems, providing a platform designed for efficient patient information collection, processing, and sharing in emergency medical situations. One of its key projects, SmartDR, facilitates communication between medical staff during disasters by managing emergency contacts and gathering status updates. Smart119's healthcare platform incorporates various features such as an emergency medical support dashboard, history management, disaster crisis management, and research result sharing, aimed at assisting healthcare institutions, government bodies, medical offices, and laboratories in addressing challenges in medical care and on-site operations.

Koala Tech

Venture Round in 2021
Koala Tech Inc. is a high-tech startup based in Fukuoka, Japan, founded in 2019. The company specializes in the development of organic semiconductor laser diodes, a pioneering technology that emerged from research at the Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics Research at Kyushu University. Koala Tech's innovative approach utilizes organic fluorescent semiconductors, which are easier and less harmful to process into thin films. This technology offers a low-cost light source that can be seamlessly integrated into OLED and organic electronic platforms, aiming to create practical applications for these advanced laser diodes.

SORACOM

Venture Round in 2021
SORACOM is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in providing an Internet of Things (IoT) platform designed to facilitate data communication for IoT and M2M (machine-to-machine) devices. The platform leverages scalable cloud technologies running on Amazon Web Services, enabling IoT solution developers to efficiently deploy and enhance their services while accommodating a variety of needs through flexible and customizable options. SORACOM enhances the security and reliability of data transfer across numerous devices and custom protocols, significantly reducing both time-to-market and costs associated with IoT services. Key offerings include SORACOM Air, which provides mobile data communication for IoT devices through its "Air SIM," allowing users to manage settings and monitor data traffic via a web console or API. Additionally, SORACOM Beam enables secure offloading of data from IoT devices to the cloud, ensuring high encryption and remote management capabilities without direct Internet exposure. Since its official launch in September 2015, SORACOM has positioned itself as a comprehensive provider of IoT solutions.

Ubitus

Venture Round in 2021
Founded in 2013, Ubitus specializes in deploying cloud-enabled rich media services. It offers a leading cloud gaming solution for major game companies and telecom service providers worldwide. Additionally, it streams metaverse content across multiple devices for platform operators and digital content developers.

Metcela

Series B in 2021
Metcela is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Kawasaki, Japan, developing fibroblast-based therapies for heart disease. Its approach uses VCAM-1–positive cardiac fibroblasts derived from a patient’s own heart to repair damaged tissue and reestablish a supportive microenvironment, rather than replacing cells. The lead program, MTC001, aims to restore heart function by promoting natural healing in preclinical studies. Metcela was founded in 2016.

Monozukuri Ventures

Funding Round in 2020
Monozukuri Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2015, with locations in Kyoto, Japan, and New York City. It specializes in supporting early-stage hardware startups in the United States and Japan by providing essential resources such as investment, mentorship, prototyping expertise, and manufacturing knowledge. The firm is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs to bring high-quality products to market and emphasizes the importance of Monozukuri, the art of making things creatively, which blends traditional manufacturing practices with modern innovation. Monozukuri Ventures focuses on a range of sectors, including manufacturing technology, artificial intelligence, clean energy, healthcare, and more, fostering a collaborative environment to help startups achieve product-market fit and sustainable growth. Through its commitment to building a global ecosystem, Monozukuri Ventures aims to enable diverse talents to develop tangible solutions for a better future.

KAKEHASHI

Venture Round in 2020
KAKEHASHI Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2016 that specializes in developing software as a service (SaaS) applications tailored for health insurance claim and drug history management, specifically designed for dispensing pharmacists using iPads. The company's mission is to bridge the gap between medical treatment and patients, aiming to enhance the healthcare landscape in Japan, which is known for its advanced medical technology and systems. As Japan faces a rapidly aging population, with projections indicating that by 2060, a significant portion of the population will be over 65, KAKEHASHI is committed to innovating healthcare solutions that support and improve the quality of life for this demographic, thereby contributing to the future of medical care in the country.

Metcela

Series B in 2020
Metcela is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Kawasaki, Japan, developing fibroblast-based therapies for heart disease. Its approach uses VCAM-1–positive cardiac fibroblasts derived from a patient’s own heart to repair damaged tissue and reestablish a supportive microenvironment, rather than replacing cells. The lead program, MTC001, aims to restore heart function by promoting natural healing in preclinical studies. Metcela was founded in 2016.

Koala Tech

Venture Round in 2020
Koala Tech Inc. is a high-tech startup based in Fukuoka, Japan, founded in 2019. The company specializes in the development of organic semiconductor laser diodes, a pioneering technology that emerged from research at the Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics Research at Kyushu University. Koala Tech's innovative approach utilizes organic fluorescent semiconductors, which are easier and less harmful to process into thin films. This technology offers a low-cost light source that can be seamlessly integrated into OLED and organic electronic platforms, aiming to create practical applications for these advanced laser diodes.

minma

Venture Round in 2020
Minma, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in January 2011 that focuses on the development and operation of online marketplaces. It operates Curama, a peer-to-peer platform that connects users with local services and jobs. Through this innovative marketplace, Minma facilitates the exchange of services, allowing individuals to offer and find various local solutions efficiently.

Aroma Bit

Venture Round in 2019
Aroma Bit, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company specializing in the development, production, and sales of electronic equipment and systems, with a focus on compact odor imaging sensors. The company aims to enhance the understanding and utility of scents by creating innovative products and services that digitize olfactory experiences. Aroma Bit's technology allows for the conversion of various odors into visualized patterns, enabling the collection of digital olfactory data. This capability assists businesses in detecting ingredients in food samples and aids care providers in identifying diseases across diverse applications. Through its pioneering approach, Aroma Bit seeks to elevate the significance of olfactory information in various sectors.

AI Medical Service

Series B in 2019
AI Medical Service Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, focuses on the development of artificial intelligence technologies aimed at enhancing endoscopic medical care. The company specializes in creating extensive training data to analyze endoscopic images, which assists endoscopists in diagnosing conditions within the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. By integrating the expertise of Japanese endoscopic specialists, AI Medical Service aims to support safe clinical practices while ensuring that the final diagnosis remains in the hands of medical professionals rather than the software. This innovative approach seeks to improve the efficiency and accuracy of endoscopic procedures worldwide.

Idein

Venture Round in 2019
Founded in 2015, Idein develops a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that enables users to create their own Internet of Things (IoT) systems with advanced artificial intelligence analysis. Its platform offers features such as dashboard, SDK, and marketplace.

Connected Robotics

Series A in 2019
Connected Robotics Inc., founded in 2014 and based in Koganei-shi, Japan, specializes in designing and manufacturing robotic arms for enterprises. Their flagship product, OctoChef, is a cooking robot designed to address labor shortages in the restaurant industry. Utilizing artificial intelligence, image processing, and robot control technologies, OctoChef aims to enhance efficiency and worker satisfaction by automating kitchen tasks. The company serves a variety of clients, including individual restaurants, shopping malls, stations, service areas, amusement centers, and large-scale events, providing fun and healthy meal options while contributing to societal improvements.

Midokura

Acquisition in 2019
Midokura is a subsidiary of Sony Group with offices in Tokyo and Barcelona, specializing in cloud networking solutions. The company develops a platform that facilitates the deployment and management of AI workloads on edge devices and complex distributed systems, utilizing AI accelerators. Midokura's offerings include overlay network virtualization software that allows clients to create isolated networks in software while integrating with existing hardware infrastructure. The platform provides comprehensive operational tools, including advanced analytics and visualization capabilities, to enable data-driven monitoring and control over virtual networking environments. Through its Software as a Service (SaaS) model, Midokura aims to enhance the management of IoT devices and cloud resources, streamlining the process for businesses looking to leverage advanced networking technologies.

Linc'well

Seed Round in 2019
Linc'well Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a healthcare technology company that develops a software as a service (SaaS) platform tailored for the healthcare industry. The platform offers various digital services including web inquiries, call handling, payment processing, electronic medical records management, and other digitization solutions. Additionally, Linc'well provides clinic operation and management support through its brand CLINIC FORE, along with online support services such as medical supplement subscriptions. These offerings are designed to enhance the efficiency of healthcare institutions and clinics by improving operational processes and patient experiences.

Sight Machine

Series C in 2019
Sight Machine is a manufacturing analytics company that provides a data platform and AI-driven analytics for discrete and process manufacturing. The platform enables real-time visibility and actionable insights for every machine, line, and plant through a Plant Digital Twin and supports multi-factory IoT data ingestion via edge and cloud components, along with a Manufacturing Data Platform and vertical solutions for industries such as paper, packaging, and chemicals. It integrates data from historians, RDBMS, MES, ERP, inspection and quality equipment, PLC endpoints, and spreadsheets. Serving Global 500 manufacturers across aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, electronics, food and beverage, industrials, oil and gas, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, Sight Machine was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Ann Arbor, Tokyo, and Taichung. The company uses AI and machine learning to continuously analyze assets, data sources, and processes from machine to enterprise to improve profitability, productivity, and sustainability.

Trustdock

Series B in 2019
Trustdock Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in developing an identity verification platform. The company offers an identity confirmation API service that enables businesses to outsource Know Your Customer (KYC) processes and comply with various regulatory requirements, including laws related to criminal profit transfer prevention and cell phone fraud. Trustdock's platform is versatile and can be integrated with any ID service, making it suitable for a wide range of industries, including FinTech and shared economy sectors. Through its e-KYC and identity confirmation tools, Trustdock facilitates secure and trusted business relationships by providing services such as personal number acquisition, risk assessment, and mailing, allowing individuals and organizations to authenticate digital identities efficiently and effectively.

Aroma Bit

Series A in 2019
Aroma Bit, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company specializing in the development, production, and sales of electronic equipment and systems, with a focus on compact odor imaging sensors. The company aims to enhance the understanding and utility of scents by creating innovative products and services that digitize olfactory experiences. Aroma Bit's technology allows for the conversion of various odors into visualized patterns, enabling the collection of digital olfactory data. This capability assists businesses in detecting ingredients in food samples and aids care providers in identifying diseases across diverse applications. Through its pioneering approach, Aroma Bit seeks to elevate the significance of olfactory information in various sectors.

Digital Grid

Venture Round in 2019
Founded in 2013, Digital Grid operates a platform facilitating retail electricity supply contracts, targeting non-electrified areas and off-grid communities, primarily in Africa. It offers fee-based charging services through local kiosks for electronic devices, along with rental rechargeable devices and leasing instruments such as solar panels and batteries.

Digital Grid

Venture Round in 2019
Founded in 2013, Digital Grid operates a platform facilitating retail electricity supply contracts, targeting non-electrified areas and off-grid communities, primarily in Africa. It offers fee-based charging services through local kiosks for electronic devices, along with rental rechargeable devices and leasing instruments such as solar panels and batteries.

Metcela

Series A in 2018
Metcela is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Kawasaki, Japan, developing fibroblast-based therapies for heart disease. Its approach uses VCAM-1–positive cardiac fibroblasts derived from a patient’s own heart to repair damaged tissue and reestablish a supportive microenvironment, rather than replacing cells. The lead program, MTC001, aims to restore heart function by promoting natural healing in preclinical studies. Metcela was founded in 2016.

Rapyuta Robotics

Series A in 2018
Rapyuta Robotics Co., Ltd. is a technology company founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan, with additional offices in Zurich, Switzerland, and India. The company specializes in developing cloud-connected multi-robotic systems primarily for security and inspection markets. Rapyuta Robotics offers a platform that enables businesses to deploy and manage various robotic solutions without requiring in-house expertise. By integrating robot hardware, software, sensor data, and applications in the cloud, the platform streamlines the management of robotic systems, allowing users to focus on their core business processes. This innovative approach leverages advanced control research and artificial intelligence technology to create a coordinated robotics ecosystem, reducing the complexity and risks associated with deploying and interfacing with robotic systems. With a workforce of about 90 employees, Rapyuta Robotics aims to make robotics more accessible and efficient for organizations across the globe.

Caulis

Series A in 2018
Caulis Inc. is a cybersecurity company based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2015. It specializes in developing an open security platform designed to detect fraud and identity theft through the analysis of users’ online behavior. The platform incorporates a risk detection engine that safeguards users from unauthorized access and malicious activities. Caulis provides cloud-based fraud detection services tailored for corporate clients, which include features such as unauthorized access detection and anti-phishing measures. The company employs advanced technologies to automatically identify and register phishing sites with major browsing services. Additionally, Caulis monitors account resale information across various platforms, keeping clients informed through daily email notifications regarding account purchase activities.

WAmazing

Venture Round in 2017
WAmazing is a Tokyo-based travel technology company that serves foreign visitors to Japan by combining mobile connectivity, content, and booking services. The company provides free SIM cards to allow travelers to register before arrival and offers an app with up to 500MB of complimentary internet access, reducing barriers created by Japanese signup pages. It also operates an online travel booking platform with a multilingual tourist guide, delivering reservations information and tourism content through smartphones. WAmazing supports local governments and tourism associations with tourism consulting and inbound marketing services for domestic partners, helping them reach inbound visitors. Founded in 2016, WAmazing integrates mobility, information, and reservations to simplify travel in Japan.

Caulis

Seed Round in 2017
Caulis Inc. is a cybersecurity company based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2015. It specializes in developing an open security platform designed to detect fraud and identity theft through the analysis of users’ online behavior. The platform incorporates a risk detection engine that safeguards users from unauthorized access and malicious activities. Caulis provides cloud-based fraud detection services tailored for corporate clients, which include features such as unauthorized access detection and anti-phishing measures. The company employs advanced technologies to automatically identify and register phishing sites with major browsing services. Additionally, Caulis monitors account resale information across various platforms, keeping clients informed through daily email notifications regarding account purchase activities.

SmartDrive Systems

Series B in 2017
Founded in 2004, SmartDrive Systems provides driver safety and fuel management solutions for commercial fleets worldwide. Its core offerings include SmartDrive Safety (video-based driver coaching), SmartDrive Fuel (fuel performance analytics), SmartIQ (real-time actionable fleet data), and SmartRecorder (event recording system). The company employs over 400 people globally, with headquarters in San Diego, California.

H2L

Seed Round in 2017
H2L Inc. is a Tokyo-based company focused on researching and developing electric stimulation devices that enhance human interaction with virtual environments. Founded in 2012, H2L creates innovative technologies aimed at expanding human capabilities. Its flagship products include UnlimitedHand, a virtual reality gaming controller that utilizes electronic muscle stimulation to interpret hand gestures and enable users to interact with virtual objects, and PossessedHand, a device equipped with a forearm belt that stimulates the muscles to control finger movements for applications in rehabilitation and learning support. The company aims to enrich user experiences in virtual and augmented reality by providing tactile feedback and measuring muscle movements, allowing users to engage more fully with digital experiences.

ZMP

Corporate Round in 2015
Founded in Tokyo, Japan in 2001, ZMP specializes in developing humanoid robots and robotics. It offers products such as autonomous driving development tools, robotic camera solutions, sensors, and data loggers. The company also provides automatic operation technology for advanced driver assistance systems and supports logistics and research robots.

Sony Mobile Communications

Acquisition in 2012
Sony Mobile Communications, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, is a telecommunications equipment manufacturer based in Tokyo, Japan. Established in 2001, the company is renowned for its Xperia brand, which encompasses a diverse portfolio of high-end smartphones, tablets, smart wear, and accessories. By leveraging Sony's innovative technology and design expertise, Sony Mobile aims to enhance the everyday experiences of consumers through premium mobile devices that emphasize entertainment and connectivity. The company is committed to delivering cutting-edge products that reflect the quality and reliability associated with the Sony brand.

ArrayComm

Venture Round in 2000
ArrayComm LLC specializes in designing and developing baseband processing software for wireless infrastructure and client device applications. The company provides advanced multi-antenna signal processing solutions, including software for LTE and WiMAX, aimed at enhancing end-user experiences and improving the economics of radio networks. Its flagship offerings, such as BasePort and A-MAS, focus on optimizing coverage, data rates, and system capacities through technologies like MIMO, beamforming, and interference cancellation. ArrayComm's software is implemented globally across various networks, including W-CDMA, HSDPA, and GSM, serving a wide range of subscribers in markets such as the United States, China, and Japan. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Grand Forks, North Dakota, ArrayComm operates as a subsidiary of Ygomi LLC.

Gaudiy

Founded in Tokyo, Japan in 2018, Gaudiy specializes in application development and consulting services leveraging blockchain technology. Its flagship product, Gaudiy Fanlink, is a Web3-era fan platform that maximizes fan engagement through NFTs and distributed ID technologies.
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