Global Brain

Global Brain is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm founded in 1998, specializing in early-stage investments across various sectors, including e-commerce, software, gaming, media, IoT, education, entertainment, and fintech. The firm has expanded its investment activities to the US and Asia, targeting series A-stage technology companies. Since its inception, Global Brain has invested in approximately 30 companies, achieving seven initial public offerings and seven mergers and acquisitions. The firm supports its portfolio companies by providing not only capital but also strategic guidance, partnerships, and team-building resources to help them reach their milestones. Global Brain is particularly adept in e-commerce, operating a platform called EC-PLANET, which encompasses several group companies, including a large online sports goods store and a logistics firm offering comprehensive fulfillment services. This network, along with Global Brain's connections to established Japanese companies, facilitates market entry for US and Asian businesses into Japan.

Kaori Akiba

Principal, Corporate Management Group

Tatsunori Arai

Director, Investment Group

Megumi Asatsuma

Corporate Management Group, Director

Anjani Bansal

Partner, India Office Representative

Brooke Beers

Partner

Takuji Chida

Director, Investment Groups

Hogil Doh

General Partner, Investment Group

Thomas Duong

Principal

Brian Flucht

Partner and Head, US Division

Daisuke Furukawa

Venture Partner

Hajime Furuya

Venture Partner

Kenji Hayashi

Principal, Investment Group

Shohei Hayashi

Partner

Harue Hayashi

Partner and Vice Chief Fund Management Officer

Yosuke Hirai

Director

Joopyo Hong

Partner Investment Group

Naoki Horie

Principal, Investment Group

Jang Hyeokjin

Principal, Investment Group

Shohei Ichimiya

Partner, US Office

Nozomu Ikuta

Principal

Kotona Inaida

Director, Fund Management Group

Tomoaki Ishikure

Investment Group Partner

Yoshinari Ito

Venture Partner

Yuki Ito

Director

Hiroyuki Izumi

Partner, Investment Group

Ken Kajii

General Partner, Investment Group

Naoki Kamimaeda

Partner and Europe Division Head

Masaru Kaneshiro

Principal

Daisuke Kashiro

Partner, Investment Group

Kirin Kato

Principal

Takashi Kato

Partner, San Francisco Office Representative

Masaya Kawakami

Partner

Hiroyuki Kawamoto

Principal

Ko Kawaragi

Director

Maiko Kayata

Principal

ByeongJin Kim

Principal, Fund Management Group

Jungyong Kim

Principal, Investment Group

Riichiro Kimura Ph.D

Director, Investment Group

Kenta Kitsuka

General Partner

Issei Kokubu

Principal, Investment Group

Yoshiomi Kubota

Principal

Jinya Kurita

Director

KyungHun Lee

Partner, South Korea Office Representative

YingQi Liang(Joy)

Principal, Investment Group

Chukaku Lin

Principal

Atsushi Matsuda

Venture Partner

Akira Matsumoto

Principal, Investment Group

Natsumi Matsuoka

Principal

Hiroshi Mihayashi

Principal

Tomoko Minagawa

Director, Investment Group

Ai Minamizaki

Principal, Investment Group

Shigeru Mitarai

Principal

Kazuhiko Miyama

General Partner

Shuhei Mori

Principal

Seiichiro Mukai

Director

Satoko Murata

Principal, Investment Group

Kohtaro Nagawa

Director, Investment Group

Tasuke Nakagawa

Partner / M&A

Mitsutaka Nakao

Principal, Investment Group

Shien Nakayama

Director, Investment Group

Yuya Namiki

Director

Ying Jian Ng

Director, Investment Group

Daisuke Nishida

Partner, Investment Group

Akiko Noguchi

Director, Corporate Management Group

Rina Obi

Investment Director

Sho Ohtani

Principal, Investment Group

Tetsui Okada

Director, Investments Group

Mayu Okamoto

Principal

Akane Okuyama

Director

Shingo Otaki

Partner, Investment Group

Naoki Sadakuni

Venture Partner

Enen Sai

Principal, Fund Management Group

Kazuki Sakuragawa

Partner and Editor in Chief, Corporate Management Group

Masumi Sato

Principal

Naoki Sato

Principal, Investment Group

Tomoki Sekiguchi

Principal

Rie Shibata

Director, Fund Management Group

Takeru Shigemura

Director

Miku Shimamura

Principal

Hiroshi Shimazu

Managing Director

Masamune Shin

General Partner, Investment Group

Ayu Shinoyama

CFO and Board Member

Chisa Shinsakaue

Director

Divyansh Singh

Principal

Hiroto Sorita

Director, Investment Group

Sachiko Sugiura

Principal

Yusuke Suzuki

Partner

Kazumo Tachibana

Director

Mana Takabayashi

Director, Investment Group

Hiroki Takai

Director, Investment Group London Office

Toko Takao

Principal

Hideyuki Tanaka

Principal

Marika Tazaki

Partner

Hirotaka Togashi

Director, Investment Group

Haruka Tsujii

Principal

Atsushi Ueda

Principal, Investment Group

Takuya Ukai

Principal, Investment Group

Tetsuya Urimoto

Director, Investment Group

Noriko Usui

Partner and Chief Fund Management Officer

Keita Washizu

Principal

Hirokazu Watanabe

Partner

Keita Wazhizu

Principal, Investment Group

Masao Yamada

Senior Partner, Investment Groups

Kazunori Yamaguchi

Partner, Investment Group

Ryozo Yamamoto

Partner, Investment Group

Michiko Yamazaki

Principal, Investment Group

Isao Yasuda

Senior Partner

Takuro Yoda

Principal, Investment Group

Sayaka Yoshino

Director

Miku Yoshio

Partner, Investment Group

Yasuhiko Yurimoto

Founder and President and CEO & Board Member

Miyazawa Yusuke

Venture Partner

Lusheng Zou

Director, Investment Group

Past deals in Singapore

Docquity

Series C in 2022
Docquity Holdings PTE Limited is a Singapore-based company that has developed a mobile application designed for physicians to connect and share experiences in real time. Founded in 2013, the platform facilitates clinical discussions, continuing medical education, peer consultations, and medico-legal support in a secure environment. It provides doctors with access to real-world medical experiences and clinical cases, enabling them to engage with trusted peers while earning accredited continuing medical education credits from recognized medical institutions. By fostering a continual learning network, Docquity aims to enhance healthcare practices globally through collaboration and knowledge sharing among medical professionals.

iPrice Group

Venture Round in 2022
iPrice Group Sdn Bhd operates an e-commerce platform. The company offers electronics, clothing, shoes, bags, watches, jeweler, kids and toys, sports and outdoors, and home and living products. The company also provides products in various categories, such as kitchen and dining, cooling, women’s ethnic wear, skin care, men’s sneakers, strollers and carriers, makeup, backpacks, women’s dresses, accessories, food supplements, hair care, smartphones, LED, cases and covers, men’s shoes, gadgets, women’s heels, sport, fashion watches, travel, headphones, bedroom, casual, beauty and health, medical equipment, and cycling products. It serves clients in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

iPrice Group

Corporate Round in 2022
iPrice Group Sdn Bhd operates an e-commerce platform. The company offers electronics, clothing, shoes, bags, watches, jeweler, kids and toys, sports and outdoors, and home and living products. The company also provides products in various categories, such as kitchen and dining, cooling, women’s ethnic wear, skin care, men’s sneakers, strollers and carriers, makeup, backpacks, women’s dresses, accessories, food supplements, hair care, smartphones, LED, cases and covers, men’s shoes, gadgets, women’s heels, sport, fashion watches, travel, headphones, bedroom, casual, beauty and health, medical equipment, and cycling products. It serves clients in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

SWAT Mobility

Venture Round in 2021
SWAT Mobility’s vehicle-routing technology helps companies, transport operators and government agencies around the world solve complex transportation challenges. We are the first in Asia to run high-capacity vehicle pooling services that is both on-demand and dynamically-routed. We also have proven results in helping our clients reduce transportation costs, improve city connectivity and reduce traffic congestion woes. Our technology tops the industry Li & Lim's benchmark, and with our cutting-edge smart mobility optimisation engine, we are future-ready for the world of autonomous vehicles.

Railsr

Private Equity Round in 2020
Railsbank Technology Ltd is a London-based company that offers an open banking API and banking-as-a-service platform, enabling both regulated and unregulated businesses to access global banking solutions. Founded in 2016, the platform connects a network of partner banks with companies, allowing them to leverage wholesale banking services through a simplified integration process. Users can create bank accounts, manage transactions, issue cards, and handle various financial operations using a comprehensive set of APIs. Railsbank's services are designed to assist fintech companies and other businesses in developing, launching, and scaling financial products efficiently. With additional offices in Singapore, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, Railsbank is positioned to support a diverse range of clients in navigating the complexities of modern banking and compliance.

GeoSpock

Venture Round in 2020
GeoSpock Limited is a spatial big data platform company based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, with additional offices in Tokyo and Singapore. Founded in 2013, it specializes in developing a data indexing platform that provides analytics, visualization, and insights across various scales of data. The company offers products such as GeoSpock DB Discovery and GeoSpock DB Enterprise, which are cloud-based services designed to manage and analyze location-tagged information. These tools facilitate dynamic data fusion and enable users to perform complex queries for performance analytics. GeoSpock's platform can be utilized in a range of applications, from real-time tracking of logistics fleets to optimizing operations in smart cities, helping to uncover hidden patterns and improve decision-making. By harnessing trillions of data points in seconds, GeoSpock aims to transform business operations and contribute to sustainability efforts, such as reducing traffic congestion.

kompany

Venture Round in 2020
kompany is the RegTech platform for Global Business Verification and Business KYC providing the audit-proof, primary source, and time-stamped company information from 150+ jurisdictions in real-time. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has offices in Singapore and the UK. Since being founded in 2012, kompany has attracted a unique pool of top developers, regulatory experts, and product managers from around the world. It is a government licensed clearing house and official distributor for commercial and business registers in multiple countries worldwide.

Railsr

Series A in 2020
Railsbank Technology Ltd is a London-based company that offers an open banking API and banking-as-a-service platform, enabling both regulated and unregulated businesses to access global banking solutions. Founded in 2016, the platform connects a network of partner banks with companies, allowing them to leverage wholesale banking services through a simplified integration process. Users can create bank accounts, manage transactions, issue cards, and handle various financial operations using a comprehensive set of APIs. Railsbank's services are designed to assist fintech companies and other businesses in developing, launching, and scaling financial products efficiently. With additional offices in Singapore, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, Railsbank is positioned to support a diverse range of clients in navigating the complexities of modern banking and compliance.

ViSenze

Series C in 2019
ViSenze Pte. Ltd. is an artificial intelligence company specializing in visual technology software tailored for e-commerce and digital businesses. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Singapore, with additional offices in San Francisco, London, New Delhi, and Beijing, the company offers ViSearch, a cloud-based tool that enables users to identify and search for images and products. Leveraging advancements in machine learning and computer vision, ViSenze provides solutions that allow online shoppers to find visually similar items through user-uploaded images or during their browsing experience on e-commerce platforms. The company's offerings extend to software development kits (SDKs) and a dashboard user interface for organizing search results, making their technology adaptable for web, mobile, and social media environments. ViSenze originated as a spin-off from NExT, a prominent research center established by the National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University. It has received investments from notable firms such as Rakuten Ventures, Walden International, and UOB Venture Management.

GeoSpock

Series B in 2019
GeoSpock Limited is a spatial big data platform company based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, with additional offices in Tokyo and Singapore. Founded in 2013, it specializes in developing a data indexing platform that provides analytics, visualization, and insights across various scales of data. The company offers products such as GeoSpock DB Discovery and GeoSpock DB Enterprise, which are cloud-based services designed to manage and analyze location-tagged information. These tools facilitate dynamic data fusion and enable users to perform complex queries for performance analytics. GeoSpock's platform can be utilized in a range of applications, from real-time tracking of logistics fleets to optimizing operations in smart cities, helping to uncover hidden patterns and improve decision-making. By harnessing trillions of data points in seconds, GeoSpock aims to transform business operations and contribute to sustainability efforts, such as reducing traffic congestion.

Perlin

Venture Round in 2018
Perlin is a Singapore-based company that specializes in developing decentralized enterprise tools and network platforms aimed at enhancing global digital economies and marketplaces. Founded in 2018, Perlin has created WAVELET, a scalable decentralized distributed ledger designed for both consumers and commercial enterprises. This platform includes several applications, such as PERLIN CLARIFY for value chain traceability, PERLIN CERTIFY for product authentication, and PERLIN CUMULUS, which offers decentralized cloud computing services. The company collaborates with organizations like the ICC to promote the use of distributed ledger technologies, aiming to foster efficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability across various industries.

OPN

Series B in 2018
SYNQA is a holding company founded in 2015 with expertise in Asia. SYNQA specializes in online payment, blockchain technology for fintech, and digital transformation. SYNQA connects people, businesses and society in innovative ways that spread the wealth of financial opportunity and provide fair and open access to a growing economic ecosystem.

UnaBiz

Series A in 2018
UnaBiz Pte Ltd is an Internet of Things (IoT) solutions company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Singapore, with an additional office in Taipei, Taiwan. The company specializes in providing low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) services, notably through its partnership with SIGFOX. UnaBiz offers a range of affordable, energy-efficient products, including wireless infrastructure, IoT devices, and solutions for various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, utilities, and building management. Its offerings encompass product design, manufacturing, and consulting services, enabling clients to implement solutions for smart metering, asset management, and tracking. The company has established itself as a key player in the IoT ecosystem, operating in 28 countries and focusing on scalability and ease of deployment in its solutions. UnaBiz has received ISO 9001:2015 certification for its design and connectivity services, further underscoring its commitment to quality and innovation in the IoT landscape.

GeoSpock

Series A in 2018
GeoSpock Limited is a spatial big data platform company based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, with additional offices in Tokyo and Singapore. Founded in 2013, it specializes in developing a data indexing platform that provides analytics, visualization, and insights across various scales of data. The company offers products such as GeoSpock DB Discovery and GeoSpock DB Enterprise, which are cloud-based services designed to manage and analyze location-tagged information. These tools facilitate dynamic data fusion and enable users to perform complex queries for performance analytics. GeoSpock's platform can be utilized in a range of applications, from real-time tracking of logistics fleets to optimizing operations in smart cities, helping to uncover hidden patterns and improve decision-making. By harnessing trillions of data points in seconds, GeoSpock aims to transform business operations and contribute to sustainability efforts, such as reducing traffic congestion.

Digix

Seed Round in 2017
Digix is a smart asset company that uses Blockchain technology to represent physical gold with tokens. Digix aims to build stronghold of real-world assets represented as tokens on Blockchain. It was founded in 2014 and is based in Singapore, Central Region.

Bluzelle

Series A in 2017
Bluzelle Networks Inc. specializes in developing a decentralized, blockchain-based database platform that addresses data storage and management challenges for decentralized applications. By distributing data across multiple nodes rather than relying on a centralized cloud system, the platform enhances security, scalability, and availability. It allows individuals to rent out their computer storage, earning tokens, while decentralized application developers use these tokens for data management. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Singapore, with an additional office in Vancouver, Canada, Bluzelle serves a diverse clientele ranging from small and medium enterprises to global corporations, providing a fully integrated stack of blockchain applications, middleware, and data services tailored to meet various business needs.

Eyeota

Series A in 2016
Eyeota Pte Ltd is an audience technology platform that specializes in providing audience data to advertisers, publishers, and data suppliers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Singapore, with additional offices in major cities such as Berlin, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, and New York, Eyeota enables clients to effectively reach their target online audiences, reducing campaign inefficiencies and enhancing monetization strategies. The company's technology collects, analyzes, and activates audience data, allowing organizations to make informed business decisions and improve their marketing approaches. By offering distinct and comprehensive audience insights, Eyeota helps brands connect with their audiences and maximize revenue potential.

Arcstone

Seed Round in 2015
Arcstone Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-based company that specializes in developing and marketing manufacturing software solutions. Founded in 2013, it offers a comprehensive platform known as the Arcstone Operations Platform (arc.ops), which integrates various data streams from IoT sensors, machines, ERPs, and workstation tablets. This platform enables manufacturers to monitor, track, visualize, and control production operations, facilitating both automated and manual processes in manufacturing, machine maintenance, and warehousing. By operationalizing data, Arcstone empowers facility managers to enhance visibility and control, leading to significant cost reductions and quality improvements across the manufacturing supply chain. The company also has a presence in India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, highlighting its regional commitment to optimizing operational efficiency.

Eyeota

Venture Round in 2015
Eyeota Pte Ltd is an audience technology platform that specializes in providing audience data to advertisers, publishers, and data suppliers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Singapore, with additional offices in major cities such as Berlin, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, and New York, Eyeota enables clients to effectively reach their target online audiences, reducing campaign inefficiencies and enhancing monetization strategies. The company's technology collects, analyzes, and activates audience data, allowing organizations to make informed business decisions and improve their marketing approaches. By offering distinct and comprehensive audience insights, Eyeota helps brands connect with their audiences and maximize revenue potential.

Near Pte.

Series B in 2014
Near Pte. Ltd. operates a location-based intelligence platform that delivers real-time insights on places, people, and products. It offers various data and analytical products designed to support data-driven decision-making, such as Allspark, a mobile-first audience cloud solution, and Carbon, which analyzes real-world consumer footprints. The platform processes data from over 1.6 billion monthly users across 44 countries, enabling brands to engage with audiences in a privacy-centric manner. Near serves diverse industries, including automobile, fast food, retail, FMCG, BFSI, technology, travel, and telecommunications. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Singapore, Near has expanded with offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Bengaluru, Tokyo, and Sydney. The company collaborates with notable brands such as News Corp, MetLife, and Mastercard, enhancing their customer experiences through its suite of SaaS products.

Near Pte.

Venture Round in 2014
Near Pte. Ltd. operates a location-based intelligence platform that delivers real-time insights on places, people, and products. It offers various data and analytical products designed to support data-driven decision-making, such as Allspark, a mobile-first audience cloud solution, and Carbon, which analyzes real-world consumer footprints. The platform processes data from over 1.6 billion monthly users across 44 countries, enabling brands to engage with audiences in a privacy-centric manner. Near serves diverse industries, including automobile, fast food, retail, FMCG, BFSI, technology, travel, and telecommunications. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Singapore, Near has expanded with offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Bengaluru, Tokyo, and Sydney. The company collaborates with notable brands such as News Corp, MetLife, and Mastercard, enhancing their customer experiences through its suite of SaaS products.

Luxola

Venture Round in 2014
Luxola Pte Ltd is an online retailer based in Singapore, specializing in a wide range of cosmetic and skincare products. Founded in 2011, Luxola has emerged as a prominent destination for beauty in Southeast Asia, offering over 4,000 products from more than 250 brands, including exclusive offerings. The company's extensive product range includes face, eye, and lip makeup, as well as skincare and hair care items, anti-aging solutions, and baby care products. Additionally, Luxola provides tools and accessories, ensuring a comprehensive shopping experience for both men and women. The platform emphasizes customer education by offering product reviews and 'how-to' advice tailored to various skin types. Luxola also engages its audience through LX Edit, a digital lifestyle magazine that features insights on makeup, skincare, and fashion trends. In 2015, Luxola became a subsidiary of Sephora Singapore Pte. Ltd., further enhancing its market presence.

Between

Series C in 2014
VCNC Inc., also known as Value Creators & Company, is a mobile application provider focused on enhancing social relationships. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with additional offices in Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok, and Singapore, the company developed Between, a mobile app designed specifically for couples. This application allows users to communicate privately, track important dates like anniversaries, share photos and videos, and collaborate on plans in a secure environment. VCNC aims to leverage mobile technology to create meaningful connections in the offline world, thereby enriching personal relationships.

Luxola

Series B in 2014
Luxola Pte Ltd is an online retailer based in Singapore, specializing in a wide range of cosmetic and skincare products. Founded in 2011, Luxola has emerged as a prominent destination for beauty in Southeast Asia, offering over 4,000 products from more than 250 brands, including exclusive offerings. The company's extensive product range includes face, eye, and lip makeup, as well as skincare and hair care items, anti-aging solutions, and baby care products. Additionally, Luxola provides tools and accessories, ensuring a comprehensive shopping experience for both men and women. The platform emphasizes customer education by offering product reviews and 'how-to' advice tailored to various skin types. Luxola also engages its audience through LX Edit, a digital lifestyle magazine that features insights on makeup, skincare, and fashion trends. In 2015, Luxola became a subsidiary of Sephora Singapore Pte. Ltd., further enhancing its market presence.

5Rocks

Seed Round in 2013
5Rocks is a Korean startup that specializes in mobile game analytics, offering a service designed to help game developers understand user behavior through segment-specific analysis. This detailed approach allows developers to tailor their games and marketing strategies based on the unique characteristics of different game types. Founded in September 2010, 5Rocks gained recognition for its technical capabilities and has attracted significant investment, including 2.55 billion KRW from Global Brain in 2013. With approximately 450 clients across various countries, including South Korea, Japan, the United States, and several others, the company aims to expand its presence further, particularly in the U.S. market. 5Rocks also raised 2 billion KRW in a Series A funding round in 2011 to support its growth.

5Rocks

Venture Round in 2013
5Rocks is a Korean startup that specializes in mobile game analytics, offering a service designed to help game developers understand user behavior through segment-specific analysis. This detailed approach allows developers to tailor their games and marketing strategies based on the unique characteristics of different game types. Founded in September 2010, 5Rocks gained recognition for its technical capabilities and has attracted significant investment, including 2.55 billion KRW from Global Brain in 2013. With approximately 450 clients across various countries, including South Korea, Japan, the United States, and several others, the company aims to expand its presence further, particularly in the U.S. market. 5Rocks also raised 2 billion KRW in a Series A funding round in 2011 to support its growth.

GENIEE

Seed Round in 2011
A member of SoftBank Group, GENIEE (TSE6562) is a public global AdTech/MarTech company listed in Tokyo stock exchange market. Geniee helps to maximize your Ad Revenue with High-end Technology. As a member of SoftBank Group, GENIEE and SoftBank Group are working closely together to lead the Digital Advertising and Marketing Technology and the further Global Expansion.
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