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 AgTech

Elephantech

Series D in 2023
Elephantech Inc., founded in January 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan, focuses on innovating the manufacturing of electronic circuits. The company seeks to revolutionize this field by employing inkjet printing technology, which allows for the precise application of metal only where needed, in contrast to traditional photolithography methods that waste materials and increase costs. This novel approach not only reduces the quantity of materials used but also minimizes the number of manufacturing processes, resulting in a significant cost reduction of up to 80% for prototype production. Elephantech's technology is particularly advantageous for on-demand manufacturing, making it an appealing option for small-batch production without the need for substantial initial investment. With a commitment to enhancing global manufacturing capabilities, Elephantech aims to lead the industry with its advanced techniques for producing printed wiring boards.

Estate Technologies

Series B in 2022
Estate Technologies Inc. operates a sophisticated platform that analyzes real estate price, life, and risk from a multi-layered perspective. Founded in 2019 and based in Tokyo, Japan, the company offers tools such as the Dr. Asset Checker, which provides real-time property value analysis, and the Dr. Asset Recommender, which suggests potential property purchases. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the platform collects data on comparable properties by considering factors like room size, proximity to transit, and property age, allowing users to derive objective and detailed insights from extensive property data. In addition to its analytical tools, Estate Technologies provides information system design, development, and consulting services that integrate IT technology with real estate expertise.

Mazin

Series A in 2022
Provider of research and development of smart factory system services intended to solve the shortage of technicians. The company specializes in the use of artificial intelligence that automates machining operations and the development of industrial IoT service that measures the conversion of factories, enabling factories to function efficiently.

Gaudiy

Series B in 2022
Gaudiy Inc. provides application development and consulting services through block chain technology. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Ac-Planta

Venture Round in 2022
Ac-Planta Inc. is an agricultural biotechnology company based in Bunkyo, Japan, established in 2018. The company focuses on researching, manufacturing, and selling acetic acid-based biostimulants and agrochemicals designed to protect plants from adverse environmental conditions such as heat, drought, and salt damage. Among its product offerings is Skeepon, which caters to turf, agriculture, and home garden plants. Ac-Planta aims to address global food and environmental challenges by enhancing crop yields and quality, thereby contributing to solutions for food shortages and decreased agricultural production caused by climate change and abnormal weather patterns.

Sayurbox

Series C in 2022
SayurBox, PT operates a platform that allows customers to buy pesticide-free vegetables through farm-to-table concept. Its platform allows users to choose organic, hydroponic, pesticide-free, and chemical-free produce in various categories, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, herbs and seasonings, protein food, and ready to consume; click-to-harvest on the produce and adjust quantity; and select delivery date. The company sources and delivers the produce directly from local farmers to customers in DKI Jakarta and South Tangerang areas. SayurBox, PT was founded in 2016 and is based in Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia.

Sayurbox

Corporate Round in 2021
SayurBox, PT operates a platform that allows customers to buy pesticide-free vegetables through farm-to-table concept. Its platform allows users to choose organic, hydroponic, pesticide-free, and chemical-free produce in various categories, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, herbs and seasonings, protein food, and ready to consume; click-to-harvest on the produce and adjust quantity; and select delivery date. The company sources and delivers the produce directly from local farmers to customers in DKI Jakarta and South Tangerang areas. SayurBox, PT was founded in 2016 and is based in Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia.

Agrimedia

Venture Round in 2021
Agrimedia Corp., founded in 2011 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, focuses on connecting urban residents with idle farmland in suburban areas. The company offers field rental services that allow individuals to engage with agriculture, addressing the challenges posed by the aging farming population and the underutilization of farmland. By facilitating access to these spaces, Agrimedia enables city dwellers to own and operate farms, thereby promoting the regeneration of neglected agricultural land and enhancing community involvement in farming activities.

Terrace Mile

Series A in 2021
terasumile inc. offers cloud services for business management in agriculture called RightARM. The company enables work recording, document creation, and provides data analysis. The company caters to municipalities, regional trading companies, financial institutions, and agricultural corporations. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Miyazaki, Japan.

GITAI

Series B in 2021
GITAI Inc. is a Tokyo-based robotics company that specializes in manufacturing humanoid telepresence robots aimed at enhancing space exploration and development. Founded in 2016, GITAI develops a range of robots including the G1, a general-purpose robot designed for task automation internally and externally on space stations and lunar bases; the S1, which focuses on automating specific tasks in similar environments; and the H1, a robot manipulation system that allows for teleoperation of robots working in space. The company's technology enables remote control of robots, facilitating long-duration tasks in low Earth orbit while alleviating the workload on human astronauts, thereby reducing operational costs and improving efficiency in space missions.

Aroma Bit

Venture Round in 2021
Aroma Bit, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that focuses on the development, production, and sales of electronic equipment, specifically compact odor imaging sensors. Recognizing the importance of the olfactory sense, which is frequently overlooked, Aroma Bit aims to capture and analyze scents through its innovative sensor technology. The company not only creates these advanced sensors but also develops unique services and products that utilize them, addressing the challenges of describing and understanding aromas in everyday life.

kikitori

Seed Round in 2021
kikitori Co., Ltd. develops a platform that connects producers and consumers for food distribution. The company, through its platform, connects consumers with organic farmers. The company offers bando, an application that helps in daily collection and sales of material, order of material, and creation of related documents for transactions without using telephone, fax, and handwriting. The company also owns and operates fruit and vegetable stores. The company sells its products online and through the stores. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Tokyo, Japan

Agri Info Design

Venture Round in 2020
Agri Info Design, LTD. operates as an agricultural IT / ICT startup company that develops driving support application. It offers applications, including AgrIBus-NAVI, AgrIBus-Web, AgIBus-GMInIR, AgrIBus-G2, and AgrIBus-Autosteer. The company also manufactures and sells aftermarket agricultural equipment. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Obihiro, Japan.

Gtriip

Series B in 2020
GTRIIP is a digital identity platform for global citizens. Its products use machine learning to verify photo IDs automatically, and biometric sensors on smartphones to identify owners for contactless check-in and access at commercial properties. GTRIIP serves 25,000 rooms and access points of customer hotels and offices, and is backed by Global Brain, KDDI Open Innovation Fund, Keppel Corporation, M1 Limited, and Accord Ventures.

Autify

Seed Round in 2019
Autify, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-driven software testing automation platform. Founded in 2016, the platform is designed to streamline quality assurance processes by monitoring user interface changes and automatically updating affected test scenarios with each software release. It offers a variety of features, including cross-browser testing, email testing, local replay, service integration, and parallel execution. These functionalities enable quality assurance teams to enhance productivity, save time, and improve accuracy, ultimately helping organizations deliver superior product versions more efficiently.

Okage

Venture Round in 2019
Okage K.K. develops mobile automation solutions for restaurants that can manage mobile orders and mobile POS in the cloud. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Gastrograph

Series A in 2018
Gastrograph, developed by Analytical Flavor Systems, Inc., is an artificial intelligence platform designed for the food and beverage industry. Founded in 2010 and based in New York, the platform enables companies to gather real-time flavor data, detect and predict production flaws, and assess market fit. By moving beyond traditional tasting panels, Gastrograph employs a predictive flavor profile engine to evaluate how new products are likely to perform across various markets and demographic segments. This capability is particularly valuable in an industry characterized by high failure rates, as it helps food companies adapt to rapidly changing consumer preferences and optimize their product development processes. Through its innovative approach, Gastrograph supports packaged food companies in navigating the complexities of the modern marketplace.

Azit

Venture Round in 2018
Azit Inc. is a software application developer based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2013. The company specializes in mobility solutions, offering a car sharing application called CREW, which enables users to summon nearby vehicles using their smartphones. This platform is designed to enhance transportation efficiency for individuals and businesses alike. Additionally, Azit has developed Tribu, a people-to-people sampling platform. Through its innovative applications, Azit aims to improve mobility and address transportation challenges in urban environments.

Beer and Tech

Series A in 2017
Beer and Tech Inc. operates an e-commerce website to sell plants and flowers. The company also offers flower delivery services. Beer and Tech Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in Saitama, Japan.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.