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 B2C

Fast Beauty

Series A in 2023
Operator of a hair color specialty store intended to provide hairstyling-related services. The company specializes in hair coloring and leverages direct insights to create beauty products and services, enabling customers to be treated with professional techniques and minimizing hair damage.

KAUCHE

Series B in 2022
Developer of a social commerce application designed to help users to shop together. The company's application employs a group buying model where customers are asked to bring in other users in order to purchase a product or service, enabling users to buy products at a discount by inviting friends, family, and others.

Super Studio

Series C in 2022
Provider of D2C consulting services specializing in product planning and development. The company provides consulting services concentrating on product manufacturing, sales promotion activities, supply chain optimization, and CRM after-sales as well as offering an enterprise collaboration platform for sales and marketing, enabling businesses to maximize their revenue and customer experience.

BitStar

Series E in 2021
BitStar Inc. specializes in influencer marketing and support services, catering to a diverse range of industries including travel, gaming, cosmetics, and consumer goods. The company offers a variety of promotional services, including analytics through an in-house developed tool, event management for pop-up stores, and merchandising solutions. Additionally, BitStar provides specialized support services such as VTuber and music production, along with fan club services through its platform called Costa. The company also facilitates media exposure for influencers, including appearances on television and in magazines, while enabling overseas casting opportunities. Founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan, BitStar aims to empower individuals, particularly content creators on platforms like YouTube, to showcase their creativity and flourish in a supportive environment.

KAUCHE

Seed Round in 2021
Developer of a social commerce application designed to help users to shop together. The company's application employs a group buying model where customers are asked to bring in other users in order to purchase a product or service, enabling users to buy products at a discount by inviting friends, family, and others.

Upsider

Series B in 2021
We enable people to trust upsiders by organizing the world's B2B transactions.

Bizly

Seed Round in 2021
Bizly, Inc. operates a platform that facilitates the booking of meeting spaces, including private meeting rooms, co-working areas, and elevated hotel experiences. Founded in 2015 and based in New York, the company offers an on-demand mobile application and website designed for professionals seeking efficient solutions for meetings and events. Bizly provides an employee-facing, self-service enterprise software that streamlines collaboration and enhances meeting planning through automated workflows. The platform utilizes smart templates for effective attendee management and venue booking while integrating with various enterprise systems to drive operational efficiency. Additionally, Bizly addresses unmanaged spending by offering financial insights, helping organizations save time and money while creating impactful meeting experiences. The company's services cater to users globally, promoting effective collaboration across teams.

Bizly

Seed Round in 2021
Bizly, Inc. operates a platform that facilitates the booking of meeting spaces, including private meeting rooms, co-working areas, and elevated hotel experiences. Founded in 2015 and based in New York, the company offers an on-demand mobile application and website designed for professionals seeking efficient solutions for meetings and events. Bizly provides an employee-facing, self-service enterprise software that streamlines collaboration and enhances meeting planning through automated workflows. The platform utilizes smart templates for effective attendee management and venue booking while integrating with various enterprise systems to drive operational efficiency. Additionally, Bizly addresses unmanaged spending by offering financial insights, helping organizations save time and money while creating impactful meeting experiences. The company's services cater to users globally, promoting effective collaboration across teams.

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

KAUCHE

Seed Round in 2020
Developer of a social commerce application designed to help users to shop together. The company's application employs a group buying model where customers are asked to bring in other users in order to purchase a product or service, enabling users to buy products at a discount by inviting friends, family, and others.

Upsider

Venture Round in 2020
We enable people to trust upsiders by organizing the world's B2B transactions.

Creema

Series C in 2019
Creema Ltd. is an online marketplace based in Tokyo, Japan, that connects creators and consumers for the direct sale of handmade products. Founded in 2009, the platform offers a diverse range of categories, including accessories, jewelry, toys, bags, stationery, pet goods, fashion items, and furniture, among others. In addition to facilitating online transactions, Creema also organizes exhibitions and events to showcase creators' work. The company emphasizes social commerce and provides related services to enhance the buying and selling experience for its users.

SMARTCAMP

Venture Round in 2019
Smart camp is a company that manages Internet services and this company is good at B2B marketing.

SMARTCAMP

Series B in 2019
Smart camp is a company that manages Internet services and this company is good at B2B marketing.

BitStar

Series C in 2018
BitStar Inc. specializes in influencer marketing and support services, catering to a diverse range of industries including travel, gaming, cosmetics, and consumer goods. The company offers a variety of promotional services, including analytics through an in-house developed tool, event management for pop-up stores, and merchandising solutions. Additionally, BitStar provides specialized support services such as VTuber and music production, along with fan club services through its platform called Costa. The company also facilitates media exposure for influencers, including appearances on television and in magazines, while enabling overseas casting opportunities. Founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan, BitStar aims to empower individuals, particularly content creators on platforms like YouTube, to showcase their creativity and flourish in a supportive environment.

Creema

Venture Round in 2018
Creema Ltd. is an online marketplace based in Tokyo, Japan, that connects creators and consumers for the direct sale of handmade products. Founded in 2009, the platform offers a diverse range of categories, including accessories, jewelry, toys, bags, stationery, pet goods, fashion items, and furniture, among others. In addition to facilitating online transactions, Creema also organizes exhibitions and events to showcase creators' work. The company emphasizes social commerce and provides related services to enhance the buying and selling experience for its users.

Base

Series B in 2018
BASE, Inc. is an e-commerce platform developer based in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in the planning, development, and operation of web services. The company operates through three main segments: BASE Business, which includes an online shop opening service and a smartphone shopping app; PAY Business, which offers PAY.JP, a service for developers to integrate credit card payments into web services and e-commerce, as well as PAY ID, a payment identification service; and Other Business, which encompasses YELL BANK, a financial service designed to assist shop owners in raising funds through its online services. Founded in 2012, BASE aims to facilitate the attraction of online shoppers for its users.

Channel Talk

Series B in 2017
Channel Corporation Co., Ltd. develops and operates a platform, which offers live chat, marketing, and team chat services. It provides live chat, marketing, and team chat services. Channel Corporation Co., Ltd. is based in Seoul, South Korea.

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.

BitStar

Series B in 2017
BitStar Inc. specializes in influencer marketing and support services, catering to a diverse range of industries including travel, gaming, cosmetics, and consumer goods. The company offers a variety of promotional services, including analytics through an in-house developed tool, event management for pop-up stores, and merchandising solutions. Additionally, BitStar provides specialized support services such as VTuber and music production, along with fan club services through its platform called Costa. The company also facilitates media exposure for influencers, including appearances on television and in magazines, while enabling overseas casting opportunities. Founded in 2014 and based in Tokyo, Japan, BitStar aims to empower individuals, particularly content creators on platforms like YouTube, to showcase their creativity and flourish in a supportive environment.

Creema

Series B in 2016
Creema Ltd. is an online marketplace based in Tokyo, Japan, that connects creators and consumers for the direct sale of handmade products. Founded in 2009, the platform offers a diverse range of categories, including accessories, jewelry, toys, bags, stationery, pet goods, fashion items, and furniture, among others. In addition to facilitating online transactions, Creema also organizes exhibitions and events to showcase creators' work. The company emphasizes social commerce and provides related services to enhance the buying and selling experience for its users.

Chikyu

Venture Round in 2015
Chikyu Inc. offers customer management, negotiation management, data analysis, and development of cloud-based marketing support software. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Creema

Venture Round in 2015
Creema Ltd. is an online marketplace based in Tokyo, Japan, that connects creators and consumers for the direct sale of handmade products. Founded in 2009, the platform offers a diverse range of categories, including accessories, jewelry, toys, bags, stationery, pet goods, fashion items, and furniture, among others. In addition to facilitating online transactions, Creema also organizes exhibitions and events to showcase creators' work. The company emphasizes social commerce and provides related services to enhance the buying and selling experience for its users.

Pricebook

Series B in 2015
Pricebook Co., Ltd. is a company based in Indonesia that provides a shopping search engine focused on gadgets for consumers in Southeast Asia. The platform aims to bridge the information gap between consumers and businesses by offering comprehensive price comparison services. Through its search engine, Pricebook aggregates product information, including reviews, specifications, and availability in both online and offline stores. This enables customers to make informed purchasing decisions by easily comparing products and prices across various retailers. The company is positioned to capitalize on the rapidly growing e-commerce market in the region, striving to become the leading platform for online shoppers.

QUEUE Japan

Seed Round in 2015
QUEUE is a sales of diamond jewelry,bridal business and Operation of original EC site & real showroom and brilliance is responsible for the main planning, quality control of all products, and web production and management.

Creema

Series A in 2014
Creema Ltd. is an online marketplace based in Tokyo, Japan, that connects creators and consumers for the direct sale of handmade products. Founded in 2009, the platform offers a diverse range of categories, including accessories, jewelry, toys, bags, stationery, pet goods, fashion items, and furniture, among others. In addition to facilitating online transactions, Creema also organizes exhibitions and events to showcase creators' work. The company emphasizes social commerce and provides related services to enhance the buying and selling experience for its users.

Base

Seed Round in 2014
BASE, Inc. is an e-commerce platform developer based in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in the planning, development, and operation of web services. The company operates through three main segments: BASE Business, which includes an online shop opening service and a smartphone shopping app; PAY Business, which offers PAY.JP, a service for developers to integrate credit card payments into web services and e-commerce, as well as PAY ID, a payment identification service; and Other Business, which encompasses YELL BANK, a financial service designed to assist shop owners in raising funds through its online services. Founded in 2012, BASE aims to facilitate the attraction of online shoppers for its users.

TypeBeeGroup

Venture Round in 2014
TypeBeeGroup is a planning, development and operation of "Cashback Rental", a rental information site where you can get festive money.

ArkCore

Series A in 2004
ArkCore Inc. is engaged in the purchase and sale of motorcycles and related products in Japan. It sells bikes through its stores and online. The company operates its stores under the Bike Land and Bike land direct sales center brand names.
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