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 Entertainment

Sorajima

Series C in 2023
Operator of a webtoon production studio intended for animation. The company offers to animate the current favorites from the movie and television world, enabling individuals to enjoy their superstars in the animated version.

WHYNOT Media

Series C in 2021
WHYNOT Media Co., Ltd. is a South Korean company established in 2016 that specializes in developing and operating a video content streaming platform. The company focuses on producing and distributing a variety of entertainment content, including web series, short films, and web dramas. Notable titles in its portfolio include "Secret Crushes," "Always a Boyfriend," "Never a Boyfriend," and "Office Watch." By tailoring its content to fit specific cultural backgrounds, WHYNOT Media aims to enhance viewer engagement and accessibility, thereby creating a diverse range of entertainment options for its audience.

WHYNOT Media

Series C in 2021
WHYNOT Media Co., Ltd. is a South Korean company established in 2016 that specializes in developing and operating a video content streaming platform. The company focuses on producing and distributing a variety of entertainment content, including web series, short films, and web dramas. Notable titles in its portfolio include "Secret Crushes," "Always a Boyfriend," "Never a Boyfriend," and "Office Watch." By tailoring its content to fit specific cultural backgrounds, WHYNOT Media aims to enhance viewer engagement and accessibility, thereby creating a diverse range of entertainment options for its audience.

SHOWROOM

Series B in 2020
SHOWROOM Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that operates a live video streaming platform, primarily focused on Japanese idols and voice actors. Founded in 2015, it functions as a subsidiary of DeNA Co., Ltd. The platform allows users to watch live shows, engage in real-time communication through features like gifting and comments, and offers a diverse range of video content across various genres. SHOWROOM aims to create an environment where users' efforts are recognized and rewarded, enhancing the entertainment experience through professional-quality streaming and innovative features like virtual and augmented reality.

SHOWROOM

Venture Round in 2020
SHOWROOM Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that operates a live video streaming platform, primarily focused on Japanese idols and voice actors. Founded in 2015, it functions as a subsidiary of DeNA Co., Ltd. The platform allows users to watch live shows, engage in real-time communication through features like gifting and comments, and offers a diverse range of video content across various genres. SHOWROOM aims to create an environment where users' efforts are recognized and rewarded, enhancing the entertainment experience through professional-quality streaming and innovative features like virtual and augmented reality.

PlaceHolder

Series B in 2019
Placeholder, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that operates a digital theme park designed for both children and adults, utilizing virtual reality and augmented reality technologies. Founded in 2016, the company offers a range of immersive experiences, including activities such as sand party, spray painting, draw your world, paper rikishi, planet portal, little builders, world adventure, number splash, and ar quest. Placeholder focuses on creating engaging and inspiring experiences that blend digital technology with physical space.

PlaceHolder

Venture Round in 2019
Placeholder, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that operates a digital theme park designed for both children and adults, utilizing virtual reality and augmented reality technologies. Founded in 2016, the company offers a range of immersive experiences, including activities such as sand party, spray painting, draw your world, paper rikishi, planet portal, little builders, world adventure, number splash, and ar quest. Placeholder focuses on creating engaging and inspiring experiences that blend digital technology with physical space.

One Media

Venture Round in 2019
One Media, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2014 that specializes in visual storytelling through animated messages. The company focuses on transforming messages into engaging video content, managing the entire process in-house. This includes video distribution, viewing data analysis, and creative planning and production. By integrating these services, One Media aims to deliver video content that provides unique value to its clients.

Wonderplanet

Venture Round in 2016
Wonderplanet Inc. designs and develops native language applications and games for smart phones and tablets. It provides 2D and 3D games for iOS and android. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Nagoya, Japan.

Every

Venture Round in 2016
Movie Media Business ,Talent Management Business ,Advertisement Business.

Wonderplanet

Series D in 2016
Wonderplanet Inc. designs and develops native language applications and games for smart phones and tablets. It provides 2D and 3D games for iOS and android. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Nagoya, Japan.

Wonderplanet

Venture Round in 2015
Wonderplanet Inc. designs and develops native language applications and games for smart phones and tablets. It provides 2D and 3D games for iOS and android. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Nagoya, Japan.

Rainbow

Venture Round in 2014
Founded in 1995, Rainbow has established itself as a leading European company in the production of children's animation. The company specializes in creating a wide range of content across various media, including television series, feature films, and interactive entertainment. Rainbow also produces publications aimed at female preteens and teens, and operates a theme park, enhancing its portfolio of family entertainment options. By engaging in diverse forms of communication, such as DVDs, magazines, toys, video games, and licensing products, Rainbow effectively addresses the varied demands of its audience, making it a prominent player in the entertainment industry.

Plumzi

Seed Round in 2013
Plumzi, Inc. develops and operates story-driven entertainment technology platform for tablet & smartphones that enables kids to interact with characters and help drive the story through touch, voice, and tilt. The company's platform allows studios and creators to author and stream interactive appisodes, a new form of entertainment on tablets, smartphones, smart-TVs, and virtual reality headsets. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Palo Alto, California.
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