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 Facial Recognition

Cloudpick

Series B in 2022
Yuna Technology is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the development of computer vision and artificial intelligence applications. The company is committed to leading the technological breakthrough of the core knowledge of artificial intelligence, and building an overall application solution for artificial intelligence and big data analysis in multiple industries.

RightHand Robotics

Series C in 2022
RightHand Robotics, Inc. specializes in manufacturing robotic order-picking systems designed for various industrial applications, including e-commerce, food handling, and flexible manufacturing. The company offers innovative products such as the ReFlex SF, which features a 3D-printed palm equipped with servos and compliant fingers, and the ReFlex TakkTile, a tactile sensor that enhances the robots' ability to grasp items gently and make adjustments to avoid errors. Their technology allows robots to automatically grasp a wide range of items from bins and cases, eliminating the need for extensive data-entry or parameter-tuning, thereby making the systems cost-effective and adaptable to the evolving needs of businesses. Founded in 2015, RightHand Robotics is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a sales and business development office located in Frankfurt, Germany.

Humanising Autonomy

Series A in 2021
Humanising Autonomy is a predictive AI company focused on enhancing the interaction between vehicles and people across various environments. The company develops behavior artificial intelligence software that integrates behavioral psychology, computer vision, and large language models to predict human decision-making. Its platform analyzes camera data in real-time to interpret and forecast the behavior of pedestrians, passengers, and vehicles. This capability supports automated decision-making processes, improving driver alerts and vehicle motion response. By providing an end-to-end software solution for dashcam manufacturers, Humanising Autonomy aims to establish a global standard for safety and efficiency in vehicle operations.

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.

Araya

Series B in 2019
ARAYA Brain Imaging, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence software solutions, focusing on a combination of neuroscience and information science. Founded in 2013, ARAYA offers a range of services centered around deep learning technologies, including real-time image recognition and neuro-based marketing. The company provides NeuroProfile, a web-based tool for personalized neuroprediction based on anatomical brain scans, as well as support for MRI analysis and big data analysis. Additionally, ARAYA develops tools and software for brain imaging analysis. Its proprietary deep learning compression technology enhances the efficiency of AI algorithms while maintaining high accuracy, positioning ARAYA at the forefront of next-generation artificial intelligence that aims to bridge the gap towards artificial consciousness.

Humanising Autonomy

Seed Round in 2019
Humanising Autonomy is a predictive AI company focused on enhancing the interaction between vehicles and people across various environments. The company develops behavior artificial intelligence software that integrates behavioral psychology, computer vision, and large language models to predict human decision-making. Its platform analyzes camera data in real-time to interpret and forecast the behavior of pedestrians, passengers, and vehicles. This capability supports automated decision-making processes, improving driver alerts and vehicle motion response. By providing an end-to-end software solution for dashcam manufacturers, Humanising Autonomy aims to establish a global standard for safety and efficiency in vehicle operations.

Realeyes

Series B in 2019
Realeyes Data Services Ltd., an emotions research company, provides web-based facial expression measurement solutions for video advertisements. The company’s solutions enable users to read how people feel about their video advertisements using computer vision. It offers Tentpole Creative, Digital Content, Live Interaction, consumer insight, and creative performance. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom with additional offices in New York, New York; Tokyo, Japan; and Budapest, Hungary.

Mad Street Den

Series B in 2019
Mad Street Den Inc. operates as a computer vision and artificial intelligence company. It focuses on building models of generalizable intelligence that can be deployed through meaningful applications across industries and people worldwide. The company serves the retail industry. Mad Street Den Inc. was founded in 2016 and is based in Fremont, California. It has additional offices in Chennai and Bengaluru, India; and Tokyo, Japan.

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.

Mad Street Den

Series A in 2018
Mad Street Den Inc. operates as a computer vision and artificial intelligence company. It focuses on building models of generalizable intelligence that can be deployed through meaningful applications across industries and people worldwide. The company serves the retail industry. Mad Street Den Inc. was founded in 2016 and is based in Fremont, California. It has additional offices in Chennai and Bengaluru, India; and Tokyo, Japan.

StradVision

Series A in 2018
StradVision, Inc. specializes in developing perception algorithms for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Jose, California, with additional offices in South Korea, Germany, India, Japan, and China, the company offers various products including SVNet External for external vehicle perception and SVNet Internal for monitoring driver and passenger status. StradVision's technology utilizes artificial intelligence and deep learning to enhance vehicle safety features such as lane detection, object recognition, and real-time environmental analysis. The firm also provides an Auto Labeling Tool for automatic annotation of key objects and road elements. With a strong emphasis on innovation, StradVision holds over 60 patents and has more than 150 pending, positioning itself as a significant player in the automotive technology sector, particularly in the transition towards autonomous driving solutions.

Araya

Series A in 2017
ARAYA Brain Imaging, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence software solutions, focusing on a combination of neuroscience and information science. Founded in 2013, ARAYA offers a range of services centered around deep learning technologies, including real-time image recognition and neuro-based marketing. The company provides NeuroProfile, a web-based tool for personalized neuroprediction based on anatomical brain scans, as well as support for MRI analysis and big data analysis. Additionally, ARAYA develops tools and software for brain imaging analysis. Its proprietary deep learning compression technology enhances the efficiency of AI algorithms while maintaining high accuracy, positioning ARAYA at the forefront of next-generation artificial intelligence that aims to bridge the gap towards artificial consciousness.

Fond

Series A in 2016
Fond is a SaaS platform that seamlessly consolidates employee rewards and recognition processes into one easy-to-use solution. With Fond, employees and managers can recognize each other, redeem rewards, access exclusive corporate discounts, and measure success so HR departments spend less time managing programs and more time driving results. Fond is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Learn more at https://www.fond.co.

Araya

Venture Round in 2016
ARAYA Brain Imaging, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence software solutions, focusing on a combination of neuroscience and information science. Founded in 2013, ARAYA offers a range of services centered around deep learning technologies, including real-time image recognition and neuro-based marketing. The company provides NeuroProfile, a web-based tool for personalized neuroprediction based on anatomical brain scans, as well as support for MRI analysis and big data analysis. Additionally, ARAYA develops tools and software for brain imaging analysis. Its proprietary deep learning compression technology enhances the efficiency of AI algorithms while maintaining high accuracy, positioning ARAYA at the forefront of next-generation artificial intelligence that aims to bridge the gap towards artificial consciousness.

Jibo

Series A in 2015
Jibo, Inc. specializes in the manufacture and sale of social robots designed for home use. The company's flagship product, Jibo, is engineered to interact with users using advanced Natural Language Understanding, speech recognition, and facial recognition technologies. This robot serves as an electronic companion, capable of learning user preferences, assisting with daily tasks, and providing reminders for important events. Jibo communicates through natural social and emotive cues, enhancing the user experience and facilitating meaningful interactions. Founded in 2012 and launched publicly in 2017, Jibo, Inc. operates from its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, serving a diverse market that includes the United States, Canada, various European countries, and parts of Asia and South America. The company's goal is to improve human-robot interaction, making everyday life simpler and more engaging for individuals of all ages.
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