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 CleanTech

Kyoto Fusioneering

Series C in 2023
Developer of a fusion technology intended to offer technical assistance to accelerate the practical realization of fusion energy. The company's technology offers liquid metal, molten salt, tritium treatment systems, high-frequency microwave gyrotron, fusion energy and exhaust systems, and is focused on developing advanced technologies for commercial fusion reactors, including gyrotron systems, tritium fuel cycle technologies and breeding blankets for tritium production and power generation, enabling companies to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions.

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.

EneCoat

Series B in 2022
EneCoat Technologies Co., Ltd., established in 2018 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, specializes in the manufacture and sale of perovskite solar cells and related materials. The company focuses on the development of materials for these solar cells and aims to commercialize their modules. EneCoat Technologies is dedicated to advancing thin-film solar technology, with a commitment to environmental sustainability and the efficient use of natural energy resources.

Kyoto Fusioneering

Series B in 2022
Developer of a fusion technology intended to offer technical assistance to accelerate the practical realization of fusion energy. The company's technology offers liquid metal, molten salt, tritium treatment systems, high-frequency microwave gyrotron, fusion energy and exhaust systems, and is focused on developing advanced technologies for commercial fusion reactors, including gyrotron systems, tritium fuel cycle technologies and breeding blankets for tritium production and power generation, enabling companies to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions.

Girasol Energy

Seed Round in 2021
Girasol Energy Inc. develops PPLC, an IoT platform for photovoltaic plant. The company develops and installs sensor networks. Its cloud engine collects and presents data break down in to single panel-level, and locates abnormals automatically by applying PV A.I. engine. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

SiLC

Series A in 2021
SiLC Technologies is a Silicon Photonics start up focusing on photonic Sensor and 3D imaging applications. It develops new and novel technologies and integrated solutions to address the growing needs of an autonomous and smart new world.

Girasol Energy

Series A in 2021
Girasol Energy Inc. develops PPLC, an IoT platform for photovoltaic plant. The company develops and installs sensor networks. Its cloud engine collects and presents data break down in to single panel-level, and locates abnormals automatically by applying PV A.I. engine. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

BizteX

Series C in 2020
BizteX, Inc. is a software company based in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in cloud-based robotic process automation (RPA) solutions. Founded in 2015, the company develops software designed to automate routine operations through its flagship product, BizteX Cobit. This digital robot utilizes artificial intelligence to execute repetitive tasks, allowing businesses to streamline their operations and focus on more creative and strategic activities. By offering its services globally, BizteX aims to enhance productivity and efficiency for various organizations, enabling them to optimize their resources effectively.

Enlighted

Series C in 2017
Enlighted Inc. specializes in manufacturing lighting control systems for commercial environments both in the United States and internationally. Established in 2009 and based in Sunnyvale, California, the company offers a range of products, including the Enlighted Sensor, which collects data on occupancy, ambient light, temperature, and energy consumption, and the Enlighted Room Control, a device that allows users to manage lighting levels in their spaces. The Enlighted Gateway aggregates data from these sensors and integrates it with the Energy Manager, a web-based interface designed for optimizing building system performance. Enlighted’s technology not only enhances energy efficiency but also improves workspace comfort, helping clients achieve sustainability goals while significantly reducing energy costs—sometimes by up to 70%. The company's solutions have been implemented across various commercial settings, including prominent Fortune 1000 companies. Since May 2018, Enlighted operates as a subsidiary of Siemens Industry, Inc.

Material Concept

Corporate Round in 2016
Manufacturer of copper paste intended for use in electrical components and solar panels. The company's paste has almost the same conductivity as silver and has a substantially lower raw material cost and can be used for forming wires and electrodes for solar cells and electronic equipment, providing industries with a substitute for silver pastes.
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