Global Brain

Global Brain Corporation, established in 1998, is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm that invests in technology-focused startups globally, from seed to pre-IPO stages. With a track record of 300+ investments, 25 IPOs, and 61 M&As, the firm provides hands-on support to its portfolio companies. Global Brain manages both independent and corporate venture capital funds, partnering with tier 1 public companies across various industries.

Kaori Akiba

Director

Hidetaka Aoki

Investment Group Partner and Fellow Chief of Space Lab

Tatsunori Arai

Director

Megumi Asatsuma

Director

Anjani Bansal

Partner / India Office Representative

Brooke Beers

Partner

Takuji Chida

Director

Hogil Doh

General Partner

Thomas Duong

Principal

Brian Flucht

Partner / US Division Head

Hajime Furuya

Venture Partner

Kenji Hayashi

Principal

Shohei Hayashi

Partner

Harue Hayashi

Partner / Vice Chief Fund Management Officer

Jie He

Director China office Representative

Yosuke Hirai

Director

Joopyo Hong

Partner Investment Group

Naoki Horie

Principal

Jang Hyeokjin

Principal

Shohei Ichimiya

Partner / US Office

Sho Ikeda

Partner / Indonesia Office Representative

Nozomu Ikuta

Principal

Kotona Inaida

Director

Tomoaki Ishikure

Partner

Yoshinari Ito

Venture Partner

Yuki Ito

Director

Hiroyuki Izumi

Partner

Ken Kajii

General Partner

Daisuke Kashiro

General Partner

Kirin Kato

Principal

Takashi Kato

Partner, San Francisco Office Representative

Masaya Kawakami

Principal, Investment Group

Hiroyuki Kawamoto

Principal

Ko Kawaragi

Director

Maiko Kayata

Principal

ByeongJin Kim

Principal

Riichiro Kimura

Director / US NY Office

Issei Kokubu

Director

Yoshiomi Kubota

Principal

Jinya Kurita

Director

KyungHun Lee

Partner

YingQi Liang(Joy)

Principal

Chukaku Lin

Director

Atsushi Matsuda

Venture Partner

Tatsuya Matsumoto

Partner / Singapore Office Representative

Akira Matsumoto

Principal

Yuki Matsuo

Director

Natsumi Matsuoka

Principal

Tomoko Minagawa

Director

Ai Minamizaki

Principal

Shigeru Mitarai

Director

Shuhei Mori

Principal

Seiichiro Mukai

Director

Satoko Murata

Principal, Investment Group

Kohtaro Nagawa

Director

Tasuke Nakagawa

Partner / M&A

Mitsutaka Nakao

Principal, Investment Group

Shien Nakayama

Director

Yuya Namiki

Director

Ying Jian Ng

Director

Daisuke Nishida

General Partner

Yukari Nishiyama

Director, Investment Group

Akiko Noguchi

Director

Rina Obi

Investment Group Director, Berlin Office

Sho Ohtani

Principal

Tetsui Okada

Director

Mayu Okamoto

Director

Akane Okuyama

Director

Shingo Otaki

Partner

Rampalli Karthik

Principal

Naoki Sadakuni

Venture Partner

Enen Sai

Principal

Youichi Sakagawa

Director, Investment Group

Kazuki Sakuragawa

Partner / Editor in Chief

Masumi Sato

Principal

Naoki Sato

Principal, Investment Group

Tomoki Sekiguchi

Principal

Rie Shibata

Director

Takeru Shigemura

Director

Miku Shimamura

Principal

Masamune Shin

General Partner

Ayu Shinoyama

CFO and Board Member

Chisa Shinsakaue

Director

Divyansh Singh

Principal

Hiroto Sorita

Director

Sachiko Sugiura

Director

Yusuke Suzuki

Partner

Kazumo Tachibana

Director

Mana Takabayashi

Director

Hiroki Takai

Director

Toko Takao

Principal

Hideyuki Tanaka

Director

Marika Tazaki

Partner

Hirotaka Togashi

Director

Haruka Tsujii

Director

Atsushi Ueda Ph.D

Principal, Investment Group

Takuya Ukai

Principal, Investment Group

Tetsuya Urimoto

Director

Noriko Usui

Partner / Chief Fund Management Officer

Keita Washizu

Principal

Masao Yamada

Senior Partner

Kazunori Yamaguchi

Partner, Investment Group

Kazunor Yamaguchi

Partner

Ryozo Yamamoto

Partner

Michiko Yamazaki

Principal, Investment Group

Takuro Yoda

Principal, Investment Group

Sayaka Yoshino

Director

Miku Yoshio

Partner

Yasuhiko Yurimoto

Founder, Owner, CEO and General Partner

Miyazawa Yusuke

Venture Partner

Lusheng Zou

Director

Takuya Hosomura

Partner

Past deals in Smart Cities

IONATE

Series A in 2025
IONATE develops an innovative hardware-software system for smart grids, centered around its Hybrid Intelligent Transformer (HIT). This advanced device replaces traditional transformers, integrating the control of voltage, harmonics, and reactive power into a single unit. By utilizing magnetics, the HIT enables users to manage these critical power characteristics simultaneously, enhancing efficiency and minimizing energy loss. The technology is designed to stabilize power distribution across various applications, including power generation, industrial facilities, and data centers, while facilitating real-time control capabilities.

Beacon Power Services

Series A in 2024
Beacon Power Services, founded in 2013 and based in Lagos, Nigeria, specializes in energy management solutions for commercial and industrial facilities. The company employs a data-driven approach, utilizing its AI-enabled grid management platform, Adora, to provide real-time visibility into network performance for power distribution companies. This software connects to utility assets and customer nodes, enabling energy providers to anticipate outages, identify network losses, and enhance electricity distribution efficiency. Beacon Power Services develops comprehensive power generation and management plans tailored to clients' specific needs, incorporating generator resizing, peak shaving, automation, appliance upgrades, and renewable generation installations. The company's mission is to improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply in African cities by building smart grids and addressing inefficiencies in electricity distribution systems, ultimately reducing energy costs for its clients.

Geofla

Venture Round in 2024
Geofla is a business that specializes in creating and planning products and applications designed to encourage physical activity and stimulate foot traffic in various spaces. The company's offerings include advertising and promotional services, incentivizing users to move around businesses through a points-based system.

Essen

Seed Round in 2024
Essen is a technological company that specializes in mobility and data analysis, as well as using data to improve transportation.

Newmo

Seed Round in 2024
Newmo is a technology company that specializes in sustainable local public transportation. It develops a ride-sharing service platform, enabling drivers to work flexibly using their free time, and providing passengers with a safe, secure, and comfortable user experience.

Hayden AI

Series B in 2023
Hayden AI focuses on developing artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies aimed at enhancing urban mobility and safety. The company specializes in automated enforcement solutions for dedicated bus lanes and bus stops, which are designed to expedite public transit and improve the overall quality of life in urban areas. By leveraging advanced technology and a network of mobile devices, Hayden AI works to create safer and smarter cities. Its platform enables clients to utilize AI-powered tools that can detect and analyze traffic incidents, contributing to more efficient traffic management and fostering a sustainable urban environment.

Hayden AI

Series B in 2023
Hayden AI focuses on developing artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies aimed at enhancing urban mobility and safety. The company specializes in automated enforcement solutions for dedicated bus lanes and bus stops, which are designed to expedite public transit and improve the overall quality of life in urban areas. By leveraging advanced technology and a network of mobile devices, Hayden AI works to create safer and smarter cities. Its platform enables clients to utilize AI-powered tools that can detect and analyze traffic incidents, contributing to more efficient traffic management and fostering a sustainable urban environment.

Yanekara

Venture Round in 2022
Yanekara specializes in developing and selling a V2X platform focused on smart grid technology and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The company offers innovative energy management services that transform electric vehicles into virtual storage batteries, allowing them to store and manage energy efficiently. By integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, with their charging systems, Yanekara enables users to optimize power storage and achieve carbon neutrality. Their solutions not only enhance the functionality of electric vehicles but also contribute to sustainable energy management and the advancement of clean energy initiatives.

Girasol Energy

Seed Round in 2021
Girasol Energy Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the development and installation of an Internet of Things (IoT) platform tailored for photovoltaic plants. The company's innovative technology utilizes solar radiation statistics derived from satellite data, making it applicable across Japan. Girasol Energy's platform features a cloud engine that collects data from sensor networks, allowing for detailed analysis at the individual panel level. By employing an artificial intelligence engine, it automatically identifies abnormalities and degradation in photovoltaic panels. This capability enables businesses to monitor their solar panel modules remotely, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional consulting services in the industry.

WhereIsMyTransport

Series A in 2021
WhereIsMyTransport Ltd is a mobility technology company focused on providing comprehensive public transport data for megacities in emerging markets. Headquartered in London, with an additional office in Cape Town, the company specializes in digitalizing network information from various modes of public transport across Africa, Latin America, Southeast Europe, and South and Southeast Asia. By employing a data collection playbook, WhereIsMyTransport maps both formal and informal transport networks, ensuring data accuracy as these systems evolve. The company's platform serves businesses, municipalities, and citizens, enhancing the public transport experience and facilitating informed decision-making for infrastructure improvements and market entry.

Qlue

Series B in 2021
Qlue Inc. is a technology company based in Palo Alto, California, that focuses on developing solutions for smart city ecosystems. Established in 2014, the company has evolved from a tech startup into a comprehensive provider of smart city technology in Indonesia. Qlue's offerings include applications that facilitate public service monitoring, enabling citizens to file complaints to local governments and track their resolution. The platform incorporates artificial intelligence, computer vision technology, and mobile workforce management, aimed at helping both government and private sectors make data-driven decisions. By enhancing communication between citizens and local authorities, Qlue strives to foster community engagement and improve urban living conditions. The company was acquired by ServiceNow, Inc. in 2017.

Girasol Energy

Series A in 2021
Girasol Energy Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the development and installation of an Internet of Things (IoT) platform tailored for photovoltaic plants. The company's innovative technology utilizes solar radiation statistics derived from satellite data, making it applicable across Japan. Girasol Energy's platform features a cloud engine that collects data from sensor networks, allowing for detailed analysis at the individual panel level. By employing an artificial intelligence engine, it automatically identifies abnormalities and degradation in photovoltaic panels. This capability enables businesses to monitor their solar panel modules remotely, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional consulting services in the industry.

UnaBiz

Venture Round in 2019
UnaBiz Pte Ltd, established in 2016 with headquarters in Singapore and an office in Taipei, specializes in Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The company provides low-power wide-area network connectivity services, along with wireless infrastructure and devices. UnaBiz offers a range of SIGFOX ready solutions such as Unashield, UnaBell, ModBus Reader, adaptors, GPS trackers, and chipsets/modules. They also provide onboarding, prototyping, and manufacturing services to clients in healthcare, building management, agriculture, environment, cities, utilities, and industries. The company focuses on cost efficiency and sustainability, empowering businesses to leverage IoT for operational growth through smart metering, asset management, supply chain monitoring, facilities management, and asset tracking applications.

UnaBiz

Series A in 2018
UnaBiz Pte Ltd, established in 2016 with headquarters in Singapore and an office in Taipei, specializes in Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The company provides low-power wide-area network connectivity services, along with wireless infrastructure and devices. UnaBiz offers a range of SIGFOX ready solutions such as Unashield, UnaBell, ModBus Reader, adaptors, GPS trackers, and chipsets/modules. They also provide onboarding, prototyping, and manufacturing services to clients in healthcare, building management, agriculture, environment, cities, utilities, and industries. The company focuses on cost efficiency and sustainability, empowering businesses to leverage IoT for operational growth through smart metering, asset management, supply chain monitoring, facilities management, and asset tracking applications.

RealGlobe

Venture Round in 2011
Realglobe, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that develops Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions, focusing on enhancing software development through Continuous Delivery-as-a-Service. Founded in 2008, Realglobe offers a range of services, including automation for building, testing, and delivery processes, as well as solutions for education, emergency medical response, and disaster management, which feature drone and unmanned aerial vehicle technologies. The company leverages advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and robotics to support its mission of fostering a sustainable society through local production and consumption. Furthermore, Realglobe operates a graphical mapping platform that employs three-dimensional scanning to create digital twins of real-world locations, facilitating effective information sharing between local governments and residents and aiding various industries like construction and facilities management in visualizing spatial data.

RealGlobe

Seed Round in 2011
Realglobe, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that develops Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions, focusing on enhancing software development through Continuous Delivery-as-a-Service. Founded in 2008, Realglobe offers a range of services, including automation for building, testing, and delivery processes, as well as solutions for education, emergency medical response, and disaster management, which feature drone and unmanned aerial vehicle technologies. The company leverages advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and robotics to support its mission of fostering a sustainable society through local production and consumption. Furthermore, Realglobe operates a graphical mapping platform that employs three-dimensional scanning to create digital twins of real-world locations, facilitating effective information sharing between local governments and residents and aiding various industries like construction and facilities management in visualizing spatial data.
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