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 Transportation

Hived

Venture Round in 2024
HIVED is a sustainable parcel delivery service focused on creating a more environmentally friendly and efficient delivery experience. The company specializes in zero-emission delivery solutions that aim to minimize waste and reduce carbon footprints for both shippers and recipients. By leveraging innovative operational processes and software, HIVED is developing a comprehensive parcel delivery network designed for the future. This approach allows businesses to achieve affordable and convenient delivery options while contributing to sustainability efforts.

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.

Turing

Seed Round in 2024
Turing develops and manufactures fully autonomous vehicles.

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.

Stockoss

Seed Round in 2023
Stockoss, founded in 2017 and based in St Ouen, France, provides on-demand storage services in Paris and its surrounding suburbs. The company specializes in collecting items from clients, storing them in secure warehouses, and delivering them back as requested. Stockoss aims to enhance logistics and supply chain management by developing a software platform that connects various logistics stakeholders, offering features such as real-time inventory visibility and centralized information management. The platform facilitates collaboration among logistics providers, carriers, and businesses, promoting flexibility, transparency, and efficient data monitoring. By streamlining operations and minimizing manual data entry, Stockoss addresses the challenges of a fragmented and technology-deficient third-party logistics market.

Luup

Series D in 2023
Luup, Inc. is a provider of electric micro-mobility sharing services based in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 2018, the company specializes in renting electric kickboards and bicycles through its user-friendly application. Luup operates primarily in major cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Yokohama, with plans for further expansion across Japan. The service utilizes a high-density port network, allowing users to conveniently rent and return vehicles at various locations. By offering a range of electric two-wheelers and small vehicles, Luup aims to enhance urban mobility and provide customers with a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience.

Regent

Venture Round in 2023
Regent is a maritime mobility company focused on developing electric flying machines for coastal transportation. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing seagliders, which are wing-in-ground-effect crafts that operate a few meters above the water's surface. These innovative vehicles combine the high speed of an airplane with the low operating costs of a boat, enabling them to travel at speeds of up to 180 mph (290 km/h) over suitable ranges for regional trips. Regent's seagliders aim to replace traditional ferries and short-haul aircraft on coastal routes, providing fast, safe, and cost-effective transportation solutions that connect coastal cities and islands. By revolutionizing regional transportation, Regent seeks to enhance connectivity among coastal communities while promoting sustainable travel options.

nearMe

Series B in 2023
NearMe Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in a mobile application designed for taxi ride-sharing services. Founded in 2017, the application facilitates instant matching of individuals traveling in the same direction, addressing inefficiencies in transportation and commuting. By enabling users to share taxi rides in real time, NearMe aims to improve the commuting experience and promote a more sustainable community. The platform addresses social inefficiencies by connecting users with similar travel interests, ultimately contributing to a more comfortable and efficient commuting solution.

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.

Turing

Seed Round in 2022
Turing develops and manufactures fully autonomous vehicles.

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.

Swift Navigation

Series C in 2021
Swift Navigation, Inc. is a technology company specializing in precise global positioning system (GPS) solutions, founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, California, with an additional location in Melbourne, Australia. The company develops hardware and software that provide centimeter-level accuracy through real-time kinematics (RTK) technology. Its product lineup includes the Piksi Multi GNSS Module, a versatile RTK receiver, and the Duro Ruggedized Receiver, designed for various industrial applications such as agriculture and robotics. Additionally, Swift Navigation offers the Skylark cloud corrections service and the Starling GNSS positioning engine, which caters to automotive and autonomous vehicle needs. The company's innovative solutions, characterized by their affordability and high accuracy—100 times better than standard GPS—serve multiple industries, including unmanned aerial vehicles, surveying, and space applications. Swift Navigation's commitment to making advanced positioning technology accessible is recognized by notable accolades, including mentions in Inc. and Forbes 30 Under 30 lists.

SWAT Mobility

Venture Round in 2021
SWAT Mobility specializes in vehicle-routing technology aimed at addressing complex transportation challenges faced by companies, transport operators, and government agencies globally. The company's innovative solutions utilize advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to optimize route planning and pooling, enhancing transport efficiency while accommodating multiple waypoints. By offering high-capacity vehicle pooling services that are both on-demand and dynamically routed, SWAT Mobility has demonstrated success in reducing transportation costs, improving urban connectivity, and alleviating traffic congestion. Their technology is designed to meet current logistics needs and is well-positioned for future advancements, including the integration of autonomous vehicles.

Airporter

Series B in 2020
Airporter is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in baggage delivery services for travelers. Founded in November 2017, the company provides a low-cost, same-day luggage delivery service between airports and accommodations, allowing tourists to travel without the burden of their bags. Customers can easily manage their orders and payments through a smartphone application, ensuring a convenient experience. Airporter aims to enhance its offerings by forming partnerships with hotels and delivery systems. The company has also attracted significant investment from various venture capital firms to support its growth and expansion in the tourism sector.

Lime

Series C in 2019
Lime is a transportation company that focuses on providing sustainable solutions for urban mobility by offering electric scooters and bike-sharing services. The company partners with cities to deploy a fleet of electric bikes and scooters equipped with GPS and self-activating locks, which allows users to access affordable and reliable transportation options. Lime aims to address the first- and last-mile transportation challenges, promoting environmentally friendly alternatives that help reduce carbon footprints. By encouraging a shift in transportation behavior, Lime seeks to empower future generations to contribute to a more sustainable planet.

Immense

Series A in 2019
Immense is a developer of enterprise software focused on making transport simulation accessible to various sectors within the transportation industry. By combining advanced data science, machine learning, and computational technologies with domain expertise, Immense provides tools that address critical transportation challenges. Their simulation platform is designed to assist clients in making informed decisions regarding mobility, with applications spanning fleet management, infrastructure operations, and transportation planning. Collaborating with trusted data partners, Immense aims to deliver effective mobility solutions for the complex issues faced by the industry today and in the future.

Azit

Venture Round in 2018
Azit Inc. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2013 that specializes in developing software applications for car sharing services. Its primary product, CREW, is a smart transfer app that enables users to summon nearby vehicles using their smartphones, thereby enhancing mobility for individuals in Japan. Additionally, Azit offers Tribu, a platform for person-to-person sampling. The company's mission focuses on improving transportation efficiency and accessibility for its users.

Trillium Secure

Series A in 2017
Trillium Secure specializes in offering cybersecurity solutions tailored for connected vehicles. With a focus on protecting in-vehicle systems from potential cyber threats, Trillium ensures the safety and security of both the vehicle and its passengers. By leveraging advanced technology, Trillium aims to provide a reliable and robust defense against cybersecurity risks in the automotive industry.

Hailo Network

Venture Round in 2013
Hailo Network, established in 1947, is a global manufacturer and supplier of ladder systems, steps, and waste bins, renowned for its innovative products and safety features. The company, headquartered in Germany, operates in over 60 countries worldwide, distributing its products through a extensive network of retailers and wholesalers. Hailo's commitment to quality, safety, and innovation has positioned it as a leading provider in its industry.

Otetsutabi

Otetsutabi Co., Ltd. is a platform based in Tokyo, Japan, that focuses on regional revitalization by connecting travelers with rural communities in need of seasonal labor. Established in 2018, the company provides a unique opportunity for participants to engage with local accommodations and breweries, helping to address labor shortages in these areas. Travelers can assist with various tasks in exchange for free lodging and meals, allowing them to experience Japan's rich culture and scenic landscapes while contributing to local economies. The service promotes tourism by facilitating meaningful interactions between visitors and residents, enhancing the overall travel experience.
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