SMBC Venture Capital

SMBC Venture Capital is the corporate venture capital arm of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, established in 2005 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The firm focuses on investing in companies across various sectors, including information technology, life sciences, services, and manufacturing. SMBC Venture Capital leverages its parent company's extensive financial services experience to identify and support innovative startups and growth-stage companies, aiming to foster advancements in these key industries. By providing not only capital but also strategic guidance and resources, SMBC Venture Capital seeks to drive growth and create long-term value for its portfolio companies.

Furuta Daiji

Managing Director

Akira Ochiai

President and CEO

Yamaguchi Masahiro

Managing Director

Past deals in Aerospace

Letara

Seed Round in 2025
Letara is a space technology company focused on developing a logistics network that spans the solar system. The company specializes in hybrid propulsion engines for small spacecraft, which are designed to deliver high thrust while maintaining safety and affordability. By utilizing innovative materials such as plastic in their propulsion systems, Letara aims to provide cost-effective solutions for small satellites engaged in research and development. This technology not only enhances activities in Earth's orbit but also facilitates deep space exploration, advancing the capabilities of businesses involved in the space sector.

Okuma Diamond Device

Seed Round in 2024
Okuma Diamond Device is a technology company specializing in the research and development of diamond semiconductors. These advanced materials are engineered to meet the demands of various high-tech applications, including communication satellites, radar systems, and post-5G mobile phone base stations. The company's diamond semiconductors boast superior thermal conductivity, dielectric breakdown, relative permittivity, and mobility, which are crucial for high-power utilization while maintaining a compact and lightweight design. This innovative technology is geared towards addressing the challenges associated with next-generation services such as autonomous driving, drones, the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and the metaverse, as well as supporting sectors like oil exploration and power plant decommissioning.

Innovative Space Carrier

Seed Round in 2024
Innovative Space Carrier is an aerospace company specializing in space transportation. It develops reusable space vehicles to make space travel more affordable, frequent, and reliable. The company's core business is to reduce transportation costs while maintaining high reliability, thereby fostering new industries and opportunities in space.

Drone Show Japan

Series A in 2024
Drone Show Japan specializes in creating innovative drone shows for various events, including outdoor and indoor exhibitions, as well as aerial photography services. The company aims to promote a drone-based society by leveraging advanced drone technologies. In addition to its show offerings, Drone Show Japan provides educational workshops focused on drone operation and technology, catering to event organizers, educators, and innovators. By combining entertainment with education, the company seeks to transform the experiences of its clients and leave a significant impact on their respective markets.

Iwaya Giken

Venture Round in 2023
Iwaya Giken manufactures and sells gas balloons, airtight cabins, and other space-travel equipment.

Iwaya Giken

Venture Round in 2022
Iwaya Giken manufactures and sells gas balloons, airtight cabins, and other space-travel equipment.

Space BD

Venture Round in 2021
Space BD is a company focused on facilitating the industrialization of space by offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to address the challenges faced by businesses developing new technologies. By adopting a business-driven approach, Space BD aims to streamline access to space for scientists and organizations, thereby promoting the commercialization of low Earth orbit. The company positions itself as a one-stop solution for various space-related needs, ultimately seeking to simplify and enhance the process of space exploration and utilization for its clients.

WARPSPACE

Series A in 2021
WARPSPACE Inc. is a space technology company based in Tsukuba, Japan, founded in 2016. It specializes in the design and development of satellite modules and ground system instruments. The company provides communication infrastructure services tailored for low Earth orbit satellites, which include on-demand ground stations, intersatellite communication infrastructure, and portable ground station services. WARPSPACE originated from a satellite development project at the University of Tsukuba, where its team gained substantial experience over five years before establishing the company.

Iwaya Giken

Venture Round in 2021
Iwaya Giken manufactures and sells gas balloons, airtight cabins, and other space-travel equipment.

Space BD

Venture Round in 2019
Space BD is a company focused on facilitating the industrialization of space by offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to address the challenges faced by businesses developing new technologies. By adopting a business-driven approach, Space BD aims to streamline access to space for scientists and organizations, thereby promoting the commercialization of low Earth orbit. The company positions itself as a one-stop solution for various space-related needs, ultimately seeking to simplify and enhance the process of space exploration and utilization for its clients.

Space BD

Venture Round in 2019
Space BD is a company focused on facilitating the industrialization of space by offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to address the challenges faced by businesses developing new technologies. By adopting a business-driven approach, Space BD aims to streamline access to space for scientists and organizations, thereby promoting the commercialization of low Earth orbit. The company positions itself as a one-stop solution for various space-related needs, ultimately seeking to simplify and enhance the process of space exploration and utilization for its clients.

Astroscale

Series D in 2018
Astroscale, established in 2013, is a Singapore-based company that specializes in developing technologies to address the growing issue of space debris. It offers two primary services: End-of-Life Service by Astroscale (ELSA), a spacecraft retrieval service for satellite operators, and Active Debris Removal (ADR), which focuses on clearing larger, more dangerous debris. Additionally, Astroscale designs and manufactures the Lunar Dream Capsule, a time capsule intended for delivery to the moon. The company's mission is to create sustainable space systems and mitigate the hazards posed by orbital debris through innovative and scalable solutions.

Meijo Nano Carbon

Venture Round in 2018
Meijo Nano Carbon Co., Ltd., established in 2005 and based in Nagoya, Japan, specializes in the manufacture of carbon nanotube chemicals. The company produces a range of carbon nanotubes, including single-walled varieties with uniform diameters and categorized into metallic and semiconducting types, as well as multi-walled carbon nanotubes derived from plant materials. Meijo Nano Carbon's products also include carbon nanotube dispersions such as inks and coatings. These nanotubes are designed to serve as lightweight alternatives to traditional conductive materials, such as copper, offering advantages in terms of conductivity and weight reduction. The company's innovations benefit various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and petrochemicals, by enabling the replacement of heavier components with more efficient, lightweight solutions.

iQPS

Venture Round in 2017
iQPS Inc. is a space technology service provider based in Fukuoka City, Japan, founded in 2005. The company specializes in the research, development, design, manufacturing, and sales of satellites, onboard equipment, precision instruments, and electronic equipment. In addition to its core manufacturing activities, iQPS offers technical consultation, as well as planning and operation of training sessions, workshops, and seminars focused on space technologies. The company is also involved in the acquisition and sale of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image data from small satellites, further enhancing its offerings in the aerospace sector.
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