SMBC Venture Capital

Sazo specializes in constructing a global e-commerce and logistics network with AI.

Shinmirai Inc., established in Tokyo, Japan in 2016, specializes in wood processing and distribution services. The company operates sawmills, timber shops, and processing plants to transform traditional timber inventory management into digital, information-based systems. Shinmirai's core business involves converting the inventories of forestry workers, sawmills, and lumber shops into valuable data, enabling efficient timber distribution and access to matching platforms for businesses and designers. The company aims to promote sustainable forestry practices by facilitating transparent and effective timber distribution services.

Kamereo is a B2B distributor specializing in food supply solutions for the F&B industry. It leverages technology to optimize purchasing processes, offering a diverse range of products at competitive prices through its platform.

ZABoooN is a shipping company that specializes in maritime solutions, providing services in crew labor management, movement management, and ship management. The company has developed a platform that streamlines the connection between ships and land operations, allowing for efficient management of maritime logistics. Its ship management function simplifies the attendance registration process for seafarers, enabling users to record attendance with a single tap on a smartphone or tablet. This innovation automatically generates a labor-management record book, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs for clients through cloud-based services.

Founded in Tokyo in 2013 by Hidetsugu Ito, OpenLogi designs a cloud-based platform offering affordable outsourced logistics solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers. The platform optimizes warehouse control systems, leveraging unused assets and downtime to facilitate efficient logistics operations.

X Mile is an HR platform that connects logistics companies with drivers, aiming to address industry challenges like labor shortages and low productivity.

DayBreak Co, Ltd. is a Tokyo-based company established in 2013 that specializes in refrigeration technology and quick freezing services. The company offers a range of solutions, including the sale, installation, and construction of specialized quick freezers and refrigeration equipment. Additionally, DayBreak provides consulting and support for the introduction of these technologies, facilitating the distribution of quick freezing ingredients. The company also operates a service called Henoheno, focused on frozen fruit, and engages in the distribution of frozen food products through its internet services.

SmartRyde is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in airport transfer services. It operates a reservation platform that connects travelers with a wide variety of transportation options from over 650 operators worldwide. SmartRyde’s platform is designed to facilitate safe and seamless airport transfers, allowing users to pre-book their rides from a diverse selection of car models. The company also collaborates with more than 25 online travel agencies, including major players like Booking.com and Expedia, to enhance its service offerings. By focusing on customer support and ease of use, SmartRyde aims to make travel more comfortable and efficient for its users.

LexxPluss develops automated transport robots for logistics warehouses. Their solution combines autonomous driving technology with guided mode navigation, ensuring accuracy even in challenging environments. The company focuses on cost-effectiveness, safety analysis, and user experience to enable efficient automation of labor-intensive tasks.

Celonis is a company that specializes in execution management, focusing on optimizing and analyzing business processes across various industries, including production, human resources, and logistics. Its core product, the Celonis Execution Management System (EMS), utilizes advanced process mining technology to enhance productivity and streamline operations. The EMS provides a comprehensive suite of tools and applications, including Celonis Studio, designed for business executives and users to effectively manage execution across analytics, strategy, planning, and automation. By offering unique software solutions, Celonis enables organizations to improve process transparency and efficiency, ultimately unlocking their full execution capacity.

Torana, Inc. is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2015 that specializes in providing educational toy rental services through a subscription model. The company's flagship service, "Toysub!", delivers toys specifically designed for infants and toddlers, allowing families to optimize playtime as their children grow. Torana serves approximately 15,000 households in Japan and has expanded its offerings to Taiwan. By leveraging data from over 400,000 toy evaluations and 100,000 planning sessions, Torana has developed a systematic approach to selecting and delivering toys that support children's developmental needs, all while promoting quality parent-child interaction.

LexxPluss develops automated transport robots for logistics warehouses. Their solution combines autonomous driving technology with guided mode navigation, ensuring accuracy even in challenging environments. The company focuses on cost-effectiveness, safety analysis, and user experience to enable efficient automation of labor-intensive tasks.

SmartRyde is a Tokyo-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in airport transfer services. It operates a reservation platform that connects travelers with a wide variety of transportation options from over 650 operators worldwide. SmartRyde’s platform is designed to facilitate safe and seamless airport transfers, allowing users to pre-book their rides from a diverse selection of car models. The company also collaborates with more than 25 online travel agencies, including major players like Booking.com and Expedia, to enhance its service offerings. By focusing on customer support and ease of use, SmartRyde aims to make travel more comfortable and efficient for its users.

Hacobu Co., Ltd., established in 2015 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in developing logistics applications and hardware. The company's core offering, MOVO, is an integrated operation management system centered around in-vehicle terminals. MOVO connects carriers and shipping companies, streamlining luggage delivery processes through an easy-to-use online mechanism. Additionally, Hacobu provides solutions such as delivery matching, vehicle management, and dynamic driver management, along with track reservation and automation tools. By accumulating and analyzing distribution data from various companies, Hacobu aims to optimize the entire physical distribution system, enhancing overall logistics efficiency.

Brandit is a fashion technology company that enables direct-to-consumer brands through end-to-end services and a digital platform. It provides in-house production, inventory management, marketing, analytics, and logistics to support brand creation, scaling, and operations in the fashion sector. The Brandit system and its apparel EC platform allow developers and brands to manage development, production, sales, distribution, and channel-level costs and commissions from a single interface to optimize profitability. The company also manages D2C brands such as TRUNC 88 and originated as a spin-off connected with Candee, focusing on brand incubation and digital transformation to help fashion businesses launch and grow in a direct-to-consumer environment.

Okan is a food service company that specializes in delivering Japanese deli foods to both corporations and individual consumers. The company focuses on enhancing the quality of life for working individuals by providing convenient access to nutritious meals. Okan's platform offers a meal delivery service featuring refrigerated meals that can be stored for up to one month, catering specifically to the needs of employees. By aligning with values that emphasize the importance of work-life balance, Okan aims to promote health and well-being among its customers, ensuring that everyone has access to quality food that supports a healthy lifestyle.

Founded in Tokyo in 2013 by Hidetsugu Ito, OpenLogi designs a cloud-based platform offering affordable outsourced logistics solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers. The platform optimizes warehouse control systems, leveraging unused assets and downtime to facilitate efficient logistics operations.

Hachimenroppi Inc. is a fish delivery service based in Chuo, Japan, that caters primarily to Japanese restaurants and diners. Founded in 2007 and formerly known as Established Energy Agent Co., Ltd., the company changed its name in December 2011. Hachimenroppi sources fish from various markets and brokers, ensuring freshness and quality for its clients. In addition to its core fish delivery service, the company operates an e-commerce platform that facilitates the delivery and ordering of a wider range of fresh and frozen foods, including seafood, fruits, vegetables, meat, cereals, and noodles. This platform leverages technology to meet the specific demands of the professional food industry, enabling restaurants to access a variety of products at competitive prices.

Founded in 2004, SmartDrive Systems provides driver safety and fuel management solutions for commercial fleets worldwide. Its core offerings include SmartDrive Safety (video-based driver coaching), SmartDrive Fuel (fuel performance analytics), SmartIQ (real-time actionable fleet data), and SmartRecorder (event recording system). The company employs over 400 people globally, with headquarters in San Diego, California.

Hachimenroppi Inc. is a fish delivery service based in Chuo, Japan, that caters primarily to Japanese restaurants and diners. Founded in 2007 and formerly known as Established Energy Agent Co., Ltd., the company changed its name in December 2011. Hachimenroppi sources fish from various markets and brokers, ensuring freshness and quality for its clients. In addition to its core fish delivery service, the company operates an e-commerce platform that facilitates the delivery and ordering of a wider range of fresh and frozen foods, including seafood, fruits, vegetables, meat, cereals, and noodles. This platform leverages technology to meet the specific demands of the professional food industry, enabling restaurants to access a variety of products at competitive prices.

Hacobu Co., Ltd., established in 2015 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in developing logistics applications and hardware. The company's core offering, MOVO, is an integrated operation management system centered around in-vehicle terminals. MOVO connects carriers and shipping companies, streamlining luggage delivery processes through an easy-to-use online mechanism. Additionally, Hacobu provides solutions such as delivery matching, vehicle management, and dynamic driver management, along with track reservation and automation tools. By accumulating and analyzing distribution data from various companies, Hacobu aims to optimize the entire physical distribution system, enhancing overall logistics efficiency.

Founded in Tokyo in 2013 by Hidetsugu Ito, OpenLogi designs a cloud-based platform offering affordable outsourced logistics solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers. The platform optimizes warehouse control systems, leveraging unused assets and downtime to facilitate efficient logistics operations.

Okan is a food service company that specializes in delivering Japanese deli foods to both corporations and individual consumers. The company focuses on enhancing the quality of life for working individuals by providing convenient access to nutritious meals. Okan's platform offers a meal delivery service featuring refrigerated meals that can be stored for up to one month, catering specifically to the needs of employees. By aligning with values that emphasize the importance of work-life balance, Okan aims to promote health and well-being among its customers, ensuring that everyone has access to quality food that supports a healthy lifestyle.

Shigoto-Ryokou, known as "Job Travel Agency," operates as a work trip agency that facilitates unique travel experiences for employees. The company provides opportunities for individuals to explore various workplaces and occupations, allowing them to work in different sectors regardless of their current roles. By offering these work trips, Shigoto-Ryokou aims to revitalize employees and broaden their perspectives through experiential learning. This service not only enhances personal growth but also fosters a deeper understanding of diverse professional environments.

Kyoto Robotics Corporation is a Japanese company that specializes in developing intelligent picking robots for the logistics industry. Founded in 2000 and based in Kusatsu, the company was previously known as 3D MEDiA Co., Ltd. until it rebranded in January 2018. Kyoto Robotics focuses on creating advanced robotics solutions that enhance logistics operations, including robots designed for palletizing and piece-picking applications. The company's innovative technology incorporates a 3D robot vision system capable of object recognition and pose estimation, allowing the robots to intelligently navigate and control their movements. In addition to its robotic products, Kyoto Robotics also provides technical support services to ensure optimal performance and integration within client operations.

FREEPLUS Inc. is a tourism company based in Osaka, Japan, founded in 2007. It specializes in inbound tourism services, catering primarily to foreign tourists visiting Japan. The company operates as a tour operator, offering a diverse range of travel experiences, including group tours, independent tours, and specialized tours for government and corporate clients. FREEPLUS collaborates with overseas travel agencies, providing comprehensive services such as itinerary management, hotel arrangements, and meeting planning for events like conferences and exhibitions. Additionally, the company aggregates information about sightseeing spots and local attractions across various prefectures in Japan, helping to enhance the travel experience while supporting local governments and businesses in attracting inbound tourists. With branch offices in Sapporo, Beppu, Shanghai, and Indonesia, FREEPLUS is committed to creating memorable travel experiences for its clients.

Hunglead is a company that specializes in enhancing the efficiency of online retail operations through its innovative cloud-based solutions. The firm offers a centralized management system known as the Robot Series, which simplifies various complex tasks associated with running multiple online stores. This system supports improvements in key areas such as inventory management, product management, order management, customer management, and advertisement management. By streamlining these processes, Hunglead enables online retailers to operate more effectively and focus on growth.