SMBC Venture Capital

NEL is a creative agency and platform that connects brands with consumers through purchases and social media posts. It operates by enabling creator-powered marketing, supporting growth and monetization for brands and creators. The company focuses on marketing planning and distribution, leveraging a network of creators on a short-film platform centered on social media to expand the value-added economy.

Founded in Tokyo in 2014, Saleshub operates an online platform facilitating connections between individuals seeking side jobs, businesses looking for customers, and customers aiming to make referrals. The platform enables users to earn rewards by introducing acquaintances to relevant business opportunities.

Good News is a staffing agency that specializes in recruitment consulting services, offering comprehensive support to businesses in their hiring processes. The company provides a range of services, including media selection, advertisement production, and effectiveness verification following job postings. Additionally, Good News develops recruitment public relations strategies to enhance employer branding and attract quality candidates. By facilitating the entire recruitment process and focusing on employee training, Good News aims to foster a collaborative work environment where businesses can effectively connect with and hire talent.

ByWill specializes in brand consulting and green transformation services, aiming to foster sustainability and enhance corporate value. Its offerings include market research, execution support, organizational strengthening consulting, cultural surveys, and environmental value creation assistance, empowering clients to strive towards carbon neutrality.

Micoworks is a marketing tool that facilitates communication and optimizes the customer experience through personalization.

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.

TieUps develops and operates social networking services integrated marketing solutions that help businesses and creators connect with audiences. It provides a technology platform with tools to consolidate individual and business links into a single profile, generate interchangeable digital business cards, and support community-based customer development and digital marketing, enabling high-quality, high-intensity connections between creators, consumers, and brands through specialized digital communication methods.

Taian specializes in bridal industry services and software. It provides tools for wedding planning and guest management, including designable invitations and seating charts aligned with a couple's theme, and a system to display guest information. It also offers a digital marketing platform that supports post-wedding experiences by delivering CRM-driven promotions for wedding businesses, such as web invitations and seating order lists, with the aim of encouraging guests to visit on-site venues and generating repeat business.

NEL is a creative agency and platform that connects brands with consumers through purchases and social media posts. It operates by enabling creator-powered marketing, supporting growth and monetization for brands and creators. The company focuses on marketing planning and distribution, leveraging a network of creators on a short-film platform centered on social media to expand the value-added economy.

Good Vibes Only Inc. is a consulting firm based in Shibuya, Japan, specializing in digital transformation and direct-to-consumer (D2C) services. Established in 2018, the company focuses on the apparel industry, offering a range of services that include product planning, development, manufacturing, public relations, and sales. Good Vibes Only operates an apparel digital transformation platform that leverages web3 technology to enhance merchandise planning and demand forecasting. By utilizing digital samples and artificial intelligence, the company aims to innovate supply chain processes in the apparel sector, facilitating regular access to new apparel in the web3 space for its clients.

Super Studio specializes in providing Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions that enhance the efficiency of eco-friendly operations, sales processes, and customer experiences. They offer consulting services focused on product planning, development, manufacturing, sales promotion, supply chain optimization, customer relationship management, and enterprise collaboration platforms.

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.

NetOn, Inc. is a consulting and recruitment firm based in Osaka, Japan, founded in 2004. The company specializes in providing cloud-based hiring solutions tailored for the Chinese market. Its services encompass web marketing consulting, assistance in creating recruitment-focused websites, and managing applicant information to streamline the hiring process. By enabling businesses to attract job applicants directly through their own platforms rather than relying on traditional job advertisements, NetOn aims to enhance recruitment efficiency and effectiveness. The firm offers comprehensive support, facilitating corporate management and monitoring recruitment status to better serve its clients' hiring needs.

ToBe Marketing Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based information technology company founded in 2015, specializing in client management systems and marketing automation. The company offers consulting services to help businesses integrate marketing technology with customer relationship management, aiming to enhance engagement between companies and their customers. ToBe Marketing provides a suite of tools that support various marketing and sales operations, including social media collaboration, email distribution, and salesforce integration. By focusing on the effective use of digital technology, ToBe Marketing empowers clients to improve their marketing outcomes and drive sales growth.

MIL Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in interactive video and movie production as well as product development services. The company focuses on a variety of video marketing solutions, including video commerce, online-to-offline (O2O) initiatives, recruitment videos, and landing videos. By integrating innovative video content into marketing strategies, MIL aims to enhance engagement and drive results for its clients.

IMCF Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based brand incubation company dedicated to supporting fashion designers in establishing and promoting their brands. By providing financial assistance, business management, marketing, and back office services, IMCF allows designers to concentrate on their creative work without being burdened by administrative tasks. The company collaborates closely with designers, acting as a business partner to facilitate their growth and success. IMCF's approach focuses on new value creation, enabling entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into viable businesses while gaining essential knowledge of marketing and operational processes, all while minimizing the cost and time involved in launching a brand.

Satori Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in developing a comprehensive marketing automation tool. This tool encompasses various functionalities, including lead management, lead generation, lead nurturing, lead qualification, and reporting. Satori aims to deliver creative and effective solutions tailored to their clients' needs, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. The company emphasizes a holistic approach to communications, offering a range of services in-house to meet diverse client requirements.

Pathee is an innovative search engine designed to provide users with tailored information based on their current location. By utilizing advanced location detection technology, the platform connects individuals with local retail options and relevant services. It offers a suite of digital marketing tools that enhance the interaction between consumers and the retail community. Through its services, Pathee enables users to access pertinent search results and discover shopping locations, while also providing retail chains with platforms for digital promotions and media optimization. This comprehensive approach supports both consumer needs and retail marketing efforts, facilitating a more efficient and targeted shopping experience.

EXest is a Tokyo-based startup that promotes inbound travel to Japan. It operates WOW U, a platform connecting visitors with licensed interpreters and tour guides, and offers video clips showcasing popular spots and souvenirs via WOWU-media.

Cozre is a media company that offers digital marketing support, DX solutions, and marketing research services for child-rearing households.

ToBe Marketing Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based information technology company founded in 2015, specializing in client management systems and marketing automation. The company offers consulting services to help businesses integrate marketing technology with customer relationship management, aiming to enhance engagement between companies and their customers. ToBe Marketing provides a suite of tools that support various marketing and sales operations, including social media collaboration, email distribution, and salesforce integration. By focusing on the effective use of digital technology, ToBe Marketing empowers clients to improve their marketing outcomes and drive sales growth.

Crafter is now a member of Monex Group! Crafter provides Crew, a team collaboration tool powered by GPT-3 and CraftChat. CraftChat is a SaaS platform for marketers who work in enterprises to automate acquiring leads and providing best customer experience in your absence.We remove the trouble of spending lots of money on online marketing and make better conversions. If you are using CraftChat, users don’t have to visit the website, it comes to you on your social media advertisements. CraftChat delivers more solid targeting based on social media activity and profiles.

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.

AdInnovation Inc. is a mobile advertising solutions provider based in Tokyo, Japan, operating since its founding in 2010. The company focuses on delivering marketing strategies specifically for smartphone applications across various regions, including Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. AdInnovation offers services such as HITRACKING, which enables mobile app and ad tracking through a single SDK, and AdStore, designed to measure advertising effectiveness. Additionally, the company specializes in mobile advertising marketing promotion, implementation, management, tracking, media site monetization, and media consulting. By providing effective promotional methods for applications, AdInnovation aims to help enterprises maximize their advertising potential and achieve significant user engagement and revenue growth.

Research and Innovation Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based market research company established in 2011, specializing in providing marketing research and information services through the Internet. The company offers a range of services, including barcode research, promotional programs, brand image association surveys, and consumer investigations. Its platforms, under the CODE and Mycomment brands, facilitate insights into consumer behavior, promotional effectiveness, and market trends. Research and Innovation serves diverse sectors such as food, beauty, retail, finance, and entertainment, helping clients understand consumer preferences and improve their strategies. By utilizing data analysis, the company empowers businesses to anticipate market trends and enhance revenue growth.

Metaps operates three core businesses: finance services including cashless payments, digital marketing solutions, and SaaS platforms for data analysis.

KPI Solutions Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in developing email marketing software. The company operates a marketing platform that facilitates collaboration and value sharing between consumers and marketers. Its platform features tracking technology for identification, as well as big data analytics and optimization tools to enhance consumption activities and security. This enables clients to attract customers more effectively and efficiently.

All Ads is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in digital marketing services aimed at enhancing the cost-effectiveness of advertising for business professionals. The company focuses on lifetime value (LTV) marketing, integrating data, technology, and consulting to optimize advertising strategies. In addition to LTV marketing, All Ads provides in-house media management and licensing services, which encompass affiliate advertising consulting, operational advertising consulting, and roundtable discussions. The company's mission is to support the growth of advertisers by improving their advertising performance and overall business outcomes.