WiL

WiL, or World Innovation Lab, is a venture capital investment firm founded in 2013, with offices in Palo Alto, California, and Tokyo, Japan. The firm focuses on bridging the gap between startups and corporations in the United States and Asia, particularly Japan. WiL invests in a diverse range of sectors, including fintech, insurtech, automation, cybersecurity, health tech, and sustainability, targeting seed-stage to later-stage companies. By establishing corporate partnerships, WiL helps U.S. and European startups scale globally while supporting Japanese startups in their innovation and globalization efforts. The firm also collaborates with corporate investors to enhance their innovation capabilities through new business creation and partnerships with leading startups. WiL’s notable investments include companies that have successfully exited to public markets, demonstrating its commitment to fostering growth in key innovation hubs.

Clifford Cohn

Investor

Todd Grover

Principal

Gen Isayama

General Partner

Aki Jiang

Investor and Partner

Arata Kokaji

Principal

Aki Koto

Partner

Masaya Kubota

Partner

Masataka Matsumoto

Co-Founder and General Partner

Toshimichi Namba

Partner

Mike Sarchet

Investor

Yamato Sasagawa

Investor

Tomo Shikata

Investor

Tsune Shirota

Partner

Rob Theis

General Partner

Clifford Cohn

Principal

Past deals in Art

Heralbony

Venture Round in 2025
Heralbony is an art organization dedicated to challenging stereotypes surrounding individuals with disabilities and fostering a new cultural narrative. It operates as an art agency that collaborates with artists from social welfare facilities, providing them with opportunities to gain social status and financial independence. The organization licenses artworks for various applications, including station buildings, office walls, and food packaging. Additionally, Heralbony engages in the planning, manufacturing, and marketing of its own-brand products, such as apparel and miscellaneous goods, further promoting the talents of artists with cognitive disabilities.

COMICSMART

Series A in 2024
Comic Smart is animation production business that develops exclusive manga and anime content.

Trys

Venture Round in 2014
Trys is a technology company specializing in illustration, manga production, and video game development. It focuses on creating original intellectual properties and provides design services for clients, including character design and illustration. The company operates a platform that produces video games for smartphones and develops manga videos. Trys manages the entire creative process, from initial drawing to coloring and specification design, ensuring that clients receive tailored content that meets their production criteria. Additionally, the company collaborates with professional cartoonists to develop engaging manga content, catering to both client needs and gaming enthusiasts who enjoy a variety of role-playing games on mobile devices.
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