株式会社Central Japan Innovation Capital

Tao Invest, the direct investment entity affiliated with Tao Capital Partners, invests in technology, alternative energy and transportation, healthcare, education, sustainable food & agriculture, consumer, and real estate businesses that have a positive impact. Tao is an active investor with the ability to support companies through various stages of their life-cycle. Portfolio Companies Alternative Transportation Tesla (TSLA), Uber (UBER), Proterra (PTRA), Ouster (OUST), Joby Aviation (JOBY), Bird (BRDS), SpaceX, Turo, The Boring Company Alternative Energy SolarCity (SCTY), Enlighted (Siemens), Arcadia Technology DeepMind (GOOG), Akerna (KERN), ironSource (IS), IonQ (IONQ), BitTitan (Idera), Crossbar, Illumio, Snow, RapidDeploy, Premise, Skupos, Holo, Seso Labor, Overflow, Republic, ZaiNar, Nimble Robotics Healthcare Foundations Recovery Network (UHS), Twist (TWST), 908D (MASS), Zymergen (ZY), CareZone (WMT), PointClickCare, Verge, Activ Surgical, Encodia, Enspectra, Truvian, SiteRx, Apnimed, Vizgen, Ultivue, Lumicks, IMIDomics, Arbor, Kallyope Education DreamBox (Evergreen), Newsela, Panorama, Hazel Health Sustainable Food & Agriculture Granular (DWDP), Benson Hill (BHIL), GreenLight Bio (GRNA), Ripple, Myco, Apeel, Revolution Foods, Brightloom, TemperPack, Dig Inn, Meati, Good Eggs, Fifth Season, Kingdom Supercultures, Sweet Nothings Consumer Warby Parker (WRBY), Harry's, PAX, JUUL, Eight Sleep, 100 Thieves, Cometeer, Nettwerk, United Record Pressing Real Estate & Hospitality Buildium (RP), Porch (PRCH), Sonder (SOND), Raken, Revinate, Atlantica Hotels, multi-family

We invest in rapidly growing venture enterprises with trust and experience. For over 20 years, we have been investing in various industries and maintained a stable performance of the investment. We are raising investment value by supporting the network to expand business from investing in early-stage startups to growing scale-up companies.

Coral Capital is a venture capital firm focused on helping build Japan’s next legendary companies. In search of the new generation of Sonys and Toyotas, we invest across all stages and all industries, from SaaS all the way to fusion. With about $300m under management, we have invested in over 100 companies including SmartHR, KAKEHASHI, Kyoto Fusioneering, Kaminashi, Hacomono, Graffer, and GITAI. We launched our first fund in partnership with 500 Startups, a Silicon Valley based firm and one of the most active investors in the world. Given our Silicon Valley roots, we were the first to introduce many concepts in Japan, including convertible equity (J-KISS), and the startup market’s first SPV. Although we are no longer affiliated with 500 Startups, we still maintain a global network of investors, some of which are LPs in our funds. In addition to capital, we manage one of the most engaged communities of founders and startup employees in Japan. We also run the most widely read VC blog and the largest startup career fair in the country, both of which drive thousands of candidates to our portfolio companies to hire each year. We believe that the greatest companies are built by founders, not investors. The founders we invest in are exceptional without our help. Our job is to be their multiplier. We help them go faster and go bigger, while giving them the space to build their companies as they see fit. We are not “hands on” investors nor “hands off” investors. We are “hands-if” investors. As in, “call us IF you need us.” We are there when you need us, and out of your way when you don’t. FAST FACTSJames Riney and Yohei Sawayama closed their first fund in partnership with 500 Startups in February 2016. They closed their second fund in February 2019 under their own brand, Coral Capital. Investors include Mizuho Bank, Mitsubishi Estate, Shinsei Bank, J-Power, Pavilion Capital, GREE, Dai-ichi Insurance, Founders Fund, and undisclosed institutional investors in Japan and the US. The partners have about $300m under management. The partners have invested in over 100 companies. We invest across all industries and all stages, from Seed to Series B and beyond. In April 2016, the partners launched the J-KISS, a financing instrument that has quickly become the standard template for seed-stage companies in Japan.

Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd. was established in December 2014 with 100% investment from the National University Corporation, Kyoto University. It is a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in startup companies that leverage the advanced research achievements of national universities, including Kyoto University, a world-class research institution. Our goal is to contribute to the creation of next-generation industries. A statement from a certain researcher remains vivid in my memory: “While there have been startup companies utilizing research results that I poured my heart into, many of them were overseas companies, with very few examples of Japanese companies.” In recent years, expectations for university-based startups have increased, and the number of excellent startup companies utilizing university research achievements in Japan has also increased. Considering the level and depth of academic research in Japan, we believe there should be even more entrepreneurial opportunities (seeds) at universities. Therefore, our company not only focuses on “discovering investment opportunities” but also devotes itself to “supporting entrepreneurship based on university research seeds” and is committed to creating university-based startups. In January 2016, we established the Innovation Kyoto 2016 Investment Limited Partnership (1st Fund); with the support of business corporations, financial institutions, and private venture capital firms, we have been actively engaged in financing start-ups, creating carve-out ventures in collaborations with large companies and investing in overseas start-ups. With the establishment of the Innovation Kyoto 2021 Investment Limited Partnership (2nd Fund) in January 2021, it became possible to, under certain conditions, invest in startup companies originating from national universities other than Kyoto University. Through such investments, we aim to share the expertise we have cultivated and contribute to uplifting the overall ecosystem of university-based startups not only at Kyoto University but also at other national universities. However, carrying out these activities independently poses a challenge for our company. Therefore, we strongly feel that increased support from everyone is more necessary now than ever before. For this reason, we sincerely appreciate your continued guidance and encouragement.

Japan, which once dominated the world with its capital and technological prowess, has gradually begun to lag behind the rest of the world without realizing it. And the old structure and systems are causing further delays and widening the gap with the rest of the world. Our mission at One Capital is to update Japanese companies and managers so that Japan will not be left behind by the world and the times. Investing in the future of work By leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI and cloud computing, we aim to enhance the productivity of business professionals and transform the business structure of Japan. With technology at the core, we are exploring new possibilities in work styles and aim to establish Japan as a leader in the digital era, showcasing this to the world. Furthermore, One Capital itself is overturning traditional working methods, utilizing technology to realize a work style that prioritizes flexibility and efficiency. Accelerate InnovationSTRATEGIC INSIGHTS. Accelerate innovation through bold strategic insights that defy common sense, the past, and convention. CONNECTED PARTNERSHIP. Accelerate innovation by ensuring that entrepreneurs, business professionals, and internal teams are deeply connected at all times. DATA DRIVEN APPROACH. Accelerate innovation by using data to show/measure objectives, plans, progress, and challenges.