
ABOUT
JIC-VGI
JIC Venture Growth Investments Co., Ltd.(JIC VGI) helps to improve Japan's international competitiveness by promoting innovation that helps solve social and industrial issues in Japan. JIC VIG accomplishes this mission in the following five ways;
- Strengthening industrial competitiveness by providing sufficient risk-money to growth stage startup companies based on Japan's industrial policy and through collaborations with the private sector.
- Accelerating innovation and helping to solve indutrial and social issues by supporting and seeking innovative technologies and new businesses.
- Promoting an open-innovation framework which transcends existing industrial models and aims to apply innovation toward social good and ultimately leading to the development of an indigenous innovation ecosystem in Japan
- Maximizing return on investments through value-up activities, such as deal sourcing that utilizes the networks and catalytic functions of the government-backed fund, providing hands-on support, and collaboration across industries.
- By accomplishing the above, we can seek out and nurture diverse human resources and further contribute to the establishment of a broad and diversified foundation for providing risk-money in Japan.
Company Name | JIC Venture Growth Investments Co., Ltd. |
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Executives | Chief Executive Officer Hideki Yarimizu Chief Investment Officer Tomohiro Tange Member of the Board Toshiyuki Kumura (Chief Investment Officer of JIC) Member of the Board Takuya Fukumoto (Chief Strategy Officer of JIC) Auditor Shinichi Shirayama |
Address | 1-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
Foundation | July 2020 |
Capital | 20 million yen |
greeting
from ceo

JIC VGI was established in July 2020 as a venture capital arm of JIC group. Its mission is to promote innovation and improve the international competitiveness of Japanese firms, all toward the broader goal of helping to solve Japan's social and industrial issues.
Promoting an open-innovation framework that transcends the existing industrial-model and leads to the creation of new industries is one of the most important policy goals for Japan as its economy must account for one of the world's most rapidly aging societies and a steadily declining labor population. Japan's venture ecosystem has developed dramatically through the support and collaboration of related industries, but there is more that can be done.
Japan has the potential to develop an even greater world-cass venture ecosystem rooted in its industry and corporate culture through the collaboration of the public and private sectors, by continuing to provide risk-money to different stages of development, seeking entrepreneurs, nuturing a diverse labor force, encouraging deeper collaboration among startups and large corporations, and steadily implementing the innovations of Japan's startups.
As professionals of a government-backed fund, , we aim to contribute to the further development of the venture ecosystem in Japan with our dedication to this goal, a sense of mission, a public mind, and a strong passion to collaborate with ambitious entrepreneurs, venture capitals, business corporations, academics, and the public sector.
We sincerely ask for your guidance and support.
news
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2022/05/12
JIC VGI has invested in ZEALS Co., Ltd.
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2022/05/10
JIC VGI has invested in SYNQA CO, LTD.
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2022/04/21
JIC VGI has invested in Tabist Inc.
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2022/04/19
JIC VGI has invested in TOKIUM Inc.
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2022/04/08
JIC VGI has invested in Sharing Energy Co., Ltd.
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2022/03/31
JIC VGI has invested in AIQ, Inc.
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2022/03/28
JIC VGI has invested in Aculys Pharma, Inc.
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2022/03/28
JIC VGI has invested in QunaSys Inc.
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2022/03/24
JIC VGI has invested in matsuri technologies Co., Ltd.
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2022/03/03
JIC VGI has invested in KOMPEITO Inc.
more
members
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HIDEKI YARIMIZU
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Tomohiro Tange
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Toru Eguchi
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Daisuke Kaihoku
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Yoshiharu Asai
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Kentaro Azuma
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Masaki Onuma
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Toshiya Kishimura
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Yuki Kuwabara
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Shota Suka
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Hanae Suzuki
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Dai Tsujikawa
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Shoko Nishida
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Yutaka Hamano
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Mayumi Beppu
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Reika Matsuda
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Noriaki Mukainaka
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Shun Ichimura
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Akira Suenaga
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Takashi Kimura
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Daisuke Mizutani
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Kenji Wasada
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Teppei Yamane
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Misaki Matsumoto
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Jun Hayashi
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Pei-Ying Pamela Chiang
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Hideki Yarimizu
Chief Executive Officer
Hideki began his career at a domestic financial institution after receiving his BA in law from Waseda University. He has engaged with branch work, headquarters' sales & planning section, sales promotion, financial planning, and management strategy. He has also performed consulting work for financial institutions and business corporations at an international consulting company. After joining INCJ, he engaged with investments and value-up activities.
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TOMOHIRO TANGE
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Tomohiro joined financial advisory firm and engaged in various work on value-evaluations, corporate reorganizations, and advisories on investment structure. He joined INCJ in 2010 where he was involved with planning investment strategy, new business investments, M&A in overseas companies, curve-out deals, growth-stage investments, fund investments, investments as an industrial & social issue solution. He focuses on developing new investment themes such as robotics, AI/IoT/big data, industrial-internet, ICT healthcare as well as developing partnerships with big corporations. He holds a BS in corporate finance, from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
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TORU EGUCHI
CONTROLLER
Toru is joined VGI in 2020. Prior to joining VGI, he worked in portfolio management of INCJ at JIC. He gained experience in examining start-up companies from various angles through the practice of accounting audits, internal control audits, IPO support, M&A support, and grasping the actual situation of investee companies. Before that, he was a partner of YUSEI Audit & Co. after working for Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance and Chuo Audit Corporation. He received a BS in Education from the University of Tokyo. He qualified as a CPA in Japan.
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DAISUKE KAIHOKU
PARTNER
Prior to joining VGI in August 2020, Daisuke worked as a director for the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), with a focus on venture capital investments and fund investments, as well as social problem solutions. He has a broad range of industry experience, including digital transformation in the industrial & agricultural fields and social implementation of technologies. Prior to joining INCJ, he worked for a patent law firm, where he supported Ricoh Company Ltd's intellectual property strategy, and helped the company acquire, protect, and use its IPR. He began his career in sales and business at Toppan Printing Co., Ltd in 1998.
He holds a Master's Degree in information science from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (2011), an MBA in financial strategy (2016), and a Master's Degree in business law (2014) from Hitotsubashi University Graduate School. He attained a Bachelor's degree in education from Waseda University in 1998 and a second Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Tokyo University of Science in 2008. He was certified as a Japanese patent attorney in 2005.xclose
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YOSHIHARU ASAI
PRINCIPAL
Yoshiharu joined VGI in 2020, prior to which he worked for INCJ as a venture capitalist. He previously worked at Daiwa, a Japan-based investment bank, mainly focusing on capital markets for growth sectors and biotechs. He received his MS in life science from the University of Tokyo and a B.Pharm from the Tokyo University of Science. He is a registered pharmacist and also a CMA.
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KENTARO AZUMA
PARTNER
Kentaro is temporarily assigned to the JIC from the Japanese Government, and worked for the VGI and the INCJ as a venture capitalist. Before that, he worked for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ibaraki Prefectural Government and the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University.
He received a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Tokyo, a Ph.D from Tokyo Women's Medical University and Waseda University and an MBA (with a concentration in Health Sector Management) from Duke University, where he earned the distinction of Fuqua Scholar. He is a registered pharmacist.xclose
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MASAKI ONUMA
PARTNER
Professional Experience; Masaki is experienced in venture & growth investment and hands-on support for portfolio companies' corporate strategy/development at INCJ. He also has experience in corporate strategy & execution in international environments having worked at NTT, Boston Consulting Group, and is also especially well versed in telecom/ICT, media and manufacturing industries. He holds a BS and MS degrees in science & technology from Waseda University.
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TOSHIYA KISHIMURA
PARTNER
Toshiya joined VGI in 2020, after he worked for INCJ as a venture capitalist. Before that, he was a business development director of marketing technology at Hakuhodo Inc. He received his Master's degree in engineering from the University of Tokyo.
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YUKI KUWABARA
PRINCIPAL
Yuki joined VGI in 2020, prior to which he worked for INCJ as a venture capitalist. Before that, he was a consultant for technology, media, and telecom sectors at the Japan Research Institute. He received his Master's degree in physics from the University of Tokyo.
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SHOTA SUKA
PARTNER
Shota has experience in several types of investments such as startups, curve-out, a joint-venture, and has participated in an industry-reorganization project focusing on chemical materials and the robotics/IoT industry. He has also worked on a fund raising activity and LP investment. Before joining INCJ, he worked at AGC, a global chemical company, as an engineer and with Boston Consulting Group as a consultant. He received a Master's degree in science and engineering from Keio University in Japan.
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HANAE SUZUKI
PRINCIPAL
Prior to joining VGI in 2020, Hanae spent two years with the Venture and Growth Investment Group at INCJ, where her specific interests include biotech, digital health, and aerospace.
Prior to joining INCJ,, she was a project manager at a Japanese biotech startup, where she led drug discovery research and a clinical study in oncology. She began her career with Canon as a material engineer developing inkjet printers. She is also currently serving as a visiting advisor with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). She holds an MBA from the London Business School and an MS in bioengineering from the University of Tokyo.xclose
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DAI TSUJIKAWA
PARTNER
Dai joined VGI in 2020. Prior to joining VGI, he worked for Shinsei Capital Partners and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital as a venture capitalist for 16 years. Before that, he worked for Toshiba as a mechanical engineer and worked as a financial analyst for GE healthcare. He received an MBA from Keio Business School and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Osaka University.
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SHOKO NISHIDA
PRINCIPAL
Shoko transferred to VGI in 2020 after working at INCJ since 2018. She began her career with Accenture, where she was in charge of planning business strategy and business transformation for high-tech manufacturing companies, telecommunications carriers, and more. She then joined a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) to lead a new service development. She transferred to VGI in Aug. 2020, after beginning her work with INCJ in 2018. She holds a BE in information and computer science from Keio University and an MBA in finance from Hitotsubashi University.
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YUTAKA HAMANO
PARTNER
Prior to joining VGI in 2020, Yutaka worked as a venture capitalist with INCJ since January 2017. Yutaka joined VGI in 2020. Before that, he worked for an engineering firm, engaged in overseas sales, startup of new business/overseas subsidiary/JV, and cross-border M&A in Asia, the Middle East, and North America. He received an MBA from INSEAD and Bachelor's degree in political science from Keio University.
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MAYUMI BEPPU
PARTNER
Mayumi joined VGI in 2020, after beginning her work with INCJ in 2014 where she focuses on investments in university-based startups and those in local cities which developing AI, software, industrial machines, and more. She began her career with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) where she focused on trade and investment issues in Latin America, as well as the cap-and-trade system and later worked at the World Bank's Clean Technology Fund. She is interested in areas such as workstyle innovation, the medical/healthcare and Ed-tech field. She holds a BA from Keio University in Japan and a master's degree as a Fulbright Scholar from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. In addition to her native Japanese, she speaks English and Spanish.
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REIKA MATSUDA
PARTNER
Reika focuses on investment in the medical/healthcare fields and the AI/big data/SaaS fields. She has experienced carve-out investment, fund investment, and value creation through the incorporation of design thinking.
She joined VGI in 2020 after working in INCJ as a venture capitalist.
Before that, she planned marketing strategy and led the launching of overseas businesses for Walt Disney Japan after working for a consultant at Accenture. She received her Master's degree in science from Osaka university and is also a registered dietitian.xclose
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NORIAKI MUKAINAKA
PARTNER
Noriaki joined VGI from INCJ, where was in charge of domestic industry realignment, carve-outs, and global growth capital. He previously worked as a financial advisor with Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, with business planning at Recruit Group, and as a growth strategy advisor for Accenture. He graduated from Osaka University where he attained a degree in engineering.
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SHUN ICHIMURA
PARTNER
Shun is joined VGI in 2020 after working at INCJ since 2017. As a lead investor in early to late-stage startups, he has been responsible for all aspects of the investment process from origination to execution.
He formerly worked at Accenture in strategy group as a consultant. At Accenture, he was involved in building e-commerce strategy and implementing it with large-sized retailing companies as well as reorganizing sales team and its marketing strategy for major beverage companies. Prior to Accenture, He worked at Rakuten, the largest Japanese e-commerce oriented conglomerate.He graduated from Keio University with a BEc.xclose
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AKIRA SUENAGA
PARTNER
After qualified as an attorney at law of Japan in 2009, Akira engaged in a wide range of corporate legal affairs, such as finance transactions, M&A transactions, restructuring or insolvency matters and dispute resolution at Allen & Overy Tokyo and Sato & Partners. He joined INCJ in 2017 as an in-house counsel and supported investment executions and value creation of portfolio companies. Akira joined VGI as a venture capitalist in 2020. He holds LL.B. from Keio University and J.D. from Keio University Law School.
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TAKASHI KIMURA
PRINCIPAL
Takashi joined VGI in 2021. Prior to joining VGI, he worked for Mizuho Securities, advisory group of global investment banking department for over 14 years. He was in charge of advising mainly Japanese clients on their business portfolio strategies, capital strategies and mergers and acquisitions. From 2012 to 2017, he was based in New York office and engaged in origination and execution activities of cross border transactions. He covered several industries including financial industry, financial technology, social infrastructure (logistics and construction) and industry machinery.
He holds a bachelor of science and technology in administration engineering from Keio University and a master degree of science and technology in management science from Keio University.xclose
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DAISUKE MIZUTANI
PRINCIPAL
Daisuke joined VGI in 2021. Prior to joining VGI, he worked for Tokyo Gas, he was in charge of overseas business investment and then led Open-Innovation activity through Corporate Venture Capital and venture investment. Before that, he worked for NTT Finance, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Alternative Investment Capital, SMBC Venture Capital and Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory, experienced venture growth investment, principal investment, and alternative investment in a wide range of fields mainly on IT and Energy industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Engineering in Materials from Waseda University.
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KENJI WASADA
Principal
Director of Business DevelopmentKenji joined VGI in 2021, before Kenji assumed the current responsibility in VGI, he was managing robotics technology development projects including World Robot Summit at NEDO. During his assignment at NEDO Silicon Valley office in 2014, he was in charge of planning and operation of NEDO’s smart grid projects and Japan-US collaboration events in the U.S. Before that, he worked on global expansion of Japanese renewable energy technologies at the METI in 2010. He holds Master’s degree in Marine Biotechnology from the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.
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TEPPEI YAMANE
Manager
Teppei joined VGI in December 2020, prior to which he worked for INCJ as a venture capitalist since 2016. He engaged in venture-growth investment and value up support such as recruitment support. He formerly worked at Accenture in IT group as a consultant. At Accenture, he was involved in project management in Japan-US system integration project and derivatives trading system implementation project. Prior to Accenture, He worked at SBIC East Japan, Tokyo Small and Medium Business Investment & Consultation. At SBIC, he conducted startup investment, value up support such as human resource development, and fund operation. He was in charge of IT startups such as web advertising, web patrol and image processing. He graduated from Keio University with a Batchelor of Arts in Economics.
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MISAKI MATSUMOTO
Manager
Misaki joined one global accounting firm in 2014. She is seconded to VGI in 2021 October. At the accounting firm, she was initially engaged in financial statement audits of listed companies in various industries. Then she was assigned to a team specialized in growing enterprise support in 2019, where she was mainly engaged in audit of pre-IPO companies and support to start-ups including organizing business socializing events and providing informative materials in accounting. She obtained a MBA from Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from University of Hyogo. She is a licensed CPA in Japan.
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JUN HAYASHI
Principal
Jun joined VGI in December 2021 and previously worked at Mitsubishi Corporation in trading, investment, and business development in the materials, life science, and energy industries. He was mainly involved in M&A and PMI as one of the board members, venture investments and supports, as well as launching new businesses in North America and Southeast Asia in collaboration with major companies. He holds a Master’s degree in department of chemistry and biotechnology from University of Tokyo.
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PEI-YING PAMELA CHIANG
Principal
Manager of Business DevelopmentPamela joined VGI in January 2022. Prior to joining VGI, she worked as a Buy Side Equity Analyst and M&A Valuation & Modeling Analyst, specializing in domestic/cross-border venture business valuation, market entry/expansion strategy, business due diligence and fundraising support. Before that, she was an Urban Design Consultant, designing and transforming built spaces into innovative milieux. Growing up and working in Taiwan, Canada, the UK and Japan, as well as being multilingual has enabled her to develop a global mindset and interdisciplinary perspective to deliver business value, leverage innovation and create positive impact by people and for people. She holds a Master’s degree in Media Design from Keio University, an MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration from the University of Cambridge and a BSc in Urban Planning, Design and Management with First Class Honors from University College London (UCL), the University of London.
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access
Tokyo Toranomon Global Square7F(Reception:8F)
1-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
- Toranomon Station(Tokyo Metro)
- Ginza Line Exit 12: Direct Connection
- Kasumigaseki Station(Tokyo Metro)
- Marunouchi Line, Hibiya Line, Chiyoda Line Exit A12: Approx. 4-minute walk
contact us
For inquiry, please fill in the form below. Please be aware that we respond to inquiries approximately within a month only in case we are available to further asess them based on the provided information.