Shizen Capital
Tokyo, Japan · Invests in Asia; Europe · Website
Check size
🔒 $•• – $••Thesis
Digital transformation of the enterprise in Japan. Backs ambitious startups with a tech component aiming to scale both domestically and internationally. Fund VII focuses on AI/deep tech, energy transition, inbound tourism, and defense. Founded by recovering entrepreneurs who believe operator experience makes better investors.
Likely not a fit for
Companies without Japan connection (must be Japanese KK or entering Japan), pure hardware without software/data, gambling/casino products
How they invest
- Lead or follow
- Usually leads
- Typical decision
- ~1 month
- Warm intro
- Not required
- Involvement
- Takes a board seat
- Fund status
- Actively deploying
- Decision process
- Partnership vote
Partners & team
8 contacts on file
m•••@sh•••.vc
Sign up free to unlock contact →n•••@sh•••.vc
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Shisa.AI develops Japanese-optimized translation, speech, and language models, providing enterprise APIs for reliable language solutions in the Japanese market.
Wagmi Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Texas, investing in Web3 companies, with a global syndicate of over 20,000 members. It focuses on cryptocurrency and has deployed over $23 million.
Pi-xcels offers a system to deliver instant, eco-friendly digital receipts for retailers, corporations, and other offline commerce enterprises. Its technology allows physical stores to capture meaningful data about customers without requiring app downloads or personal information.
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Colega AI is an AI-powered social media management tool that helps brands create, edit, and post content automatically, allowing businesses to engage with customers and stay active on social media effortlessly.
xMap provides AI-powered location intelligence solutions that help businesses make smarter decisions by leveraging geospatial data and analytics.
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Recent activity
- Nov 2025
Ocean
Seed · Investor
- Feb 2025
Colega AI
Seed · Lead
- Nov 2024
Pi-xcels
Series A · Investor
- Aug 2024
AironWorks
Series A · Investor
- May 2024
Woodstock
Series A · Investor
- Jul 2024
Reboot
Seed · Investor
- Sep 2024
xMap
Seed · Lead
Shizen Capital in the news
JStories
Japan Global Innovators’ Forum (JGIF) 2025: Startups from Japan and beyond unite to tackle global challenges
Mar 2025
gfmag.com
Japan: Startups Wanted
Feb 2025
Deals in brief: Pi-xcels raises USD 2.7 million, Vynn Capital backs MediSun Energy, Gobi Partners teams up with Cross Capital, and more
Nov 2024
First Sushi, now Ramen: Fukuoka unveils “RAMEN TECH” for innovation
Oct 2024
Real Estate Intelligence Startup xMap with Eye on U.S. Market Closes Pre-Seed Round
Sep 2024
xMap Secures Pre-Seed Funding to Expand AI-Powered Geospatial Analysis Globally
Sep 2024
Woodstock raises a total of JPY 750 million from Japanese and US investors | by Norbert Gehrke | Tokyo FinTech
May 2024
jetro.go.jp
Foreign Funds Find New Opportunities in Japan's Growing Startup World
Mar 2024
Japan's social innovators meet the world - and get their overseas growth potential assessed - at inaugural Japan Global Innovators' Forum
Mar 2024
Forecasts for 2024 from six visionary VCs
Dec 2023
Shizen Capital produces first female investor from Sprout GP-in-training initiative
Oct 2023
Unicorn production in France
Jun 2023
Is this a tipping point for Japan’s start-ups?
Apr 2023
If France Can Launch a Startup Revolution, Why Not Japan? | Economy | The ORIENTAL ECONOMIST
Feb 2023
On the importance of a Lead VC
Jan 2023
Forecasts for 2023 from five visionary VCs
Dec 2022
Shortening feedback loops
Nov 2022
Web3 for the gig economy
Nov 2022
Japan Lead VC Radar – A glance of the most active lead VCs in 2021 (Infographic)
Mar 2022
Japan VC Radar – A glance of the most active VCs in 2021 (Infographic) – BRIDGE
Feb 2022
Venture Capital: why AUM is the wrong metric
Nov 2021
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Invests in early-stage U.S. startups, leveraging celebrity co-founders and Japan–U.S. corporate networks to perform diligence, amplify storytelling via entertainment and influencer channels, and bridge cross-cultural markets. Co-founded by actor Will Smith, soccer star Keisuke Honda, and Japan-US bridge-builder Takeshi Nakanishi, creating a fund that connects established Japanese corporate investors with early-stage U.S. startups through Hollywood, sports, and cross-cultural business networks.
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Research briefRead more
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