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GLOCALINK
Yoshinobu Osaka's GLOCALINK bridges Japanese university deep-tech research and Southeast Asian seed-stage ventures from Tokyo.
GLOCALINK
GLOCALINK was established in 2015 by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd., a Japanese R&D-focused incubator, alongside founding partners including Yoshinobu Osaka and Kazuhiro Hasegawa. The firm emerged from the deep-science ecosystem Leave a Nest had cultivated since 2002, linking university laboratories and corporate R&D departments to entrepreneurial talent. Its Singapore affiliate, originally co-founded with Kobashi Holdings and Euglena Co., Ltd., later evolved into 144 Ventures under Managing Partner François-Laurent Renet. The firm targets seed and early-stage companies, focusing on technology transfer from Japanese universities and research institutes. Sectors include deep tech, agri-food tech, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. GLOCALINK operates physical incubation facilities branded Center of Garage (COG) in Tokyo and Malaysia, providing wet-lab and prototyping space. Its deployment model couples small equity checks with commercialization support, aiming to bridge the gap between Japanese deep-science IP and scalable Southeast Asian startups. Portfolio companies are typically pre-product, often spinning out from institutions like the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Kyoto University. GLOCALINK leverages Leave a Nest's network of over 200 corporate partners and hundreds of researchers for deal sourcing and technical due diligence. The firm maintains a lean operating team split between Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur. The Center of Garage Malaysia facility, located in the Technology Park Malaysia ecosystem, extends its presence into the halal food-tech and palm-oil innovation sectors. Yoshinobu Osaka leads investment decisions, with scientific evaluation supported by Leave a Nest's in-house PhD scientists. Unlike conventional seed funds, GLOCALINK functions as a de facto technology-transfer bridge. Its parent Leave a Nest combines grant-funded research programs with corporate innovation consulting, creating a sourcing funnel that reaches into Japanese national universities before venture formation. This structure provides deal flow that generalist venture funds rarely access, while the firm earns validation income separate from investment returns that partially underwrites portfolio company technical support.
General information
Firm type
Generalist
Year founded
2015
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Japan
City
Tokyo
Corporate office
Tokyo, Japan
Additional offices
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Principals
Yoshinobu Osaka
President and Representative Director
Kazuhiro Hasegawa
Director and Executive Officer at Leave a Nest
Altss tracks 1 additional named team member for this firm — including direct investment leads, IR, and operating principals not listed on the public website.
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Frequently asked questions
How does GLOCALINK source its deal flow?
GLOCALINK sources primarily through its parent organization Leave a Nest's network of university laboratories, corporate R&D partners, and research institutes in Japan. The firm runs incubation facilities called Center of Garage in Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur where early-stage teams prototype hardware and life-science products. This on-the-ground presence lets the investment team identify technical founders before formal fundraising rounds begin. Many portfolio companies are direct spinouts from institutions like the University of Tokyo and Tokyo Institute of Technology.
What is the relationship between GLOCALINK and Leave a Nest?
Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. is the founding partner and parent organization of GLOCALINK. Leave a Nest is a Japanese R&D incubator founded in 2002 that runs science education programs, corporate innovation consulting, and grant-funded research initiatives. GLOCALINK functions as the group's investment arm, making equity investments in companies that emerge from or intersect with Leave a Nest's broader ecosystem of researchers and corporate partners. The two organizations share key personnel, including Kazuhiro Hasegawa who serves as both a GLOCALINK director and Leave a Nest executive officer.
Does GLOCALINK invest outside of Japan?
Yes. GLOCALINK operates a physical incubation center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and invests in Southeast Asian startups navigating Japanese technology partnerships. Its Singapore affiliate, now operating as 144 Ventures under Managing Partner François-Laurent Renet, provides additional regional coverage. The firm's thesis centers on commercializing Japanese deep-science IP in Southeast Asian markets, particularly in agri-food tech, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors relevant to the region.
What investment stages does GLOCALINK target?
GLOCALINK focuses on seed and early-stage investments, often entering before a company has generated revenue or completed product development. Many portfolio companies are university spinouts at the prototype or proof-of-concept stage. The firm provides initial capital alongside incubation support through its Center of Garage facilities, which offer wet-lab space and prototyping equipment. Follow-on capital may be structured through co-investments with Leave a Nest's corporate partners.
Who makes investment decisions at GLOCALINK?
President and Representative Director Yoshinobu Osaka leads investment decisions at the firm's Tokyo headquarters. Kazuhiro Hasegawa, a director at GLOCALINK and executive officer at Leave a Nest, provides scientific and operational oversight. In Southeast Asia, 144 Ventures Managing Partner François-Laurent Renet drives the Singapore-linked deal activity. Technical due diligence is supported by Leave a Nest's in-house team of PhD scientists, who evaluate the underlying research before an investment committee review.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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