Updated:
Inclusion Japan
Inclusion Japan is a venture capital firm founded in 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. It invests in startups and provides business development consultancy services.
Overview
Inclusion Japan is a venture capital firm founded in 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. It invests in startups and provides business development consultancy services. The company manages venture capital funds, including seed-stage investments, and offers advisory services for startup-enterprise collaboration.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2011
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Japan
City
Tokyo
Corporate office
Tokyo, Japan
Principals
Masayuki Watanabe
Founding Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Inclusion Japan?
Masayuki Watanabe, the founding partner, leads the investment committee. His background includes roles at SoftBank and Mitsubishi Corporation, giving him dual experience in venture capital and Japanese corporate strategy. The broader team includes former operators from McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, and Rakuten, per the firm's official communications.
How does Inclusion Japan source proprietary deal flow?
The firm's primary sourcing advantage comes from its corporate-partner network, which includes some of Japan's largest trading houses and technology conglomerates. These partners often refer startups seeking strategic distribution in Japan, or co-invest alongside Inclusion Japan in US-based companies looking to enter the Japanese market. This structure gives the firm access to deals that are not broadly shopped to other VCs.
Does Inclusion Japan participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The firm makes direct equity investments in startups, primarily at Series A and B stages. It does not publicly market a fund-of-funds program, and its known activity centers on direct company investments rather than LP commitments to other venture funds.
What investment stages does Inclusion Japan typically target?
Inclusion Japan concentrates on Series A and B rounds, with selective participation in seed and growth-stage deals. This stage focus reflects the firm's thesis of investing after initial product-market risk is reduced but before companies need growth-equity scale, per the firm's description.
Profile maintained by Altss. Updated: . To correct this record or make a privacy request, send the page URL and your evidence to privacy@altss.com; corrections are free.
Need institutional-grade insight on private equity firms?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: