Private Equity

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Next Fund

Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd is a Japanese asset management firm established in 1959. The firm's Next Fund made one investment in Merrimack Pharmaceuticals...

Next Fund

Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd is a Japanese asset management firm established in 1959. The firm's Next Fund made one investment in Merrimack Pharmaceuticals on April 19, 2011, as part of their Growth Equity. The fund exited Merrimack Pharmaceuticals on March 29, 2012.

General information

Firm type

Private Equity

Year founded

1999

Location

Region

Asia

Country

China

City

Ningbo

Corporate office

Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

Sector focus

Enterprise SoftwareAI/MLDigital HealthIndustrial Tech

Frequently asked questions

How does Next Fund source the venture funds it invests in?

Next Fund's sourcing model is likely relationship-driven, leveraging its geographic position in Ningbo and Zhejiang province to identify early-stage venture managers. Given the absence of a public website or marketed track record, the firm probably relies on proprietary networks among regional general partners, government-guided fund ecosystems, and domestic limited partner circles. This approach contrasts with larger national fund-of-funds platforms that use formalized screening processes and public procurement-style manager selection.

What investment stages does Next Fund target?

Next Fund concentrates on early-stage venture capital — encompassing seed and startup managers, based on its stated strategy classification. This suggests commitments to funds deploying capital at the earliest institutional rounds in Chinese technology companies. The firm does not appear to participate in growth equity, buyout, or late-stage venture fund commitments.

Is Next Fund structured as a single family office or an institutional fund manager?

Next Fund operates as a dedicated fund-of-funds manager, not as a single family office or multi-family office. Its function is to select and commit capital to underlying private equity venture funds on behalf of external limited partners. The firm pools commitments from multiple capital sources — institutional, family, and individual — rather than managing the wealth of a single family.

Who are Next Fund's typical limited partners?

Next Fund's limited partner base likely draws from Chinese institutional investors, regional family offices, and high-net-worth individuals seeking venture fund exposure. Given the firm's Ningbo location and fund-of-funds structure, its backers may include local government-guided capital pools, corporate treasuries from Zhejiang-based industrial groups, and private wealth accumulated in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Does Next Fund make direct co-investments, or only fund commitments?

Based on its classification as a pure fund-of-funds manager, Next Fund's primary activity is committing to underlying venture capital funds rather than executing direct company investments or co-investments alongside its general partners. The firm's stated strategy focuses on fund-of-funds allocations to early-stage seed and startup vehicles.

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