Updated:
Nomura Strategic Ventures
Nomura Strategic Ventures was established in 2019 as the dedicated corporate venture capital arm of Nomura Holdings, the Tokyo-based financial services...
Nomura Strategic Ventures
Nomura Strategic Ventures was established in 2019 as the dedicated corporate venture capital arm of Nomura Holdings, the Tokyo-based financial services group that is Japan's largest brokerage and investment bank. The New York-headquartered unit operated under Nomura's Wholesale division, then led by Christopher Willcox, with a mandate to invest in technology companies strategically aligned with the bank's core businesses. The initiative marked Nomura's re-entry into systematic venture investing after winding down a previous corporate venture effort earlier in the decade. NSV deployed capital from a dedicated pool across asset classes concentrated in late-stage venture and growth equity, with a sector focus on fintech, enterprise software, AI/ML, digital health, and cybersecurity. The fund wrote equity checks in the range of $1M to $10M per company, targeting firms where Nomura could layer on additional value through capital markets access, structured products, or M&A advisory. Confirmed portfolio companies included the fintech platform Addepar, the digital identity firm ForgeRock, the enterprise AI provider DataRobot, and the insurtech startup Next Insurance. Geographic coverage centered on North America and Europe, with selective exposure to Asia. Team scale remained modest relative to independent venture firms, operating as a specialized unit within Nomura's broader Wholesale banking function without separate offices. In May 2024, Nomura restructured its digital and venture operations and folded NSV into a broader innovation group, discontinuing new standalone venture investments under the NSV brand (per the firm, May 2024). The bank integrated the portfolio and team into its digital transformation unit, Laser Digital, which handles crypto, blockchain, and broader digital asset strategy. NSV's early-stage direct investing model gave way to a structure emphasizing strategic partnerships and internal technology development. Nomura's corporate venture structure differed from most bank-affiliated VC arms by embedding the investment team directly inside the Wholesale division rather than operating as a standalone entity with separate compensation and return metrics. This alignment made NSV's capital decisions subordinate to strategic banking priorities, a model that facilitated deeper integration between portfolio companies and Nomura's capital markets, wealth management, and investment banking franchises — but also limited NSV's ability to build a standalone track record independent of the parent bank's priorities.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2019
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Principals
Christopher Willcox
Head of Wholesale, Nomura Holdings
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What was Nomura Strategic Ventures' investment mandate?
NSV invested primarily in late-stage venture and growth equity rounds across fintech, enterprise software, AI/ML, digital health, and cybersecurity. Check sizes typically fell between $1M and $10M per company. The fund prioritized companies where Nomura's investment banking franchise could add value through IPOs, M&A advisory, or structured products.
Who made investment decisions at Nomura Strategic Ventures?
NSV operated under Nomura's Wholesale division, which was headed by Christopher Willcox during the unit's active investment period. The venture team reported through the Wholesale banking structure rather than functioning as an independent partnership, meaning final investment decisions were subject to Nomura's internal committee processes and strategic alignment with the broader bank.
Does Nomura Strategic Ventures still make new investments?
No. In May 2024, Nomura restructured its digital and venture operations, folding NSV's team and portfolio into a broader innovation group and discontinuing new standalone venture investments under the NSV brand. The bank now channels technology-related investing through its digital transformation unit, Laser Digital.
What companies did Nomura Strategic Ventures invest in?
Confirmed portfolio companies from NSV's active period include Addepar, a wealth management technology platform; ForgeRock, a digital identity provider (acquired by Thoma Bravo in 2023); DataRobot, an enterprise AI and machine learning platform; and Next Insurance, an insurtech focused on small business coverage. These investments reflected the fund's emphasis on financial technology and enterprise software with near-term capital markets potential.
How is Nomura Strategic Ventures related to Nomura's Laser Digital unit?
When NSV's standalone venture operations were discontinued in May 2024, the portfolio and team were integrated into Nomura's broader digital innovation efforts, which include Laser Digital. Laser Digital focuses on cryptocurrency trading, blockchain infrastructure, and digital asset products, representing Nomura's consolidated approach to technology and venture investing rather than a direct successor to NSV.
What was the scale of Nomura Strategic Ventures' fund?
Nomura has not publicly disclosed the precise size of NSV's dedicated capital pool. Published reports place the allocation in the range of several hundred million dollars, but the firm has not confirmed a specific figure. The lack of a standalone vehicle with external LP reporting obligations means detailed deployment metrics remain private.
How did NSV's structure differ from independent venture capital firms?
NSV was a corporate venture capital unit fully embedded in Nomura's Wholesale banking division, not an independent partnership with its own economics. This meant investment returns were not the sole performance metric; strategic value to Nomura's trading, wealth management, and investment banking lines carried significant weight. The structure gave portfolio companies preferred access to Nomura's balance sheet and advisory services, but limited NSV's ability to operate with the speed and independence of a traditional venture firm.
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.
Need institutional-grade insight on venture capital firms?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: