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SMN Corporation
SMN Corporation, led by Naoki Harayama, is a Sony-backed, publicly traded ad-tech firm that operates the VALIS-Engine and includes a corporate venture…
SMN Corporation
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2000
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Japan
City
Tokyo
Corporate office
Osaki Wiz Tower 12F, 2-11-1 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032, Japan
Additional offices
Osaka, Japan · Fukuoka, Japan · Sapporo, Japan · Nagoya, Japan
Principals
Naoki Harayama
President and Representative Director
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
Who runs investment decisions at SMN Ventures Corporation?
Noriyoshi Nakagawa serves as Director of SMN Ventures Corporation while simultaneously holding a role as Corporate Officer of Sony Network Communications. This dual position suggests investment decisions align closely with the strategic interests of the Sony parent group, though the firm does not publicly detail its internal committee process.
Is SMN Corporation structured as a family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
It is neither. SMN Corporation is a publicly traded marketing technology company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market. Its subsidiary, SMN Ventures Corporation, operates as a corporate venture capital arm and is a member of the Japan Venture Capital Association, making venture investing one business line within a larger operating company.
Does SMN Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The firm's public disclosures do not specify whether SMN Ventures operates through direct investments, fund commitments, or a blend. Its membership in the Japan Venture Capital Association and classification as a generalist CVC suggests a direct investing posture, though terms and structure remain undisclosed.
How is SMN related to Sony Group?
SMN Corporation is a consolidated subsidiary of Sony Network Communications Inc., which itself sits under Sony Group Corporation. The firm leverages Sony's technology and assets in its marketing solutions, and its venture arm operates within this corporate hierarchy.
What is SMN's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
SMN has not publicly disclosed a formal policy on co-investing alongside external general partners. Its venture unit, SMN Ventures Corporation, operates as a corporate venture capital member within the Japan Venture Capital Association, but specific co-investment structures are not detailed in available sources.
What investment stages does SMN Ventures typically target?
As a generalist corporate venture capital unit, SMN Ventures is tagged as pursuing general venture investments. The firm has not publicly specified target stages — seed, early, or growth — in available materials.
Which sectors does SMN explicitly avoid?
SMN does not publish a list of excluded sectors. Its public-facing language focuses entirely on marketing technology, ad-tech, and data analytics opportunities, indicating a narrow positive focus rather than explicit negative screens.
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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