WATI editor
Jun 10, 2024
UB Ventures, a venture capital firm, announced the establishment of its second fund, worth approximately ¥10 billion, focused on investing in domestic startups. This new fund aims to address population decline in regional areas of Japan.
The contributors include over ten regional banks, such as Saga Bank and Shikoku Bank, as well as SMBC Nikko Securities.
The fund, with a ten-year investment period, will primarily target "pre-Series A" startups, focusing on companies in the service validation stage. Initial investments per company are expected to range between ¥50 million and ¥300 million, with potential for multiple rounds of funding if the businesses perform well. The fund plans to invest in around 25 to 30 companies, particularly those in industries facing severe labor shortages, such as manufacturing, construction, and education. Investment targets will include firms specializing in SaaS (Software as a Service) and AI (Artificial Intelligence).
In addition to financial support, UB Ventures will assist in service validation and building sales structures. They will also leverage the regional banks' networks to promote local service deployment. The fund also includes investment from the corporate venture capital arm of Wistron, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturing company.