What NTT DOCOMO Ventures does

NTT DOCOMO Ventures (株式会社NTTドコモ・ベンチャーズ) is the corporate venture capital arm of NTT DOCOMO, INC. and serves as the comprehensive startup engagement window for the broader NTT Group. Founded in 2008 as NTT Investment Partners (NIP), the firm was acquired by NTT DOCOMO in February 2013 and renamed to its current trade name in July 2013. The firm manages eight corporate venture funds spanning two series: DOCOMO Innovation Funds (DI1–DI4) and NTT Investment Partners Funds (NIP1–NIP4), with cumulative fund size exceeding JPY 100 billion (over USD 670 million equivalent). Headquartered in Tokyo (Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower) with a Silicon Valley branch in Sunnyvale, California, the firm invests in early to growth-stage startups globally across Japan, the United States, Europe, Israel, and Southeast Asia.

The firm's core business combines startup investment services with a co-creation support platform that connects portfolio companies to NTT Group business units. Target sectors include AI, deep tech, healthcare, space technology, fintech, legal tech, energy, and digital transformation. The firm has built a portfolio of 100+ companies, including ElevenLabs, HappyRobot, Doppel, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Astranis, Ayar Labs, and MiRESSO. Its core platform architecture is the integration between NTT Group's enterprise sales channels, customer base, and deployment capabilities (e.g., NTT Docomo Business, NTT Data, NTT Com Asia) and the startup innovation pipeline.

NTT DOCOMO Ventures generates revenue through three streams: management fees on funds under management (subscription/recurring), carried interest from successful portfolio exits via IPO or M&A (transaction-based), and strategic returns from co-creation synergies between portfolio companies and NTT Group entities (licensing/royalty-equivalent). The firm markets itself through an annual NTT DOCOMO VENTURES DAY event (10th edition in February 2026), regular themed pitch events, reverse pitch programs where NTT Group companies present their needs to startups, and ecosystem partnerships with OPEN HUB, QUINTBRIDGE, ExTorch, and the NTT Startup Challenge. Leadership transitioned in July 2025 with Yuko Sasahara as CEO&CCO and Jun Yasumoto as COO, both returning executives.

Name

NTT DOCOMO Ventures

Legal name

株式会社NTTドーム・ベンチャーズ

Website

https://www.nttdocomo-v.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NTT DOCOMO Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of NTT DOCOMO, managing over JPY 100 billion across eight funds (DOCOMO Innovation Funds I-IV and NTT Investment Partners Funds I-IV) to invest in early-to-growth-stage startups globally and co-create with NTT Group business units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Venture Capital Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) (FSANAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Innovation & Technology Scouting Units (with investment mandate) (FSANAHAI), Strategic / Balance-Sheet CVC (On-balance-sheet investing) (FSANAHAA), Corporate Deep Tech / R&D Commercialization CVC (FSANAHAL), Corporate International / Emerging Markets CVC (FSANAHAM)

Keywords

• Venture capital management
• Corporate venture capital
• Startup investment services
• Co-creation platform
• Innovation fund management

Headquarters

HQ city

Minato

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Management Fees: Management fees collected from operating corporate venture funds, typically calculated as a percentage of fund assets under management.
2. Carried Interest: Performance-based returns from successful portfolio company exits through IPO or M&A transactions.
3. Strategic Returns from Co-creation: Non-financial returns through business synergies created when portfolio companies collaborate with NTT Group entities, generating new revenue streams and market opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NTT DOCOMO Ventures operates a Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) platform managing multiple innovation funds (DOCOMO Innovation Funds DI1-DI4 and NTT Investment Partners Funds NIP1-NIP4) with cumulative size exceeding 100 billion yen. The firm invests in early to growth-stage startups globally and acts as the coordination window for NTT Group's startup engagement, connecting portfolio companies with NTT Group divisions for co-creation, market entry into Japan, and deployment at scale.

Product overview

NTT DOCOMO Ventures is a Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) firm that operates as a strategic investment and co-creation platform for the NTT Group. Rather than offering traditional software products, the company provides venture fund management services (operating 8 funds totaling over 50 billion yen), startup investment services, and co-creation support that connects portfolio companies with NTT Group's resources and deployment capabilities. The fund management and investment services form the core offerings, with co-creation support serving as the bridge between invested startups and NTT Group business units.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NTT DOCOMO Ventures Fund Management Services Corporate venture capital fund management services operating multiple innovation funds including DOCOMO Innovation Fund series (DI1-DI4) and NTT Investment Partners Fund series (NIP1-NIP4), with total assets under management exceeding 100 billion yen across all series.
• Co-creation Support Services Connects startups with NTT Group companies to facilitate business collaborations and partnerships, serving as the coordination window for NTT Group's startup engagement. Operates Reverse Pitch Programs, pitch events, and ecosystem partnerships with OPEN HUB, QUINTBRIDGE, and ExTorch.
• Startup Investment Services Investment in promising B2C and B2B startups globally, with focus areas including AI, Deep Tech, Healthcare, Space technology, FinTech, and digital transformation, spanning early to growth stages across Japan, US, Europe, Israel, and Southeast Asia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 successful exits from 21 investments during 2012-2018 period
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ElevenLabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026ElevenLabs Japan and NTT Docomo Business partnered to deploy natural voice AI solutions in contact centers. NTT DOCOMO Ventures, having invested in ElevenLabs, supports the collaboration which includes co-creating use cases, exploring voice AI solutions for industry-specific challenges, and integrating ElevenLabs technology into NTT Docomo Business platforms. Currently piloting with Docomo Finance.
• NTT Docomo BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026NTT Docomo Business integration partner for ElevenLabs voice AI solutions deployment into contact center platforms, supported by NTT DOCOMO Ventures investment.
• NTT DatacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Joint collaboration with SECAI MARCHE where NTT Data provides enterprise billing, settlement, and reconciliation management solutions (ADAPTIS Receivables) integrated with SECAI MARCHE's fresh food distribution platform for restaurant and hospitality DX in Malaysia.
• NTT Com AsiasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Joint launch of 'APN InterLink' service in Hong Kong for financial institutions using all-photonics network technology supporting low-latency, high-speed trading operations.
• NTT DOCOMO BUSINESScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Launched 'APN InterLink' service in Hong Kong for financial institutions with NTT Com Asia, utilizing all-photonics network for low-latency trading operations across Asia via ASE cable.
• OPEN HUBsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNTT Docomo Business operated open innovation ecosystem bringing together diverse organizations for 'social possibility' exploration and implementation. NDV startups can access this ecosystem for collaboration opportunities.
• QUINTBRIDGEsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNTT West operated open innovation facility in Osaka with 25,000+ members. NDV serves as a cooperation partner, co-hosting pitch events, collaborating on co-creation programs, and providing financial support consultation.
• ExTorchsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNTT Communications and NTT Docomo Business open innovation program connecting global startups with infrastructure and passion for human future contribution. NDV provides multi-faceted support leveraging expertise and information gathering capabilities.
• NTT Startup ChallengesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNTT Group overseas startup collaboration promotion program. Since 2017, received 5,000+ applications from Southeast Asia, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. NDV participates in startup sourcing, screening, and operates Synexia Ventures for group co-creation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SoftBank Vision Fund: SoftBank's venture and growth investment platform deploying capital into frontier technology companies globally. Competes for similar late-stage and growth-stage tech investments with strategic corporate backing from another major Japanese telecom/tech conglomerate.
• Mitsubishi UFJ Capital: Japanese corporate venture arm backed by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, one of Japan's largest financial conglomerates. Comparable structure as a wholly-corporate-backed CVC deploying capital across multiple fund vintages in Japan.
• Rakuten Ventures: Rakuten's corporate venture arm investing in startups globally. Direct competitor in Japanese tech CVC space with similar focus on identifying and partnering with technology startups for ecosystem benefits.
• World Innovation Lab (WiL): Japan-US cross-border VC firm investing in enterprise and consumer tech with focus on partnerships between startups and Japanese corporates. Highly comparable in its bridge function between global startups and Japanese corporate deployment.
• SBI Investment: One of Japan's largest CVC platforms, managing multiple venture funds with similar focus on early to growth-stage tech startups. Both operate Japanese-domiciled CVC structures with global investment reach.
• KDDI (corporate venture activities): Japan's second-largest telecom operator with active CVC arm investing in startups aligned with KDDI's strategic interests. Direct competitor in Japanese telecom CVC space, often co-investing in similar portfolio companies.

Broad incumbents

• Google Ventures (GV): Alphabet's venture capital arm, one of the world's most active CVCs. Operates at significantly larger scale and provides a benchmark for global best-in-class CVC operations and Silicon Valley investment patterns.
• Salesforce Ventures: Established US CVC arm of Salesforce investing in enterprise software startups. Much larger in scale and global reach; serves as a benchmark for mature corporate venture models with strategic co-creation mandates similar to NDV's approach with NTT Group.
• Intel Capital: Intel's corporate venture arm, one of the most established CVCs globally with deep tech and semiconductor investment focus. Provides a benchmark for mature CVC operations supporting deep tech and frontier technology investments similar to NDV's space/photonics focus.
• JAFCO Group: One of Japan's largest and oldest VC firms managing multiple venture funds. Operates similar multi-vintage fund structure but is an independent VC rather than corporate-affiliated, providing benchmark for traditional Japanese VC scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/docomo.official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments187 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NTT DOCOMO Ventures