World Innovation Lab
World Innovation Lab (WiL) is a US- and Japan-based growth-stage venture capital firm that invests in AI, SaaS, fintech, and other technology sectors, leveraging a network of approximately 40 Japanese corporate and government LPs to help portfolio companies expand into Japan and globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What World Innovation Lab does
World Innovation Lab (WiL, LLC) is a US- and Japan-based growth-stage venture capital firm founded in January 2014 by Gen Isayama, headquartered in Palo Alto with a regional office in Tokyo's Toranamon Hills. WiL invests in growth- and late-stage technology companies across sectors spanning artificial intelligence, B2B SaaS, fintech, insurtech, automation, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, developer tools, health tech, and sustainability. The firm operates a hybrid direct-investment model (growth equity into companies, typically with board participation) alongside a fund-of-funds vehicle (WiL Strategic Partners) and corporate venture capital mandates managed on behalf of its LPs.
The firm's core differentiator is its LP base of approximately 40 major Japanese corporations and government entities, including Sony, Panasonic, Tokio Marine, KDDI, ITOCHU, Mizuho, Daiwa Securities, ANA Holdings, Seven Bank, INCJ, and JIC. This LP network functions as a distribution platform, providing portfolio companies with customer introductions, executive relationships, and a Japan-market entry pathway that WiL monetizes via capital deployment and, where applicable, follow-on growth support. Documented portfolio outcomes include Auth0 (acquired by Okta), SORACOM and Flywheel (acquired by LP KDDI), and continued backing of category leaders such as ElevenLabs, Synthesia, Canva, DeepL, and Motive.
WiL's revenue mechanics are typical of venture capital: management fees on committed/invested capital plus performance carry on realized exits. The firm has secured over $1.9 billion in cumulative committed capital since inception across multiple funds, with a lean team of approximately 25 professionals that includes General Partners, Partners, Directors, and Managers across both US and Japan offices. Distribution channels are partnership-based rather than product-based, relying on LP relationships, board participation, and a growing set of co-investment partnerships to source and support deals.
World Innovation Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- World Innovation Lab
- Legal name
- WiL, LLC
- Website
- https://wil.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- World Innovation Lab (WiL) is a US- and Japan-based growth-stage venture capital firm that invests in AI, SaaS, fintech, and other technology sectors, leveraging a network of approximately 40 Japanese corporate and government LPs to help portfolio companies expand into Japan and globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
World Innovation Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Venture Capital Fund-of-Funds / Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAAAJ)
Keywords
Where World Innovation Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
World Innovation Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Returns: WiL generates returns through equity investments in growth-stage companies. Capital comes from limited partners including leading global corporations and government entities in Japan and Asia. Returns flow back to LPs and WiL through portfolio company exits via M&A, IPO, or secondary sales.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
World Innovation Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WiL is a growth-stage venture capital firm that invests capital and provides strategic support to growth and late-stage companies seeking global expansion, with a particular focus on bridging US startups into the Japanese market and supporting Japanese corporations' access to Silicon Valley innovation. The firm manages multiple fund vehicles including direct growth funds, a fund of funds (WiL Strategic Partners), and corporate venture capital funds on behalf of its limited partners. Investment returns are generated through equity investments, with portfolio exits realized via M&A, IPO, or secondary sales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WiL Strategic Partners: Fund of funds vehicle that provides capital to venture capital firms and enables co-investing in portfolio companies, while empowering LPs to diversify investments.
- WiL SP
Products and services
- WiL Growth-Stage Direct Investment Funds Direct equity investments in growth and late-stage technology companies across sectors spanning Artificial Intelligence, B2B SaaS, fintech, insurtech, automation, productivity, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, developer tools, health tech, and sustainability, with strategic support for global expansion particularly into Japan.
- WiL Strategic Partners (Fund of Funds) A fund of funds vehicle that provides capital to venture capital firms and enables co-investing in select portfolio companies, while empowering LPs to diversify investments beyond WiL's existing sectors and stages.
- Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Fund Management WiL manages corporate venture capital funds on behalf of corporate limited partners, combining WiL's financial and operational expertise with LPs' deep domain expertise to source and manage investments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $1.9 billion in committed capital raised since 2014
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use World Innovation Lab
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
World Innovation Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
World Innovation Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
World Innovation Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ANRI: Tokyo-based venture capital firm investing from seed to growth across Japanese and cross-border technology companies. Comparable to WiL as a Japan-rooted VC partnering with US-leaning founders and corporates for cross-border scaling.
- GGV Capital (now Notable Capital / Granite Asia): Cross-border venture firm historically investing across US and Asia with growth-stage focus on enterprise, fintech, and consumer. Comparable to WiL as a US-Asia growth-stage platform with corporate LP engagement and a dual-region team.
- Lightspeed Venture Partners: Global growth-stage venture firm investing across enterprise, consumer, and fintech with significant US-Asia activity. Comparable to WiL on growth-stage check size, sector focus, and co-investment overlap (e.g., Tabs, HappyRobot).
- DCM Ventures: US-Asia focused venture capital firm with offices in Silicon Valley, Tokyo, and Beijing. Directly comparable to WiL because of its long-standing US-Japan investment activity and cross-border bridge thesis; Gen Isayama was previously a Partner at DCM before founding WiL.
- Beyond Next Ventures: Tokyo-based deep tech and growth-stage VC with significant Japanese institutional and corporate LP backing. Comparable to WiL as a Japan-headquartered VC investing growth capital with corporate LP support, including in deep tech and life sciences.
- Global Brain: Tokyo-headquartered venture capital firm with US offices that invests across growth stages and sectors similar to WiL, including B2B SaaS, AI, fintech, and deep tech. Directly comparable because both operate as cross-border US-Japan platforms with strong corporate LP networks.
- JAFCO Group: One of Japan's largest venture capital and private equity firms, investing across stages and sectors with corporate and institutional capital. Comparable to WiL as a major Japanese-headquartered VC manager with multi-fund AUM and corporate LP relationships.
- Vertex Ventures: Asia-focused venture capital network with US presence and corporate LP relationships across Southeast Asia, Japan, and the US. Comparable to WiL as a cross-border growth platform bridging US and Asian corporates with technology startups.
- B Capital Group: Global venture firm founded by Eduardo Saverin with operations across the US and Asia and a corporate-backed LP base. Comparable to WiL as a cross-border growth-stage platform leveraging corporate capital to support portfolio expansion into Asian markets.
Broad incumbents
- SoftBank Vision Fund: Mega-scale Japanese-backed technology investor with significant corporate LP base. Comparable to WiL in Japan-LP-driven cross-border tech investing but at much larger scale and broader portfolio scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
World Innovation Lab social profiles
Digital presenceWorld Innovation Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
World Innovation Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
World Innovation Lab subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
World Innovation Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
World Innovation Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments210 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about World Innovation Lab
What does World Innovation Lab do?
WiL is a growth-stage venture capital firm that invests capital and provides strategic support to growth and late-stage companies seeking global expansion, with a particular focus on bridging US startups into the Japanese market and supporting Japanese corporations' access to Silicon Valley innovation. The firm manages multiple fund vehicles including direct growth funds, a fund of funds (WiL Strategic Partners), and corporate venture capital funds on behalf of its limited partners. Investment returns are generated through equity investments, with portfolio exits realized via M&A, IPO, or secondary sales.
Is World Innovation Lab a public or private company?
World Innovation Lab is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was World Innovation Lab founded?
World Innovation Lab was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is World Innovation Lab based?
World Innovation Lab is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does World Innovation Lab make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Returns.
Who are World Innovation Lab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ANRI, GGV Capital (now Notable Capital / Granite Asia), Lightspeed Venture Partners, DCM Ventures, Beyond Next Ventures, Global Brain, JAFCO Group, Vertex Ventures and B Capital Group. SoftBank Vision Fund is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does World Innovation Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for World Innovation Lab.
What industry is World Innovation Lab in?
World Innovation Lab's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAJ, Venture Capital Fund-of-Funds / Multi-Manager Platforms. Its NAICS code is 5259 and its SIC code is 6282.