What Colopl Next does

Colopl Next, Inc. (株式会社コロプラネクスト) is a Tokyo-headquartered corporate venture capital firm established in February 2015 as a 100% subsidiary of publicly-listed Colopl, Inc. The firm manages a series of investment funds — Funds No.1 through No.8, a Listed Stocks Fund, and the Next Unicorn Fund — deploying capital across startups and publicly listed companies, with category specialization in VR/XR via the dedicated $100M Colopl VR Fund complex (VR Fund $50M, VR Fund 2 $50M). Its investment mandate spans BtoC, CtoC, SaaS, AI, XR, and entertainment, with a portfolio exceeding 200 companies across Japan, the United States, Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Europe. The firm is differentiated by its operator-investor team composition, including former asset management portfolio managers, exited founders, and CFOs with IPO execution experience, enabling hands-on support across portfolio monitoring, PMI, and exit preparation.

The firm's revenue model is fund-based: it generates returns through management fees on deployed capital and carried interest on exit events including IPOs and M&A. Notable exits include Flitto, Inc. (KOSDAQ:300080, 2019), adish Co., Ltd. (TYO:7093, 2020), and Timee, Inc. (TYO:215A, 2024). Distribution occurs through direct investment relationships under managed fund vehicles, with deal flow supported by a global network of LP investors, co-investors, and advisors. Recent 2024–2026 investment activity demonstrates a thematic emphasis on AI across recruitment, cybersecurity, legal tech, NLU voice, and conversational messaging, alongside continued XR exposure (FOVE, Urth metaverse).

Colopl Next operates as the venture investment arm of the Colopl Group, leveraging parent company Colopl, Inc.'s entertainment and gaming domain expertise to support portfolio companies. The firm expanded geographically in November 2022 with the establishment of Colopl Next Korea, Inc. in Seoul, adding Korea and Southeast Asia coverage. Recognition includes selection for the GCV Powerlist 2025 (Global Corporate Venturing) and 'Recognized Venture Capital' certification from Shizuoka Prefecture in September 2025. Governance is tightly linked to Colopl, Inc., with board directors and the auditor drawn from parent company executive ranks.

Name

Colopl Next

Legal name

株式会社コロプラネクスト

Website

https://coloplnext.co.jp/en

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colopl Next is a Tokyo-based corporate venture capital firm and 100% subsidiary of Colopl, Inc. It manages multiple investment funds — including a $100M VR-focused complex — deploying capital into 200+ startups across BtoC, AI, SaaS, XR, and entertainment sectors in Japan, Korea, the US, and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital and Investment Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Strategic Real Assets & Infrastructure Venture Investing (FSANAHAN)

Keywords

• Venture capital
• Startup investment
• Fund management
• Corporate venture capital
• Equity investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Fund Management: Manages multiple investment funds (No.1 through No.8 Funds, Listed Stocks Fund, Next Unicorn Fund) investing in startups and publicly listed companies. Generates returns through exit events including IPOs and M&A.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Colopl Next is a corporate venture capital firm established in 2015 that manages multiple investment funds (Funds No.1 through No.8, Listed Stocks Fund, and Next Unicorn Fund) targeting startups and publicly listed companies. Investments focus on VR/AR, entertainment, emerging technologies, BtoC, CtoC, SaaS, and AI sectors across Japan, Korea, the US, and Southeast Asia. The firm also provides portfolio companies with hands-on support including finance, business alliances, corporate support, and tie-up services leveraging Colopl Group expertise.

Product overview

Colopl Next is a venture capital firm that invests in startups and publicly listed companies. The company does not offer traditional software products; instead, it provides investment services including startup investment, listed company investment, and various support services for portfolio companies such as finance support, business alliances, corporate support, and tie-up services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colopl VR Fund (No.2 Fund)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Z Venture Capital: Japan and SEA-focused CVC backed by LINE/Yahoo (LY Corporation). Comparable to Colopl Next as a Japanese parent-backed CVC with explicit Korea and SEA fund mandate and consumer/tech focus.
• Mercari Ventures: CVC arm of Mercari investing in Japanese and US startups with a B2C and marketplace tilt. Closely comparable to Colopl Next's B2C/entertainment focus and corporate-backed VC structure.
• Rakuten Ventures: CVC arm of Rakuten Group operating multiple funds in Japan, US and SEA. Comparable as a public-company-backed CVC with cross-border Asia mandate and consumer/tech focus.
• Global Brain: Tokyo-based VC firm running multiple funds with deep sector specialization (deep tech, SaaS, B2C) and an extensive Japan/Korea/SEA footprint. Directly comparable to Colopl Next on multi-fund CVC-style investing in Japan.
• Spiral Ventures: Pan-Asia early-stage VC with Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and India presence focused on B2C and SaaS. Comparable to Colopl Next in early-stage B2C focus and cross-border Asia fund operation, including Korea/SEA coverage.
• World Innovation Lab (WiL): Japan and US-based CVC/VC platform operating multiple funds with enterprise and consumer focus. Comparable on multi-fund structure and Japan-US cross-border investing with strategic LP base.

Regional players

• Korean Investment Partners: Korea's largest domestic VC managing multiple funds with focus on deep tech and consumer. Comparable as a multi-fund Korea-based VC partner relevant to Colopl Next's Korea branch operations.

Broad incumbents

• SBI Investment: One of Japan's largest VC and CVC operators managing multi-stage domestic and cross-border funds. Highly comparable as a Japan-headquartered VC platform with diversified funds and a public-affiliated parent structure.
• JAFCO Group: Japan's oldest listed VC firm managing multiple domestic and cross-border funds. Comparable on multi-vintage fund management and listed-company investment strategy similar to Colopl Next's Listed Stocks Fund.
• MUFG Innovation Hub: CVC arm of MUFG running multiple venture funds globally with a corporate strategic mandate. Highly comparable corporate-backed CVC structure to Colopl Next's relationship with Colopl Inc.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/coloplnext
• Facebookfacebook.com/coloplnext
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coloplnext

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments115 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Colopl Next