What Seiho Investment Works does

Seiho Investment Works (栖峰投資ワークス株式会社) is a Japanese venture capital firm founded on August 3, 2017 by Seki Hyoma (関 兵馬), headquartered in Kyoto (Shimogyo-ku) with a regional office in Shibuya, Tokyo. The firm invests 10 to 100 million yen per deal in domestic Japanese technology startups at the seed to early stages, spanning healthcare/biotech, IT (both B2C and B2B), and deep tech sectors including AI-based computer vision and 3D data platforms. Disclosed portfolio companies include gene analysis ventures, online counseling services, language learning apps, job-matching platforms, sports video analytics, customer service tools, and AI object recognition firms, indicating broad sector coverage rather than thesis-driven specialization.

The firm operates a hands-on investment model rather than passive capital provision, with portfolio support spanning business planning, capital policy design, IPO preparation, M&A advisory, and business succession planning. Sourcing is network-driven, leveraging partnerships with Hamamatsu City's Fund Support Program, KitaQ Startup Support, Osaka Innovation Hub, and accelerators ASAC and NEX Tokyo, supplemented by a corporate communication presence via website, Twitter (@noranekoVC), Facebook, and a Note blog. The firm runs periodic portfolio meetup events branded as 共闘 (Kyōtō) and formalized a 共闘Startup Community in May 2023 to foster peer interaction across portfolio companies.

Commercially, Seiho Investment Works is registered as a special business operator for qualified institutional investors under Japan's alternative investment regulations and was authorized by METI in December 2017, joined the Japan Venture Capital Association in April 2019, and received Angel Tax System certification for its Innovation Discovery Fund in April 2021. Revenue is generated through fund management fees and carried interest on IPO and M&A exits; three fund-formation events are documented (2017, 2018 expansion, and May 2023). No public revenue, AUM, or LP disclosures are available, and the firm employs between 1 and 10 staff.

Name

Seiho Investment Works

Legal name

栖峰投資ワークス株式会社 (Seiho Investment Works Incorporated)

Website

https://siwi.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Seiho Investment Works is a Kyoto-based Japanese venture capital firm founded in 2017 that invests 10-100 million yen in seed to early-stage technology startups across healthcare/biotech, IT, and deep tech, providing hands-on management support and operating a portfolio company community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital Fund Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Venture Capital Fund-of-Funds / Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAAAJ)

Keywords

• Venture capital investment
• Early-stage technology
• Fund management services
• Portfolio company support
• Seed-stage startups

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyoto

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Fund Management: The firm operates as a venture capital fund manager, raising and managing funds to invest in early-stage technology startups. Revenue is generated through fund management fees and carried interest on successful exits (IPOs and M&As). The firm is a registered special business operator for qualified institutional investors under Japan's alternative investment regulations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Seiho Investment Works is a venture capital firm that manages investment funds and provides direct equity capital (10-100 million yen per deal) to seed and early-stage technology startups in Japan. Beyond capital, the firm delivers hands-on management support covering business planning, capital policy, IPO preparation, M&A advisory, and governance. Portfolio sectors include healthcare/biotech, IT (B2C and B2B), and deep tech.

Product overview

Seiho Investment Works is a venture capital firm that operates venture capital funds and provides investment services. The company focuses on investing in technology-related startups across Japan, covering sectors including healthcare/biotech, IT (B2C and B2B), and deep tech. Investment stages range from seed to early-stage, with investment amounts between 10-100 million yen, and they provide hands-on management support to portfolio companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Venture Capital Fund Management
• Hands-On Management Support
• Portfolio Meetup Events (共闘 / Kyōtō)
• Innovation Discovery Fund (Angel Tax Certified)

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple portfolio companies have achieved IPO and M&A exits as noted by portfolio manager and senior associate team members

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Startup KitaQ (認定VC 事業化支援事業)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized as a certified VC under the regional startup support program, enabling the firm to source and support startups in the KitaQ region of Shikoku, Japan.
• Hamamatsu City Fund Support Program (浜松市ファンドサポート事業)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized as a certified VC partner under Hamamatsu City's fund support initiative, supporting startups in the Shizuoka region.
• Osaka Innovation Hub (Osaka-inv-hub)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the Osaka innovation ecosystem, facilitating connections with large Osaka-based corporations and supporting portfolio company growth in the Kansai region.
• ASAC (VCメンター)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerator providing VC mentoring support and startup ecosystem connections. ASAC operates as an acceleration program with VC mentorship component.
• NEX TokyominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentor network providing support for portfolio companies, particularly in areas of business development and market entry.
• Levtech (HR支援)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHR recruitment support partner providing access to freelance and professional talent for portfolio companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Global Brain: Global Brain is a leading Japanese VC investing across seed to growth stages in technology companies. Directly comparable to Seiho given overlapping tech sector focus, though Global Brain operates significantly larger fund vintages and has more developed international LP relationships.
• ANRI: ANRI is a Tokyo-based early-stage VC focused on Japanese internet, SaaS, and deep tech startups. Direct peer to Seiho given similar seed/early stage focus and tech-sector mandate, though ANRI typically writes larger initial checks and has stronger Tokyo brand recognition.
• World Innovation Lab (WiL): WiL is a Japan-anchored VC investing in early- and growth-stage startups globally with corporate LP backing. Directly comparable as a Japanese tech investor, but with significantly larger fund sizes and dual Japan-US presence that Seiho lacks.
• Coral Capital: Coral Capital is a Japan-focused early-stage VC investing in internet and software startups. Closely comparable to Seiho in stage (seed/early), check size, and tech-sector focus, with both firms emphasizing hands-on founder support.
• Incubate Fund: Incubate Fund is one of Japan's largest seed-stage VCs, with multiple successor funds and a strong founder community platform. Direct peer to Seiho given shared seed-stage tech focus, though Incubate Fund operates at substantially larger scale and has more established community/brand.
• DNX Ventures: DNX Ventures is a Japan-based early-stage VC focused on B2B SaaS and enterprise startups with US go-to-market support. Comparable to Seiho on early-stage Japanese tech investing, with the added dimension of cross-border (Japan-US) portfolio support.
• Spiral Capital: Spiral Capital is a Japanese early-stage VC (formerly Spiral Ventures) investing across Southeast Asia and Japan. Comparable to Seiho in seed/early tech focus, with the notable difference of regional SEA exposure absent from Seiho's Japan-only mandate.
• Archetype Ventures: Archetype Ventures is a Japanese early-stage VC supporting startups from seed through Series A. Direct peer to Seiho with overlapping stage, sector, and Japanese-market focus, though Archetype typically deploys larger individual checks.
• UTEC (University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners): UTEC is a Japanese early-stage VC specialized in deep tech and university-originated startups. Comparable to Seiho particularly on the deep tech portion of its portfolio (AI computer vision, 3D data), though UTEC's deep tech focus is more concentrated and supported by university IP sourcing.

Broad incumbents

• JAFCO Group: JAFCO Group is Japan's largest venture capital firm, operating multiple early- and growth-stage funds across domestic and select international markets. Directly comparable to Seiho as a Japanese VC investing in tech startups, but at materially larger AUM and team scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/noranekovc
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments22 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Seiho Investment Works