What Abies Ventures does

Abies Ventures is a Tokyo-headquartered venture capital firm founded in October 2017 by Managing Partners Fuyuki Yamaguchi and Sota Nagano that invests exclusively in early-stage deep tech startups in Japan and the United States. The firm's investment thesis spans four verticals — robotics/mobility, high-performance computing and communications, new materials and climate technology, and space — and is operationalized through a proprietary "Deep Tech Element Technology Map" framework used to evaluate technologies in robotics, AI, quantum computing, advanced materials, and space systems. The firm currently manages two funds: Fund I, established in July 2018, and Fund II, launched in August 2024 with a final close at JPY 8 billion (~USD 50M) in May 2026. Its portfolio comprises 22+ companies including Solaris, Qubitcore, HOBE ENERGY, Patentix, Nichietsu, VOLTMIND, Synspective, Horizon Quantum Computing, Pixie Dust Technologies, and Telexistence.

The firm's underlying technology is its investment-evaluation framework rather than a commercial software product. Its core distribution asset is a curated network of over 100 global partners — conglomerates, corporate VCs, accelerators, government agencies, and research institutions — that provide portfolio companies with financing, business development, and cross-border expansion support. The advisory bench is unusually senior for the firm's size, including the founder of Microsoft Japan (Susumu Furukawa), the founder of Mistletoe and Gungho Online Entertainment (Taizo Son), and a former SoftBank SVP (Atsushi Taira).

The business model follows traditional venture capital economics: management fees (typically 1.5-2% of committed capital) and carried interest (typically 20% above hurdle rate). Fund II's LP base is diversified across a Japanese government-affiliated fund, a Fortune 500 corporation, a national university-affiliated investment fund, a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, publicly listed Japanese companies, financial institutions, and family offices. The firm serves two customer segments: deep tech startup founders (investment, mentorship, network access, and operational support) and institutional LPs (curated deal flow and exposure to the Japanese deep tech ecosystem). It does not sell software products and operates from offices in Tokyo (headquarters) and Kyoto. Notable liquidity events to date include Pixie Dust Technologies' NASDAQ listing (August 2023), Synspective's Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market IPO (December 2024), and Horizon Quantum Computing's Nasdaq listing via SPAC (March 2026) at a USD 503M valuation.

Name

Abies Ventures

Legal name

Abies Ventures株式会社

Website

https://abies.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Abies Ventures is a Tokyo-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2017 that invests exclusively in Japanese and US deep tech startups across robotics, quantum computing, climate tech, and space, currently managing two funds with a 22+ company portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Other Financial Vehicles (52599), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Venture Capital Fundraising Placement (FSAEALAC)

Keywords

• Venture capital investing
• Deep tech startups
• Seed stage funding
• Portfolio management
• Technology 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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fund Management: Traditional VC revenue model consisting of management fees (typically 1.5-2% of committed capital) and carried interest (typically 20% of profits above hurdle rate). Revenue generated from managing Abies Ventures Fund I and Fund II.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Abies Ventures is a venture capital firm that manages investment funds providing seed and early-stage equity capital to deep tech startups in Japan and the United States. The firm deploys LP capital into robotics/mobility, high-performance computing/communications, new materials/climate tech, and space technology ventures, supplementing capital with strategic advisory, operational support, and introductions to a global partner network of over 100 conglomerates, corporate VCs, accelerators, and research institutions.

Product overview

Abies Ventures is a venture capital firm that identifies and supports deep tech startups with unique technologies and high aspirations, primarily in Japan and the US, to create companies that can solve global-scale problems. The firm operates two venture capital funds (Fund I and Fund II) and provides investment, incubation, and operational support to portfolio companies. Its investment focus spans four deep tech verticals: Robotics/Mobility, High-Performance Computing/Communications, New Materials/Climate Tech, and Space. The firm does not offer software products or services directly; its offering consists of venture investment and portfolio company support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abies Ventures Fund I, L.P. Abies Ventures' inaugural venture capital fund providing seed and early-stage equity financing to Japanese deep tech startups, managed by Abies Ventures GPI, LLP.
• Abies Ventures Fund II Investment Limited Partnership Second-generation venture capital fund managed by Abies Ventures GPII LLP, providing seed and early-stage equity investment to Japanese deep tech startups across climate/energy, advanced materials, robotics, space, and frontier technologies. Final close at JPY 8 billion in commitments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Portfolio companies achieving major milestones including IPOs (Synspective listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market Dec 2024, Horizon Quantum Computing listed on Nasdaq March 2026, Pixie Dust Technologies listed on NASDAQ August 2023)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.

• Visionnaire VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-Japan venture capital fund where Managing Partner Fuyuki Yamaguchi serves as Managing Partner; cross-border collaboration opportunity
• MistletoeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup ecosystem builder where Executive Advisor Taizo Son founded the organization; Senior Advisor Susumu Furukawa serves as Professor at Keio University
• Global Conglomerates NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 100 world-leading players including conglomerates, corporate VCs, accelerators, government agencies, and research institutions in the global network to support portfolio companies' financing and business development
• J-Startup Program (METI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccredited supporter for J-Startup program by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• NEDOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCertified VC of commercialization support for seed-stage technology-based startups under NEDO program

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JAFCO Group: Japan's largest venture capital firm, investing across seed to growth stages with a broad sector mandate. Highly comparable as a Japanese VC with deep institutional LP base and a portfolio approach similar to Abies' multi-stage, multi-vertical model.
• Global Brain: Japan-headquartered VC with deep tech and enterprise software focus and strong corporate LP network. Highly comparable given deep tech specialization, corporate VC relationships, and Japan-anchored investing with US presence.
• ANRI: Tokyo-based seed/early-stage VC focused on Japanese tech startups. Highly comparable as a Japan-domiciled early-stage VC with deep engagement in the domestic startup ecosystem.
• World Innovation Lab (WiL): US-Japan cross-border VC investing in enterprise, deep tech, and sustainability. Closely comparable given cross-border Japan-US mandate and corporate LP base aligned with Abies' positioning.
• Beyond Next Ventures: Japan-focused deep tech VC with strong ties to university IP and government programs (NEDO, JST). Directly comparable given deep tech concentration, Japanese government relationships, and seed/early-stage focus.
• Visionnaire Ventures: US-Japan cross-border VC where Abies Managing Partner Fuyuki Yamaguchi is concurrently Managing Partner. Closely comparable given shared personnel, US-Japan mandate, and early-stage tech investing.
• Draper Nexus: Tokyo-based early-stage VC backed by the Draper network. Comparable as a Japan-domiciled early-stage VC with US venture DNA and deep tech interest.

Broad incumbents

• Mitsubishi UFJ Capital: CVC arm of MUFG, one of Japan's largest banks, with broad venture investing across stages. Comparable as a Japanese institutional VC, though with much larger AUM and corporate parent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/abiesventures
• Facebookfacebook.com/abiesventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments29 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Abies Ventures