Fiducia

What Fiducia does

Fiducia Inc. (Fiducia株式会社) is a Tokyo-based, privately held investment advisory and agency firm founded in June 2020 and registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Financial Instruments Business No. 3242). The firm invests its own capital and advises on growth-stage equity for Japanese-origin advanced-technology companies in engineering, science, and medical fields, including ventures from regional Japan. Its investment philosophy is hands-on rather than passive, with a stated principle that investment returns should be proportional to the magnitude of the social problem solved by the underlying technology.

The core service offering is the Fiducia Advanced Technology & Growth Investment Fund, structured around two pillars — "Advanced Technology" and "Growth" — and delivered under the firm's regulated Investment Advisory and Agency Business license. Revenue is generated through investment advisory/agency fees and performance-linked economics typical of a PE/VC manager (management fees plus carried interest/capital gains), although specific fee schedules and fund size are not publicly disclosed. Co-investment is a central mechanism: in May 2026 Fiducia participated alongside Singapore-based iGlobe Partners and Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Sound Wave Innovation's approximately ¥26.5 billion Series C, backing the LIPUS-Brain ultrasound Alzheimer's device, Japan's first "Pioneering Medical Device" designation.

Operationally, Fiducia is a deliberately small firm of approximately 10 people (3 board, 5 investment professionals, 2 advisors) with a senior team drawn from Nomura International, Nomura Holdings, Nikko Asset Management, GPIF, Japan Post Bank, Tokyo Electron (TEL Ventures), SBI Holdings, Daiwa Securities, the Bank of Japan, and Kyoto University. Distribution relies on direct, relationship-driven deal sourcing through these alumni networks, supplemented by selective public-facing initiatives such as a February 2026 collaboration with designer Kate Barton and IBM Watsonx to demonstrate a multilingual "Fiducia AI" agent at New York Fashion Week — the firm's first disclosed AI capability, built on third-party IBM infrastructure.

Name

Fiducia

Legal name

Fiducia Inc. (Fiducia株式会社)

Website

https://www.fiducia.co.jp/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fiducia is a Tokyo-based, regulated investment advisory firm (founded 2020) that provides growth-stage capital and hands-on value creation for Japanese-origin advanced-technology companies in engineering, science, and medicine, targeting global social issues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Advisory and Growth Equity

NAICS

Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991), Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiduciary Investment Management (Trust Portfolios) (FSAEAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Institutional Consultants & Fiduciary Management (Investment Consulting) (FSAAAGAJ), Corporate & Institutional Trust Services (FSAAANAB), Personal Trust & Fiduciary Administration (FSAEAKAA)

Keywords

• Venture capital investing
• Growth equity funds
• Investment advisory services
• Deep tech investments
• Technology growth funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory and Agency Fees: Registered as an Investment Advisory and Agency Business (投資助言・代理業) with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (No. 3242). Primary revenue stream is fees generated from providing investment advisory and agency services to portfolio/fund clients in Japanese advanced-technology ventures. Fee mechanics (management vs. performance-based) not publicly disclosed.
2. Investment Returns (Carried Interest / Capital Gains): Fiducia invests its own capital alongside LPs and co-investors (e.g., participation in Sound Wave Innovation's ¥26.5B Series C). Returns are framed as the result of solving social issues, proportional to the magnitude of the problem solved — implying performance-linked economics typical of PE/VC.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fiducia Inc. operates a regulated Investment Advisory and Agency Business (投資助言・代理業) registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Financial Instruments Business) No. 3242. Through its flagship Advanced Technology & Growth Investment Fund, the firm provides hands-on growth-stage capital and corporate value-creation support to Japanese advanced-technology ventures in engineering, science, and medicine, targeting technologies that can address global social issues.

Product overview

Fiducia operates as a single-platform investment firm offering a regulated Investment Advisory and Agency Business (the core licensed service, registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau No. 3242), delivered through its flagship Fiducia Advanced Technology & Growth Investment Fund, which channels capital into Japanese-origin advanced technologies at the growth stage. Layered on top of this investment mandate, Fiducia AI represents the firm's emerging AI capability, demonstrated via a collaboration with designer Kate Barton and IBM Watsonx on a multilingual AI agent showcased at New York Fashion Week. Together, these offerings combine Fiducia's regulated investment advisory core, its Advanced Technology & Growth fund focus, and its nascent Fiducia AI capability into a coherent proposition of hands-on investment in and enablement of cutting-edge Japanese technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investment Advisory and Agency Business (投資助言・代理業) Fiducia Inc.'s core licensed service is investment advisory and agency business, operated under registration "Director of the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Financial Instruments Business) No. 3242." It is the regulated offering through which the firm delivers investment guidance and acts as an agent for fund/portfolio clients investing in Japanese advanced-technology ventures.
• Fiducia Advanced Technology & Growth Investment Fund Fiducia's flagship fund vehicle, built around two pillars — "Advanced Technology" and "Growth." The firm pursues hands-on, venture-growth-stage investments in Japanese-origin advanced technologies (engineering, science, and medical fields), targeting solutions to global social issues and technology-driven revitalization of the Japanese economy. Return philosophy ties investment outcomes to the magnitude of social problems solved.

Named customers2 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

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sumitomo Heavy IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2026Sumitomo Heavy Industries is both a co-investor in Sound Wave Innovation's Series C alongside Fiducia and the strategic manufacturing/commercialization partner for the LIPUS-Brain device. Following confirmatory trial results, Sumitomo will seek manufacturing and sales approval to launch the treatment at medical institutions nationwide.
• Kate BartonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 February 2026Designer Kate Barton unveiled her latest collection at New York Fashion Week with a multilingual AI agent co-built by Fiducia AI and IBM Watsonx, designed to enhance guest interaction and virtual try-ons. The collaboration highlighted growing integration of AI into fashion, with broader industry adoption expected by 2028.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Global Brain: One of Japan's largest independent venture capital firms with deep-tech and growth-stage focus across engineering, science, and information technology. Directly comparable to Fiducia on thesis (Japan-origin advanced technologies) and stage (growth equity), but with materially larger AUM and team.
• UTEC (University of Tokyo Edge Capital): Japan-focused deep-tech VC that originates from the University of Tokyo ecosystem and invests in science- and engineering-based startups. Closely comparable to Fiducia's university/research-adjacent, science-driven Japan deep-tech thesis.
• JAFCO Group: Long-standing Japanese venture and growth capital firm with a multi-stage, multi-sector mandate. Comparable to Fiducia as a Japan-domiciled investment advisor backing growth-stage companies, though with much broader sector coverage and a public listing.
• ANRI: Tokyo-based early- and growth-stage VC fund investing in Japanese technology startups. Comparable to Fiducia as a Japan-focused, professionalized venture investor with hands-on support, though ANRI's center of gravity is in software/internet rather than deep tech.
• Nissay Capital: Japanese venture capital firm affiliated with Nippon Life Insurance, investing across early- and growth-stage Japanese companies. Comparable to Fiducia as a Japan growth-investment advisor, with a similar institutional LP orientation.
• World Innovation Lab (WiL): Japan- and US-based venture and growth fund that backs Japanese-origin technology companies with global ambitions. Directly comparable to Fiducia's Japan-origin deep-tech thesis and cross-border co-investment model.
• Coral Capital: Tokyo-based VC firm investing in early- and growth-stage Japanese startups. Comparable to Fiducia as a Japan-focused professional venture investor, with overlapping target profiles among Japan-origin technology founders.
• SBI Investment: One of Japan's largest VC arms under SBI Holdings, with broad sector and stage coverage. Comparable to Fiducia as a Japan-domiciled growth investor; an Fiducia team member previously engaged in overseas investment at SBI Holdings, indicating overlapping professional networks.

Regional players

• iGlobe Partners: Singapore-based venture capital firm that led the Sound Wave Innovation Series C alongside Fiducia. Comparable as a co-investor and syndicate partner in Japanese deep-tech deals with a global commercialization lens, but based in and primarily operating from Southeast Asia.

Broad incumbents

• StepStone Group: Global private markets investment firm with primary, secondary, and co-investment capabilities. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the private-asset advisory and fund-of-funds space, and an Fiducia team member previously served as Managing Director at StepStone, indicating direct professional overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

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

Investments9 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Fiducia