What DMM GAMES Ventures does

DMM GAMES Ventures is the corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of DMM GAMES, operated through its legal entity EXNOA LLC (合同会社EXNOA) and headquartered at Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower 24F in Minato-ku, Tokyo. The fund invests in gaming and entertainment companies globally — both domestic Japanese and international — offering 100% independently funded equity capital combined with operational support. Its stated differentiators are fourfold: (1) fast and flexible decision-making enabled by single-investor CVC structure, (2) business know-how transferred from DMM GAMES' experience developing hit IPs, (3) active support for cross-border market entry into Japan and abroad, and (4) access to the DMM GAMES platform for distribution of new and existing IPs across multiple game experiences.

The fund runs a standardized five-step investment review process (Application, Document Screening, Departmental Review, Final Review, Investment), with the explicit caveat that the process may vary case by case. Deal sourcing occurs through the corporate website (available in Japanese, English, and Chinese), the DMM GAMES ecosystem and partner network, and direct developer/partner recruitment channels hosted on the DMM GAMES corporate site. The fund does not co-invest with external LPs, which removes traditional VC approval friction but also concentrates capital sourcing entirely within the DMM GAMES parent.

Revenue mechanics are investment-based: returns are generated through equity appreciation and business synergies with the DMM GAMES ecosystem rather than management fees or transaction charges. The fund's addressable customer base is horizontal within gaming — spanning established IP holders, new-IP creators, and entertainment-adjacent companies — and it explicitly serves both Japanese companies seeking international expansion and foreign companies seeking entry into the Japanese market. No fund size, AUM, deal count, portfolio composition, management team, or financial performance is publicly disclosed.

Name

DMM GAMES Ventures

Legal name

合同会社EXNOA (EXNOA LLC)

Website

https://dmmgamesventures.jp

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DMM GAMES Ventures is the 100% independently funded corporate venture capital arm of DMM GAMES (EXNOA LLC), investing globally in gaming and entertainment companies by combining equity capital with operational know-how, cross-border market entry support, and DMM GAMES platform distribution access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) (FSANAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Captive CVC Fund (Dedicated corporate fund structure) (FSANAHAB), Strategic / Balance-Sheet CVC (On-balance-sheet investing) (FSANAHAA), Corporate Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Investment Arms (FSANAHAF)

Keywords

• Venture capital funding
• Corporate venture capital
• Gaming industry investment
• Equity investment services
• Startup investment funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Roppongi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: DMM GAMES Ventures generates returns through equity investments in game and entertainment companies. As a 100% independently funded CVC (Corporate Venture Capital) fund under EXNOA LLC, they provide capital in exchange for equity stakes, seeking capital appreciation and business synergies with the DMM GAMES ecosystem.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DMM GAMES Ventures is a Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) fund that invests 100% independently in game-related businesses both domestically in Japan and internationally. Beyond capital, the fund supplies business know-how cultivated through DMM GAMES hit IPs, supports market entry into Japan and abroad, and provides the DMM GAMES platform for portfolio companies to expand new and existing intellectual properties through diverse gaming experiences.

Product overview

DMM GAMES Ventures operates as a single unified CVC investment service focused on the gaming and entertainment sector. The core offering combines four key value propositions: (1) 100% independent, flexible, and fast investment decisions as a CVC fund, (2) business know-how and organizational expertise cultivated through hit IP development, (3) active support for market entry in Japan and abroad, and (4) a platform for developing and expanding new intellectual properties. Unlike traditional venture capital, DMM GAMES Ventures leverages the DMM GAMES ecosystem to provide portfolio companies with operational expertise and resources alongside capital.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DMM GAMES Ventures Investment Services

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DMM GAMEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMM GAMES is the parent brand and ecosystem from which DMM GAMES Ventures originates. The VC leverages the DMM GAMES platform, hit IP portfolio, and business expertise to support investee companies. The partnership provides access to the platform for IP deployment and leverages the brand recognition of DMM GAMES in the Japanese gaming market.
• EXNOA LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEXNOA LLC is the corporate entity that operates DMM GAMES Ventures. As the legal parent company, EXNOA provides the institutional framework and brand backing for the venture capital operations. The company is headquartered in Tokyo at Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower.
• Domestic and International Business PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDMM GAMES Ventures can introduce investee companies to domestic and international business partners as part of their support services. These partnerships help facilitate market entry and business development for portfolio companies.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sony Innovation Fund: Corporate venture arm of Sony Group, investing in entertainment, gaming, and deep-tech startups globally. Most directly comparable as a major gaming-adjacent platform CVC offering capital plus ecosystem access to portfolio companies.
• Tencent Investment: The strategic investment arm of Tencent, one of the world's largest gaming companies. Heavily invests in global gaming studios and entertainment companies, providing capital and Tencent platform distribution — directly analogous to DMM GAMES Ventures' model.
• Krafton Ventures: The CVC arm of Krafton (the Korean publisher behind PUBG). Invests in gaming and entertainment companies with strategic synergies to Krafton's platform — a clean CVC comparable in mandate and operating model.
• NetEase Investment: Strategic investment arm of NetEase, a major Chinese gaming publisher. Invests in global gaming companies and provides distribution support via NetEase platforms — directly comparable to DMM GAMES Ventures as an Asian gaming platform CVC.
• BITKRAFT Ventures: Specialized global venture fund focused exclusively on gaming and interactive entertainment. A close direct peer given its gaming-only mandate and global investment approach, though structured as a traditional VC rather than a captive CVC.
• Makers Fund: Gaming-focused venture capital firm investing globally in interactive entertainment. Comparable as a domain-specialist gaming VC, though unlike DMM GAMES Ventures it operates as an independent fund rather than a captive platform CVC.
• Galaxy Interactive: Investment firm focused on interactive entertainment, gaming, and Web3. Comparable as a gaming-specialist investor with global scope, though structurally an independent fund rather than a corporate-backed CVC.
• Sega Ventures: CVC arm of Japanese gaming major Sega, investing in gaming and entertainment companies. A particularly relevant Japanese-market CVC comparable to DMM GAMES Ventures given the same regional base, parent gaming platform, and strategic investment mandate.
• Konami Ventures: CVC arm of Japanese gaming publisher Konami. Comparable as another Japanese gaming platform CVC providing capital plus ecosystem access to investee companies in the gaming and entertainment sector.
• London Venture Partners (LVP): Veteran gaming-focused VC fund investing globally in interactive entertainment companies. Comparable as a domain-specialist gaming VC, though operating as an independent fund rather than a captive corporate CVC like DMM GAMES Ventures.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about DMM GAMES Ventures