Central Japan Seed Fund

What Central Japan Seed Fund does

Central Japan Seed Fund (CJS) is a Nagoya-based seed-stage venture capital fund targeting startups that address regional social challenges across Japan, including depopulation, aging, climate change, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and local industry revitalization. Operated by 地域と人と未来株式会社 (Regional, Talent and Future, Inc.) since 2025 and originally launched under MTG Ventures in June 2022, the fund deploys seed capital with a 30% minimum allocation to Chubu-region startups and approximately 70% to other regions nationwide. The firm operates two sequential funds — CJS1号ファンド (final close approximately ¥1.7B in February 2024) and CJS2号ファンド (constituted October 2025, under formation) — and as of 2024 had invested in 38 portfolio companies.

The fund's core service is a hands-on support model that combines seed capital with LP-to-portfolio matching, mentorship, and ecosystem access. Its LP base of 25+ regional banks, major corporations, media companies, and government-affiliated entities (including Chubu Electric Power, Japan Post Capital, Tokai TV, Otsuka Holdings, and multiple regional banks) provides portfolio companies with distribution, co-creation, and open innovation channels. Designated partner VC status with four prefectures/municipalities (Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Yamanashi, Toyama) and university GAP fund programs (Michinoku GAP, TeSH GAP) further institutionalizes the fund's regional presence. The core team includes two representative partners (Ito Hitoshi and Fujita Go) with cumulative ¥200B+ capital gains and fundraising track records as of December 2024, supported by a partner (Matsubuchi Yua), two capitalists (Nakata Chihiro, Yamamoto Yuri), a corporate officer (Hayashi Takato), and three mentoring partners.

Revenue is generated through a standard closed-end fund economics model: management fees on committed capital plus carried interest on successful exits. Pricing and fee structures are not publicly disclosed. CJS does not develop proprietary technology; its value proposition is built on regional network, ecosystem partnerships, and the ability to connect capital to distribution channels through its LP base.

Name

Central Japan Seed Fund

Legal name

地域と人と未来株式会社

Website

https://cjs.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Central Japan Seed Fund is a Nagoya-based seed-stage venture capital fund that invests in and supports Japanese startups solving regional social challenges, with 38 portfolio companies across two sequential funds (CJS1 and CJS2) and a 25+ LP base spanning regional banks, major corporations, and government entities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital / Seed-Stage Private Equity

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)

Keywords

• Seed stage venture capital
• Regional startup investment
• Venture capital fund
• Startup ecosystem building
• Open innovation support

Headquarters

HQ city

Nagoya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Fund Management: The fund generates returns through management fees on committed capital and carried interest (performance fees) on investment gains. CJS operates as a 13-year closed-end fund with an investment period focused on seed-stage startups solving regional challenges. Revenue is driven by successful exits and portfolio company growth.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Central Japan Seed Fund is a seed-stage venture capital fund that invests capital into Japanese startups addressing regional social challenges such as depopulation, aging, climate change, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure, with a minimum 30% allocation to Chubu-region startups and 70% to other regions. The fund provides capital, mentorship from named partners, LP-investor matching, and ecosystem-building support to portfolio companies through two sequential funds (CJS1号ファンド and CJS2号ファンド). It also raises capital from limited partners including regional banks, major corporations, and government-affiliated entities.

Product overview

Central Japan Seed Fund operates as a dual-fund venture capital investment platform comprising CJS1号ファンド (established 2022) and its successor CJS2号ファンド. Both funds focus on seed-stage startup investments targeting regional problem-solving ventures across Japan, with CJS1 having achieved approximately 1.7 billion yen in final close and invested in 38 portfolio companies. The funds provide capital investment, mentorship, and ecosystem support to entrepreneurs addressing local and national challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Central Japan Seed Fund (CJS1号ファンド) First seed-stage regional-challenge venture capital fund established in 2022 by MTG Ventures. Invests in Japanese startups solving regional social challenges with a minimum 30% allocation to Chubu-region startups and 70% to other regions nationwide. Achieved final close at approximately ¥1.7 billion in February 2024. Combined with CJS2, the fund has invested in 38 portfolio companies.
• 地域と人と未来 CJS2号ファンド (CJS2 Fund) Successor fund to CJS1号ファンド. Continues the mission to support seed-stage startups solving regional issues across Japan, expanding partner network beyond Chubu region to Kansai, Chugoku, and Kyushu regions. Complements LP matching, mentorship, and ecosystem-building support to portfolio companies.
• CJS Mentorship and Ecosystem Support Program Hands-on support program for portfolio companies combining capital with mentorship from three named Mentoring Partners (Yasuda Takami, Aou Makinori, Kato Atsushi), LP-investor matching, annual meetings, and onsite portfolio-company pitching events. Includes ecosystem-building activities such as pitch contests, entrepreneur training, and mentoring at regional innovation programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 2/3 of CJS1 portfolio companies advanced to next growth stage
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and major.

• 脱炭素化支援機構 (JICN / Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025CJS entered a strategic partnership with JICN for decarbonization domain collaboration. JICN provides capital and knowledge for carbon-neutral initiatives. CJS connects its portfolio companies and regional ecosystem to JICN's national programs for startup growth and sustainable regional development.
• Prefectural and Municipal Governments (静岡県, 浜松市, 山梨県, 富山県)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CJS is designated as partner VC by multiple prefectures and cities (Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Yamanashi, Toyama) for regional ecosystem development. CJS team members also serve as mentors/lecturers across 24 prefectures and participate in university GAP fund programs (Michinoku GAP Fund, TeSH GAP Fund) as business promotion institutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• JAFCO Group: Japan's largest venture capital and private equity firm with decades of track record across all stages. A broad incumbent that competes with CJS for both LPs and Japanese startup deal flow, with broader stage coverage.
• Globis Capital Partners: Tokyo-based venture capital firm investing across seed to growth stages in Japan. A broad incumbent with deeper portfolio and stronger brand recognition among Japanese founders than CJS.
• East Ventures: One of the largest and most active early-stage VC firms in Southeast Asia and Japan. Substantially larger AUM and broader geographic reach make it a broad incumbent competing for the same Japanese seed deals.

Emerging players

• 01Booster: Tokyo-based accelerator and seed investor supporting Japanese startups with corporate open-innovation matching. Comparable to CJS in seed-stage focus and corporate LP-matching emphasis.

Direct peers

• ANRI: Tokyo-based early-stage/seed VC fund focused on Japanese startups. Operates a comparable seed-stage model targeting Japanese founders, with a similarly sized team and concentrated portfolio approach.
• Incubate Fund: Japan-focused seed-stage venture capital firm running multiple funds for early-stage Japanese startups. Comparable to CJS in fund structure, stage focus, and hands-on value-add approach.
• Coral Capital: Japan-focused seed-stage venture capital firm running multiple funds. Comparable to CJS as a dedicated seed fund manager with a hands-on approach to early-stage Japanese startups.
• MTG Ventures: The corporate venture capital arm of MTG Group and the founding operator of Central Japan Seed Fund. Operates a separate ¥5B VITAL LIFE-focused CVC fund. Most directly comparable as a Japanese early-stage VC with regional roots.

Regional players

• FFG Venture Business Partners: Fukuoka Financial Group's CVC/venture arm focused on regional Japanese startups. Comparable to CJS as a regional financial-institution-backed VC targeting regional founders and ecosystems.
• Skyland Ventures: Fukuoka-based seed venture capital firm focused on startups across Japan with strong regional roots. Most directly comparable as a non-Tokyo-based seed VC pursuing a similar regional ecosystem-building thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments8 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Central Japan Seed Fund