BIG Impact

What BIG Impact does

BIG Impact株式会社 (BIG Impact Inc.) is an independent Japanese venture capital firm founded in June 2022 by Naotaka Hosono (CEO) and Taiki Hino, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo (Shibuya Scramble Square 15F) with a regional office in Kobe, Hyogo. The firm operates as General Partner for two seed and early-stage funds: the Hyogo Kobe Startup Fund (HKSF, established March 2021 at approximately ¥1.1 billion; GP role transferred from Bonds Investment Group to BIG Impact in August 2022) and the BIG Impact K2 Fund (first closing April 2026, target ¥30-50 billion). Both funds use an explicit three-layer LP architecture combining regional government (Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City), regional financial institutions (SMBC, Tajima, Minato, Ikeda Sakaiho, JP Post-affiliated entities), and operating companies (Sysmex, Rohto Pharmaceutical, NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings, Digiara Holdings, SANPU TRAVEL GROUP from Taiwan, Korean investors).

The firm deploys capital into seed and early-stage Japanese startups across Industrial DX, Healthcare/Well-being, Aerospace, Agriculture, and Urban Infrastructure, while the K2 Fund explicitly extends coverage to East Asian markets (Korea, Taiwan) for cross-border deal flow. Documented portfolio activity covers 20+ companies including Liberaware (non-GPS indoor drones, achieved IPO on TSE Growth Market in July 2024), Letara (satellite propulsion, selected for METI's J-Startup program), Sagri (satellite-data agriculture), Arcs (AI/robotics for fertility treatment), Arktus Therapeutics (iPSC-derived cartilage), OLTA, Runtrip, SEAM, and Ethical Spirits. BIG Impact's core technology is its proprietary 'Big Impact Startup Ecosystem' network connecting EXITed portfolio founders, large corporates, research institutions (Kyoto, Kobe, and Saga universities), local governments, and domain experts to source deals and provide hands-on portfolio support (hiring, PR, business matching, IPO preparation).

Revenue is generated through traditional VC management fees on AUM plus future carried interest from successful exits; specific economic terms are not publicly disclosed. Distribution relies on a community-led go-to-market combining direct LP engagement, ecosystem referrals, recurring events (IVS, TechGALA, QWS STARTUP AWARD, Idea Brainstorm BAR, KTSC Demo Day), and founder public profile (CEO Hosono ranked #3 in 2018 and #5 in 2020 in Forbes Japan's Most Influential Venture Capitalists in Japan BEST10).

Name

BIG Impact

Legal name

BIG Impact株式会社

Website

https://big-impactfund.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BIG Impact is an independent Japanese venture capital firm managing two seed and early-stage funds (HKSF and K2 Fund) targeting Japanese startups across Industrial DX, Healthcare/Well-being, and Urban Infrastructure, anchored in Kobe/Kansai with East Asian (Korea, Taiwan) cross-border connectivity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Impact Investing (Intentional, Measurable Social/Environmental Outcomes) (FSAAALAC), Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)

Keywords

• Venture capital services
• Startup seed funding
• Early-stage investment
• Regional innovation funds
• Portfolio company support

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya

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, Others

Revenue model

1. VC Management Fees & Carried Interest: BIG Impact generates revenue through management fees on managed funds (HKSF approximately 11 billion yen, K2 Fund target 30-50 billion yen) and carried interest (carried interest) from successful portfolio exits. The firm invests an average of 10 billion yen per company as lead investor in seed/early-stage Japanese startups, focusing on 1-2 companies per industry.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BIG Impact is an independent venture capital firm that manages and invests through two flagship funds — the Hyogo Kobe Startup Fund (HKSF) and the BIG Impact K2 Fund — providing seed and early-stage equity capital to Japanese startups with a focus on AI, IoT, robotics, healthcare, environment, energy, healthcare, and Industrial DX. The firm offers portfolio companies hands-on support including business matching, PR strategy, hiring, and IPO preparation, and connects them with a network of EXITed startups, large corporations, research institutions, local governments, and domain experts.

Product overview

BIG Impact operates as an independent venture capital firm offering two main fund products: the ひょうご神戸スタートアップファンド (HKSF), a first fund established in partnership with Hyogo Prefecture and Kobe City targeting seed and early-stage startups in growth sectors like AI, IoT, healthcare, and environment; and the BIG Impact K2号 Fund, a second fund that builds on the first fund's strategy while expanding internationally to Korea and Taiwan. Both funds provide capital investment to startups along with hands-on support for growth and exit strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ひょうご神戸スタートアップファンド (HKSF): Investment fund focused on startups in Hyogo Prefecture and Kobe City, managed by BIG Impact.
• BIG Impact K2号投資事業有限責任組合 (K2 Fund)

Products and services

• Hyogo Kobe Startup Fund (HKSF) First flagship venture capital fund operated by BIG Impact in partnership with Hyogo Prefecture and Kobe City to invest in seed and early-stage startups, with a focus on AI, IoT, robotics, healthcare, environment, and aerospace sectors.
• BIG Impact K2 Fund (BIG Impact K2号投資事業有限責任組合) Second flagship venture capital fund focused on startups in the Kansai/Kobe region with international connections to Korea and Taiwan, emphasizing Industrial DX, Healthcare/Well-being, and Urban Infrastructure implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Liberaware IPO on TSE Growth Market (code 218A) — first HKSF portfolio company to go public
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MUIC Kansai (関西イノベーションセンター)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026BIG Impact CEO Hosono participates as tutor/mentor in the 'Blooming DRIVE with MUIC 2026' co-creation acceleration program run by MUIC Kansai and Sakura Internet, supporting startup innovation and proof-of-concept projects.
• Taipei City Government Department of Economic DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025BIG Impact planned and operated a biomedical industry cooperation event between Taipei City and Kobe, helping 16 Taipei biotech/medtech startups explore the Japanese market through visits to Anchor Kobe and Kobe Medical Industry City (KBIC).
• Anchor Kobe (アンカー神戸)minorOthers · 1 July 2024Co-host venue and co-organizer for startup events including Idea Brainstorm BAR, KTSC Demo Day, and Kobe-focused investment events. Located at Kobe Sannomiya, the venue serves as the physical hub for BIG Impact's Kansai ecosystem activities.
• Korea Tourism Organization (韓国観光公社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024BIG Impact served as main organizer for KTSC Demo Day in Kobe, sponsored by the Korea Tourism Organization, introducing 5 Korean travel tech startups to Japanese investors and businesses with Kobe City as co-sponsor.
• Minato Bank Business Cooperation AgreementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Business cooperation agreement signed in March 2024 for startup scene activation in Kansai and Hyogo. BIG Impact and Minato Bank collaborate on business matching, M&A, business succession support, DX/AI support using startup solutions, and joint startup events and programs.
• S Innovation (エスイノベーション)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Partnership to strengthen regional corporate innovation support through open innovation initiatives, combining S Innovation's innovation platform and fund operations with BIG Impact's startup ecosystem.
• Shibuya QWSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022BIG Impact's Tokyo HQ is located at Shibuya QWS, a membership-based co-creation facility. BIG Impact sponsors the QWS STARTUP AWARD and participates in QWS events, providing mentorship and investment consideration opportunities to QWS member startups.
• Future Venture Capital (フューチャーベンチャーキャピタル)minorOthers · 1 August 2022H adviser松本直人 was previously President of Future Venture Capital (FVC), bringing extensive regional VC and fund management expertise to BIG Impact's ecosystem. FVC established the first municipal fund 'Kobe Relational Venture Fund' in a government-designated city.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ANRI: Japanese seed-focused venture capital firm led by old Slack Japan exec, backing early-stage founders in Japan. Highly comparable given seed-stage focus, founder-friendly approach, and active portfolio construction similar to BIG Impact's strategy.
• Coral Capital: Early-stage venture capital firm in Japan investing across diverse sectors at the seed and Series A stages. Comparable peer given similar early-stage focus, diversified portfolio approach, and active engagement with Japanese startup founders.
• World Innovation Lab (WiL): Cross-border (US-Japan) venture capital firm investing in early-to-growth-stage startups. Comparable given Japanese focus and cross-border connectivity (K2 Fund's Korea/Taiwan dimension mirrors WiL's US-Japan bridge).
• Incubate Fund: Japanese seed and early-stage venture capital firm with multiple funds, investing across sectors. Comparable given similar fund structure (multiple vintages), early-stage focus, and broad sector exposure in the Japanese market.
• Future Venture Capital (FVC): Regional Japanese VC firm with Kansai focus, established the first municipal fund in a government-designated city (Kobe Relational Venture Fund). Highly comparable regional peer; BIG Impact's adviser previously served as FVC's president, creating direct lineage and overlap.
• Globis Capital Partners: One of Japan's largest early-stage venture capital firms, investing across seed and Series A in Japanese startups. Most comparable peer given similar early-stage focus, fund size ambition, and deal sourcing breadth, though with significantly larger AUM and broader geographic reach.
• Bonds Investment Group: The VC firm from which BIG Impact's founders (Hosono and Hiono) previously ran Opt Ventures. Highly comparable as a Japanese early-stage VC with similar DNA; BIG Impact actually took over GP responsibilities for the HKSF fund from Bonds Investment Group in August 2022.

Others

• Kepple (KéPPLE): Japanese startup ecosystem platform and fund of funds with the Kepple Africa Ventures arm. Comparable as Japanese venture ecosystem participant and BIG Impact adviser (Kepple's CEO Kamisaki serves as BIG Impact adviser), though operating more as ecosystem infrastructure than direct seed investor.

Broad incumbents

• JAFCO: Japan's largest venture capital firm with broad sector and stage coverage. Comparable as incumbent Japanese VC market participant; BIG Impact competes with JAFCO for early-stage deals though JAFCO operates across a much wider stage range.

Regional players

• Kobe Startup Support (Kobe City ecosystem funds): Hyogo/Kobe-based regional VC initiatives including earlier municipal funds like the Kobe Relational Venture Fund by FVC. Directly comparable regional peer sharing BIG Impact's Kansai geographic focus and government-backed LP relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BIGImpactInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments4 records

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

Frequently asked questions about BIG Impact