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Dentsu Ventures is a corporate venture capital fund that supports entrepreneurs to bring their innovation to the world.

With the unique value creation capabilities of the Dentsu Group and its strong network of leading VCs around the world, Dentsu Ventures aspires to build a culture of co-creation between startups and corporations and help create a better world.

Support

In addition to providing necessary financial support, Dentsu Ventures will focus on hands-on support utilizing the problem solving resources Dentsu Group has cultivated as described below.

Buisiness Development Offering business development/business management support

・Provide support for developing business strategies
・Help with product/service development with both rational and creative appeal
・Analyze markets and business feasibility through researches and analysis tools/expertise
・Provide assistance from a team of experts to improve UI/UX
・Help recruit talented members via our unique network
・Support fundraising

Partnership/Alliance Building and implementing strategies for corporate partnerships

・Support the development of partnership/alliance strategies with Dentsu Group's clients and others
・Help develop joint projects with media firms and sports/movie rights holders
・Design business models for partnerships/alliances and facilitate collaboration

Marketing Providing wide range of marketing solutions

・Provide integrated marketing plan and campaign tailored to the each stage of our portfolio
・Provide professional marketing tools and services building on our cutting-edge technology and expertise
・Share knowledge and insight into cutting-edge marketing technology and trends
・Support product designs, content production and other creative work, utilizing the best creative resources available

Global Supporting global expansion

・Help global expansion utilizing Dentsu Group network
・Support localization of products/services based on the local market insights
・Offer sessions and workshops with key industry influencers worldwide

Portfolio

A multi-document summarization platform using natural language and big data analyses
agolo
A platform for streamlining and maximizing revenue for subscription businesses
Alp
An AI-driven production platform for the motion picture and television industry

Arraiy
(acquired by Matterport)
Producing and distributing business news videos for Millennials
Cheddar
(acquired by Altice)
An automated and intelligent next-generation sequencing platform built for food safety testing
Clear Labs
Cloud service for operations support utilizing drones
CLUE
Developing consumer and professional medical diagnostic products that can be used in clinical or at-home settings
Cue (IPO)
Manufacturing protein bars using cricket flour from pulverized crickets
Exo
(acquired by Aspire Food)
A next generation investment service specializing in thematic investing as an online brokerage firm
FOLIO
Developing a blood test for early-stage cancer detection utilizing DNA sequencing technology
Grail
(acquired by Illumina)
A platform that automatically generates hyper-local news content
Hoodline
(acquired by Nextdoor)
A next-generation medication history system that supports the digital transformation of the pharmaceutical industry
KAKEHASHI
An audience engagement platform for interactive experiences
Livelike
An auto-generated digital 3D avatar platform that uses computer vision technology
Loom.ai
(acquired by Roblox)
A cloud production management platform that effectively utilizes a network of idle factory assets
MACROFAB
Building mobile AR platform for seamless remote collaboration and hands-free workflow guidance
Mira Labs
A platform to help retail brands improve post-purchase experiences for customers
Narvar
Operating a media platform for Millennials and offering marketing solutions to companies and brands
NEW STANDARD
Developing cloud-first smartphones

nextbit
(acquired by Razer)
A sports media/community platform for the next generation of athletes and fans
Overtime
An on-demand smart bus mobility service using a smartphone app
Shuttl
Software for parking lot supply and demand analysis and dynamic pricing
Smarking
Creating VR entertainment content powered by cutting-edge immersive technology
Survios
Providing a real estate marketplace "cowcamo" and "space invention" services
TSUKURUBA (IPO)
Developing a disruptive silicon-powered DNA synthesis platform
Twist Bioscience (IPO)
Building micro-amusement parks with a range of immersive entertainment activities
Two Bit Circus
The world’s leading K-12 creative coding platform
Tynker
(acquired by Byju’s)
Developing AR cloud platform to seamlessly connect reality and virtual space
UBIQUITY6
(acquired by Discord)
Producing cell-cultured meat that is delicious, affordable and environmentally friendly
UPSIDE Foods

Team

Kotaro Sasamoto Managing Partner

Kotaro joined Dentsu in 2003 and engaged in a wide range of advertising work, focusing on developing and executing marketing strategies for clients in the strategic planning and account management divisions. He then moved on to working on overseas projects, where he built up clients’ international operations and established the international branch for Dentsu. After studying abroad, he transferred to the Corporate Strategy Division, where he was in charge of investment in domestic and international startups as well as new business development. In April 2015, he established Dentsu Ventures where he was appointed managing partner. He was a jury member for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2017.

He graduated from the Faculty of Integrated Human Studies at Kyoto University, and received his MBA at the Harvard Business School.

Daiji Horibe General Partner

At Dentsu Ventures, Daiji is mainly involved in fund management, as well as the sourcing, valuation and value-up activities for domestic and international startups. As a Co-founder & Managing Partner at Prime Partners Inc., he was involved in a large number of fund planning, large corporation innovation generation and CVC management support operations. Before beginning work at his current position, he worked at an independent venture capital fund where he was involved in CVC establishments and operational support for major Japanese businesses. He also has experience working at Boston Consulting Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Daiwa Securities SMBC Co., Ltd.

He graduated from the Engineering Department at Kyoto University and received his Masters’ Degree in Engineering. He then received his MBA from the University of Rochester.

Kevin Hasegawa General Partner

At Dentsu Ventures, Kevin is mainly in charge of sourcing and investing in startups focused on international market, and supporting their expansion to the Japan and Asia markets. While being involved in innovation support for large corporations as Co-founder & Managing Partner at Prime Partners Inc., he has also supported startups in the life science and general IT fields, as a mentor for Y Combinator for Biotech, Illumina Accelerator and Techstars. Before working in his current position, he worked at an independent venture capital fund, Itochu Corporation and at CTC.

He received a BA in Engineering, a BS in Physics and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Daisuke Takemori General Partner

At Dentsu Ventures, Daisuke is mainly in charge of the sourcing, valuation and value-up activities for domestic startups. As a Founding Partner of Prime Partners Inc., he has proven experience in fund management and business development consulting for large corporations. In addition, he has been involved in the management of several startups, serving as a business development advisor for PKSHA Technology and WACUL, where he was involved in strategy planning from the seed stage to IPO. He also served as COO and executive board member at ROBIT. Before working in his current position, he worked at Boston Consulting Group and Sony Corporation.

He graduated from the Faculty of Business and Commerce at Keio University.

Tatsuru Isayama Principal

Tatsuru joined Dentsu in 2009, where he was first involved in media buying for TV stations. He then transferred to the account management division where he engaged in the advertising and marketing operations of a large number of clients. After studying abroad, he moved to the Dentsu Innovation Initiative, and he is now in charge of strategy planning to build a new business foundation for the entire Dentsu Group, as well as global startup investing and business development with Dentsu Group companies in Japan and other regions.

He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, and received his MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Hideyuki Nakanishi Principal

At Dentsu Ventures, Hideyuki is mainly in chargfe of sourcing, valuation and due diligence of domestic and international startups. At Prime Partners Inc., he is responsible for consulting business focusing on new business development. Before working in his current position, he was Investment Director at Hong Kong based Ward Ferry Management for 7 years, where he was in charge of research and investment activities to Asian companies. He primary covered Japan market and also watched companies in other Asian countries. Prior to this, he worked for Boston Consulting Group, and Equity Research at Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc,.

Graduate from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Economics.

Fund

Name:: Dentsu Ventures Fund Ⅱ
Partners:: Dentsu Group Inc., Dentsu Innovation Partners Inc. and Prime Partners, Inc.
Total fund capital:: 10 billion yen
Date of establishment:: April 2021
Period of operation:: 10 years to March 2031
Investment regions:: Global
Investment stages:: From seed to late stage

Name:: Dentsu Ventures Global Fund I
Partners:: Dentsu Inc.(Transferred to Dentsu Group Inc. in January of 2020) and Prime Partners, Inc.
Total fund capital:: 10 billion yen
Date of establishment:: April 2015
Period of operation:: 10 years to March 2025
Investment regions:: Global investments with a central focus on the U.S., Europe and Asia
Investment stages:: Balanced, wide-ranging investments with the focus on seed and early stage investments, but also including mid-stage and later-stage investments

Contact

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1-8-1, Higashi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-7050, Japan
MAIL：info@dentsu-v.com

Create Value, Create the Future.