{"id":759115,"date":"2026-04-28T14:20:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/759115\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T14:20:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:20:15","slug":"alumni-ventures-announces-strategic-partnerships-in-japan-marks-global-expansion-with-japan-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/759115\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Ventures Announces Strategic Partnerships in Japan, Marks Global Expansion with Japan Office"},"content":{"rendered":"

MANCHESTER, N.H. & TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–Alumni Ventures<\/a>, one of TIME Magazine\u2019s<\/a> Top 20 VC Firms in America, today announced the formation of strategic partnerships in Japan with KDDI, one of Japan\u2019s leading telecommunications companies, and UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC), a subsidiary of the University of Tokyo, Japan\u2019s premier public university focused on driving innovation, to accelerate cross-border growth of startups in Japan and the United States. The launch of these relationships represents a cutting-edge strategy designed to provide a bridge between the two venture capital ecosystems, invigorating startups to collaborate on a global scale with innovative technologies and services.<\/p>\n

\nThe firm also announced the opening of Alumni Ventures Japan KK in the Tri-Seven Roppongi building in Tokyo, marking a significant milestone in Alumni Ventures\u2019 Asia-Pacific growth strategy. The office is led by Michael G. Phillips, Head of Asia Pacific, Chief Legal Officer and Executive Managing Director at Alumni Ventures, who has relocated to Tokyo to spearhead the firm\u2019s regional expansion and deepen relationships across Japan\u2019s innovation ecosystem.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cJapan has world-class capital and world-class innovation, and the U.S. venture market has historically been difficult for Japanese institutions to access in a structured, meaningful way,\u201d said Mike Collins, CEO, Board Chairman and Founder at Alumni Ventures. \u201cWith our permanent office in Tokyo, we are building a real bridge between two powerful venture ecosystems. We believe Japan\u2019s innovation ecosystem is at an inflection point, and our permanent presence here will enable deeper collaboration between Japanese and U.S. founders and institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nAmong the firm\u2019s strategic partners is KDDI Corporation, one of Japan\u2019s leading telecommunications companies, and UTokyo IPC, underscoring growing interest among Japanese corporations and academic institutions in jumpstarting growth among start-ups through venture capital. Alumni Ventures is actively working with additional institutions and universities for collaboration opportunities.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThis is an excellent chance to cultivate the next generation of internationally minded venture capitalists within KDDI, who will go on to lead Japan’s startup ecosystem,\u201d stated Tomohiko Katsuki, Managing Executive Officer, CSO & CDO, Executive Director of Corporate Strategy & Open Innovation at KDDI. \u201cBy intersecting Alumni Ventures\u2019 world-class ecosystem with KDDI\u2019s telecommunications infrastructure and business development expertise, we are radically accelerating the growth trajectory for innovative founders. Together with Alumni Ventures, we will continue our challenge to create the industries of tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nAlumni Ventures\u2019 expansion into Japan reflects the firm\u2019s broader global growth strategy and its long-term conviction in the strength of Japan\u2019s innovation economy. With deep technical talent, leading research institutions, strong corporate participation, and increasing momentum around entrepreneurship and startup formation, Japan represents a compelling market for long-term venture investment. Through its permanent presence in Tokyo, Alumni Ventures aims to help connect investors, founders, and institutions across two of the world\u2019s most important innovation ecosystems.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWhile global expansion is essential for Japanese deep-tech startups to realize significant growth and build a globally competitive ecosystem, achieving this is no easy task,\u201d said Masafumi Kawai, Chief Investment Officer at UTokyo IPC. \u201cWe offer various programs to support startups\u2019 global expansion, and believe that our strategic partnership with Alumni Ventures\u2014which has an extensive network of overseas investors and entrepreneurs\u2014will serve as a catalyst to accelerate these efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nAbout the Bridge Strategy<\/b><\/p>\n

\nAlumni Ventures\u2019 strategy involves combining exposure to high-potential startups across both geographies, linking founders from each jurisdiction with strategic partners and across local country networks. Alumni Ventures intends to work with public and private universities in Japan and other firms to source and help develop promising startups, with a goal of offering exposure to US venture capital to finance global growth strategies. At the same time, Alumni Ventures will help connect US-based startups from its portfolios with potential institutional partners in Japan to facilitate Asia Pacific expansion strategies.<\/p>\n

\nAbout Alumni Ventures Japan KK<\/b><\/p>\n

\nAlumni Ventures Japan KK is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alumni Ventures, established in 2025 to support the firm\u2019s operational presence and partnerships in Japan. Its formation represents Alumni Venture\u2019s deep commitment to Japan, offering an opportunity for Alumni Ventures to work directly with its institutional partners and startups in both Japan and broader Asia Pacific jurisdictions. Alumni Ventures\u2019 boots-on-the-ground approach creates the opportunity to expand its global network with direct connections among VC ecosystem participants.<\/p>\n

\nAbout Alumni Ventures<\/b><\/p>\n

\nRecognized as one of North America’s premier venture capital firms, Alumni Ventures was recently named to TIME’s “America’s Top Venture Capital Firms of 2025” and CB Insights<\/a>‘ “Top Venture Investors in North America.”<\/p>\n

\nCompany Name:<\/b> Alumni Ventures, LLC
\n
Headquarters: <\/b>Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
\n
Established: <\/b>2014
\n
CEO: <\/b>Michael Collins
\n
Investment Focus: <\/b>Startups in Japan and the U.S. focusing on AI, Deep Tech, DX, and Life Sciences.<\/p>\n

\nAbout KDDI<\/b><\/p>\n

\nKDDI is a leading Japanese telecommunications company dedicated to creating a society where anyone can achieve their dreams, by enhancing the power to connect. KDDI leverages 5G, data-driven practices, and generative AI to accelerate innovation. The company is focused on expanding value in key growth areas such as DX, finance, energy, and Life Transformation (LX)\u2014which includes mobility, entertainment, Web3\/Metaverse, healthcare, and space\u2014all while placing sustainability at the core of its management.<\/p>\n

\nThis announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities and is not directed at persons in the United States. Any securities offering by Alumni Ventures, LLC is made separately under applicable exemptions from U.S. securities laws.<\/p>\n

\nAlumni Ventures and its affiliates, including Alumni Ventures Japan KK, have not been registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended) (the \u201cFIEA\u201d), and have not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, any securities, directly or indirectly in Japan or to, or for the benefit or, any resident of Japan, or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any resident of Japan, except (i) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirement of the FIEA and (ii) in compliance with the FIEA and other applicable laws and regulations of Japan.<\/p>\n

\nAbout UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC)<\/b><\/p>\n

\nUTokyo IPC was established in 2016 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Tokyo. The company aims to strengthen Japan\u2019s industrial competitiveness by fostering globally competitive startups and developing innovation ecosystems in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including universities, corporations, venture capital firms, and government entities.<\/p>\n

\nIn parallel with its investment activities in over 80 university-affiliated startups and venture capital funds, UTokyo IPC provides hands-on support through initiatives such as venture creation programs for academic seeds, the \u201c1stRound\u201d program\u2014one of Japan\u2019s largest startup acceleration programs co-hosted with academic institutions\u2014and talent development programs including \u201cDeepTech Dive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nIn 2024, UTokyo IPC established the ASA Fund following selection through a public call by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, aiming to build a new foundation for deep-tech startup creation in collaboration with domestic and global partners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MANCHESTER, N.H. & TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Alumni Ventures, one of TIME Magazine\u2019s Top 20 VC Firms in America, today announced…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":759116,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[64,607,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-759115","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entrepreneurship","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-entrepreneurship","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-unitedstates","12":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116482777416873832","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/759115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=759115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/759115\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/759116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=759115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=759115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=759115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}