Twenty years from now you will be more

disappointed by the things you didn’t do

than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Twenty years from now you

will be more disappointed by

the things you didn’t do than

by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.

– Mark Twain

Sumisho Venture Partners
is a CVC that invests in startups
that pioneer new industries,
and produces dreams for Japan.

ABOUT

Sumisho Venture Partners, Inc.

Sumisho Venture Partners
is a Tokyo-based corporate venture
capital firm that invests in startups.

We will contribute to the creation of
startup businesses by leveraging
Sumitomo Corporation’s
assets and resources.

Sumitomo Corporation has set up CVCs since 1998,
first in Silicon Valley, U.S.A., then in Hong Kong, China, Tel Aviv, Israel, and London, U.K. and has invested in a cumulative total of more than 300 startups globally.
In 2022, Sumitomo Corporation has set up another CVC in Tokyo, Japan, and will promote investment in Japanese startups while leveraging its global knowledge and expertise.

Global CVC Strategy

Sumitomo Corporation established Presidio Ventures in Silicon Valley, U.S.A. in 1998, and has been investing in startup companies with innovative technologies and business models and creating new businesses for over 20 years. Since then, it has established Sumitomo Corporation Equity Asia in China and Southeast Asia in 2002, IN Venture in Israel in 2019, and Presidio Europe in the UK in 2021. It is currently operating CVCs in five locations around the world, including Tokyo, Japan.

THEME

Investment Theme

Investment Area

Sumisho Venture Partners invests in next-generation growth strategy themes set forth in Sumitomo Corporation’s medium-term management plan SHIFT 2023, including next-generation energy, social infrastructure, retail/consumer, healthcare, and agriculture. Investment stages are mainly Series A and onward.

VALUE

Our Support Areas

Expand the market

Utilizing Sumitomo
Corporation’s assets and
resources, we support startups
from sales expansion of
existing businesses to overseas
expansion.

Expand the domain

Utilizing Sumitomo
Corporation’s business
platform, we co-create new
businesses that will become the
startups’ future core
businesses.

TEAM

Investment and Support Team

President & CEO

Hidehiro Yamaki

After working in business investment, CVC, and trading in the IT and life science fields at a major general trading company, he worked in venture capital and fund investment at the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ). Later, he oversaw new business development at Dentsu. After joining Sumitomo Corporation, he was appointed as Leader of Investment Development Team in charge of global CVC in the Innovation & Investment Department and assumed his current position in April 2022.

Principal

Noriaki Ishihara

After joining Sumitomo, engaged in logistics business. started career in import/export trade, VMI, supply chain, and proposal sales. During his second assignment in China, he was involved in investment and business development of a Chinese start-up company with a CVC in Hong Kong, He has been in his current position since April 2023.

Senior Associate

Shogo Minami

After graduation, he joined Sumitomo Corporation.In the Innovation & Investment Department, he worked on investment management for Presidio Ventures, a U.S. venture capital, and Sumitomo Corporation Equity Asia, a Chinese venture capital, as well as supporting their portfolio companies’ business expansion into Japan.

Corporate Planning and Associate

Shohei Akiba

After joining Sumitomo, engaged in strategy planning, performance management, public relations and IR operations for the entire Media & Digital Business Division. Since July 2022, he has been in charge of global CVC management and business development of Sumisho Venture Partners in the Innovation and Investment Department. He has been in his current position since June 2023.

Administrations

Yui Tanimoto

After graduation, she joined Sumitomo Corporation. In the Innovation & Investment Department, she worked on back-office operations at the headquarters overseeing the globally operating CVCs and assumed her current position in April 2022.

In addition to the investment teams listed above, business development teams from Sumitomo Corporation also work together.