Genesia Ventures announced the first close of its new fund, Genesia Venture Fund 3 Investment Limited Partnership, with approximately $90M.
Similar to the first and second funds, the third fund is focused on investments in pre-seed and seed stage startups in Japan and Southeast Asia, while the investment size will increase to a maximum of $4M per company (including follow-on investments) in order to support aspiring companies in creating sustainable businesses continuously. In addition to the previous funds’ focus on digital startups, fund three will also invest in frontier technology, including robotics and space technology.
Genesia Ventures had also recently joined United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). They had formulated an ESG investment policy that will help it move forward in realizing its vision for “a society that creates wealth and opportunities for all,” through long-term and sustainable enhancements in the corporate value of startups and solving social issues.
About the Third Fund
The following people and undisclosed domestic institutional investors participated in the first close:
- Canal Ventures
- GREE
- Japan Investment Corporation
- Mizuho Bank
- Mizuho Capital
- Oriental Land Innovations
The fund will continue to seek investors moving forward. The final close is scheduled for August 2022 to create a fund with a corpus of $130M.
Investment by the First and Second Funds
The first fund completed its final close in December 2017 with $35M. It invested in 47 pre-seed and seed-stage startups: 35 in Japan, 10 in SEA, and two in other markets as of January 31, 2022. The second fund completed its final closing in October 2020 with a corpus of $70M, and was invested in 59 companies: 41 in Japan, 16 in SEA, and two in other markets as of January 31, 2022. The third fund will continue to invest with a similar mandate as the first and second funds, and invest primarily in the following areas.
Investment thesis
1. Digital Transformation (DX)
Business models around digital transformation, such as SaaS, improves business structures of various industries, and platforms that eliminate complex layers.
2. New Economy
New economy business models such as OMO, C2C (E-Commerce, service), sharing economy, decentralized platforms, etc., that optimize individual empowerment and customer experiences.
3. Media and Entertainment
Business models around media and entertainment, such as content, VR, and AR that provide value in the form of moving experiences, as individual interests diversify.
4. Frontier Tech
New industries, including robotics, digital twinning, space technologies, and areas relating to digital innovation through the application of information sciences.
Message from CEO / General Partner Soichi Tajima
Genesia Ventures was founded in August 2016. It has been five years and five months since its founding, and since then, we have invested in more than 100 pre-seed and seed stage startups in Japan and Southeast Asia in the effort to meet our six challenges.
I am reminded of how the power of startups is essential to create a prosperous society. We will continue to challenge ourselves, much like a startup, and do our utmost to help create a society full of wealth and opportunity, together with stakeholders in the ecosystem.
Message from Head of Investments in Southeast Asia / General Partner Takahiro Suzuki
When I think about our vision and the six challenges we set forth, I often find myself at a loss about how to achieve them. But we are making steady progress, step by step. We have been given opportunities to work with over 100 promising startups and entrepreneurs.
The competitive environment in Southeast Asia is increasing in intensity by the year, both among startups and VCs. As a venture capital firm with deep roots in the regions, we will do our best to bridge Southeast Asia and Japan, and between startups and large corporations.
About Genesia Ventures Company
- Name: Genesia Ventures, Inc.
- Website: https: genesiaventures.com
- Founded date: August 2016
- Founder: CEO/General Partner Soichi Tajima
- Address (Japan): Guild Aoyama, Kyowa Gobankan 2F, 3-3-13, Kita-aoyama, Minatoku, Tokyo, 107-0061
- Address (Indonesia): WeWork Revenue Tower, SCBD, Jl Jend.Sudirman No.52-53, Senayan, Kebayoran Baru Jakarta City, JK, 12190, Indonesia
- Address (Vietnam): D08, SENoffice Business Center, L18-11-13,18th Floor, Vincom Center Dong Khoi Tower, 72 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam