Samurai Incubate
1-3-50 Roppongi, Tokyo, Minato-ku, 106-0032, Japan
Overview
In 2008, we launched Samurai Incubate Inc. to support early-stage start-ups in the areas of management, marketing, sales, human resources, and finances. Our company invests in start-up ventures, and we also hold advisory posts and serve as external directors of some venture companies. Background: Social and Economic Legislation Whereas venture capital investment is at about 30 billion dollars in U.S. and 24 billion dollars in Europe, Japan was only at about 0.86 billion dollars (2005), and the Japanese investment ratio is only about 30 / 1. On the other hand, by the legal deregulation progresses as seen in new business laws, increasingly in the future Japanese funding is expected to expand. Samurai Incubate Inc. was established to help companies to develop vision and strength and to realize their greater revenue potential. We support practical expertise in marketing and sales management personnel as well as clear financial strategies to monetize our start-ups. Our company's name, "Samurai Incubate, Inc.," derives from the Japanese samurai spirit with a pure eight-part Code of Conduct: * Righteousness: Be sincere all the time not only internal, but also external. * Thanks: Forbid inhuman conduct and show respect to conduct against internal and external. * Courage: Be in the vanguard who are afraid of taking action. * Honor: Enphasize on honer, and with it the value of his own. * Humanity: Respect the spirit of love and help compatriots in any situation. * Sincerity: Be sincere and honest on your action and words. * Loyalty: Do your best with your loyalty for your master and people who you believe in. * Challenge: Aim and challenge the goals, and accomplish them excess 120%. By following those eight parts of our Code of Conduct, we want to convey not only to clients and users but also to people around the world, "It does not matter whether we can do it or cannot do it. We can change the world by taking action!" "No Action! No Change!"
- Total investments
- 28
- Lead investments
- 3
- Investments · 12mo
- 6
- Active investors
- 8
Sector focus
- Finance
- Incubators
- Venture Capital
Investment portfolio
- JIZAIE
Participated · Equity · Jul 2026
Jizaie provides a real-time remote operation and automation platform called JIZAIPAD for industries including construction, manufacturing, and logistics. The company offers remote video, AI analysis, and remote control technologies and emphasizes video compression and transmission that performs well in unstable network environments. Jizaie’s mission is to enable people to see, judge, and act on industrial sites without physical presence. It originated from the University of Tokyo’s Inami Lab and is led by CEO Junki Nakagawa. Current plans highlighted by the company include further development of AI video analysis, AI agents for decision support, and advancing remote control and automation for machinery and robots. Jizaie aims to strengthen regional alliances across Japan and expand its product development and business development teams.
- Sotas
Participated · Series A · Feb 2026
Sotas is a company that has recently centered its efforts on applying artificial intelligence, positioning itself to make a significant impact within the chemical sector. Management reports that the business has grown 2,800 % since its previous funding round and is currently expanding at more than 15 % month-over-month. The team emphasises that, despite rapid traction, they still regard their mission as unfinished and intend to become a major player in the chemical industry over the next two years. To support this ambition, Sotas is actively hiring and will host recruitment events in partnership with its new lead investor. The company’s strong growth has been credited to the “dedicated execution” of its members, and leadership is committed to “shifting gears” for the next phase of expansion. No specific revenue or user figures were disclosed, but the exceptional percentage growth highlights accelerating commercial momentum.
- GramEye
Participated · Series B · Nov 2025
Founded in 2020, Osaka-based GramEye builds AI-driven robotic devices that automate the Gram-staining process used in infectious-disease diagnostics. Its flagship product, launched in January 2025 and already deployed in clinical laboratories, speeds and standardizes bacterial classification to guide timely antibiotic therapy. Leveraging user feedback, the company continues to enhance both the hardware and its image-recognition AI. GramEye’s roadmap includes pursuing FDA clearance for U.S. entry and creating a next-generation Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) that delivers evidence-based antibiotic recommendations. By improving diagnostic speed and accuracy, the team aims to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and mitigate the global AMR crisis. Financially, the company has secured 570 million yen in new Series B equity and, together with multiple public grants (including 4.2 billion yen from the NEDO PCA program), reports cumulative funding of 1.65 billion yen. The fresh capital will also support aggressive hiring across executive, engineering, and sales roles to scale globally.
- Ascend
Participated · Series B · Nov 2025
Ascend’s core product, Logix, is a SaaS transport management platform launched in 2022 that unifies order receipt, dispatching, billing, labor, and vehicle management while automatically turning daily operational data into actionable management insights. The software’s signature “Partner Company Collaboration” function enables transport firms to exchange cargo and vehicles on the cloud, creating network effects across the industry. Ascend reports nationwide adoption by carriers ranging from small operators to listed enterprises and claims platform expansion exceeding 250% year-on-year; some customers have achieved up to a 20% sales uplift through data-driven pricing negotiations. Looking ahead, the company is executing a “Vertical Conglomerate Strategy” that will branch into 4PL/3PL services, M&A, and BPaaS offerings to optimize joint delivery, inventory balancing, and relay transport across the supply chain. The new capital will fund aggressive engineering hires, implementation and customer support expansion, and the rollout of additional services. Including its prior Series A in 2023, Ascend has now raised approximately ¥1.8 billion in total.
- Ascend
Participated · Series B · Nov 2025
Founded in March 2020, Ascend develops Logix, a cloud-based transportation management system that integrates ordering, dispatching, billing, labor, and vehicle management for shipping companies. The platform aims to modernize Japan’s logistics sector by fully digitizing workflows and connecting carriers, shippers, and partners through a unified data layer. Ascend positions itself as an infrastructure player intent on uncovering the “true value” of logistics across industries. With its latest financing, the company plans to scale its engineering headcount, enhance service implementation and customer support, and roll out new product modules. Management also intends to build a broader, data-driven logistics network that links multiple stakeholders in real time. Including the new capital, Ascend has raised approximately ¥1.8 billion to date, underscoring growing investor confidence in its SaaS model despite no public disclosure of revenue or user metrics.