Participated · Series A · Jul 2024

Simount, headquartered in Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, develops data-driven SaaS tools that digitize and streamline the trucking supply chain. Its flagship product, "LogiGo," is a transport management system that handles order intake, dispatch planning and payment workflows. The company also offers "Auto Dispatch," an automated routing and load-matching engine co-developed with a major logistics prime contractor that pairs multi-shipper freight with carriers using veteran dispatcher logic. Complementing these products, Simount delivers logistics consulting services that integrate both platforms for shippers and first-tier logistics firms. By tackling Japan’s looming driver shortage and 2024 regulatory pressures, the firm aims to build a "sustainable transportation operating system" through unified data infrastructure. The new capital will be used for product expansion, new service launches, engineer hiring and the advancement of joint logistics schemes. Since inception, Simount has raised ¥870 million in equity and ¥1.1 billion when including debt; the company has not disclosed revenue or user figures.

Led · Series B · Oct 2016

C1X offers a full-stack platform for advertisers and publishers, including buyer-side tools like the C1X Audience Guarantee and publisher tools such as programmatic direct and header bidding. The company says its product suite addresses fragmentation, poor workflow and a lack of transparency in digital advertising and aims to simplify the basic advertising transaction. C1X was founded by Mukundu Kumaran (CEO) and Daisuke Nagayama (COO and chief global strategist). It is headquartered in Silicon Valley and has offices in Japan and India, and has formed partnerships including a deal to create a trading desk with Dentsu and Cyber Communications. The company is pursuing global expansion and plans to open offices in Dubai and Singapore to expand into the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. C1X has raised prior funding including a $5.1M Series A led by University of Tokyo Edge Capital and recently announced an $8.5M first tranche of a Series B. C1X provides advertisers with self-serve access to the ad inventory of roughly 2,500 websites, and can also generate media plans based on advertisers’ goals. The company uses a hybrid model that combines direct buying from publishers with auction-based programmatic buying and overlays audience targeting on publisher inventory. C1X emphasizes transparency, showing publishers’ rate cards to agencies and avoiding middlemen such as SSPs. Its platform aims to simplify the basic advertising transaction for both advertisers and publishers. Founder and CEO Mukundu Kumaran, who previously spent seven years as an engineering director at Yahoo, leads the company’s expansion efforts. C1X has offices in Japan and India as well as New York City and plans continued growth in those countries and across Southeast Asia.

Led · Series C · Apr 2016

bitFlyer operates a bitcoin exchange serving more than 150,000 monthly users. Led by CEO Yuzo Kano, the company employs 23 people across Tokyo and Luxembourg. The firm raised ¥3bn (approx. $27m) in a Series C to support R&D of blockchain technology. It plans to use the capital to expand operations and hire new people. To date bitFlyer has raised over $34m in total funding. The company focuses on growing its exchange services and underlying blockchain capabilities. bitFlyer, led by CEO Yuzo Kano, is a Bitcoin marketplace and settlement platform based in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Its products include bitFlyer Lightning, a Bitcoin exchange designed for professionals; chainFlyer, a blockchain visualization website; the bitFlyer Android app; adFlyer, an advertisement service built on Bitcoin; and Bitcoin Multi-Sig security. The company emphasizes professional-grade trading via bitFlyer Lightning and blockchain visibility through chainFlyer. It plans to use new funding to improve security, expand its customer base, strengthen revenues, and pursue global business development. The company raised approximately JPY 510m in the disclosed funding round. bitFlyer operates a market-order style bitcoin exchange and has launched a mobile iOS app, offering multiple tiers of accounts for personal and business users. The exchange charges 0.5% plus 0.0004 BTC on buys and 0.01 BTC to sell. The company said it will use new capital to set up overseas offices, improve security, recruit talent, accelerate service development and run marketing and advertising campaigns. bitFlyer also plans to leverage relationships with investment partners and partners such as GMO Holdings to expand its customer and revenue base. Through GMO Holdings, bitFlyer has gained access to over 48,000 online merchants and started a bitcoin-based consumer rewards scheme via PointTown.