Across Ventures Starts Strategic Partnership with SBI Holdings to Form a New Fund of Funds Targeting Specialized Micro VCs
Silicon Valley-based Across Ventures is partnering with SBI Holdings to launch a $100M fund of funds, 'Across Ventures Fund I, L.P.', which will invest in specialized US micro VCs to connect Japanese companies with cutting-edge innovations.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 19:00
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Across Ventures (Founder and Managing Partner: Emi Yoshikawa), a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, is pleased to announce that it is moving forward with a strategic partnership with SBI Holdings, Inc. and plans to form a new fund, 'Across Ventures Fund I, L.P.' The fund targets approximately $100 million (about 16 billion yen) and aims to connect cutting-edge US innovation with Japanese companies.
This fund will be operated as a fund of funds that makes diversified investments in 'specialized micro VCs,' which have been rapidly increasing their presence in the US venture capital market in recent years. Through this structure, the fund aims to provide Japanese companies with systematic access to early-stage US innovation, which has traditionally been difficult to reach.
■ Accessing the 'Source' of Innovation through Specialized Micro VCs
Currently, the US venture capital industry is polarizing into mega-funds and micro VCs. Across Ventures believes that while mega-funds (fund sizes of billions to tens of billions of US dollars) are shifting their investments to large later-stage deals, micro VCs deeply specialized in specific domains (fund sizes around $20 million to $50 million) are playing an increasingly important role in investing in promising pre-seed/seed stage startups.
Across Ventures believes these specialized micro VCs are a powerful means of accessing next-generation innovation, backed by deep expertise in specific fields, close relationships with founders, and deal-sourcing capabilities based on differentiated networks.
Through this fund, Across Ventures envisions making diversified investments in over 20 carefully selected micro VCs, aiming to provide Japanese companies with indirect access to hundreds of cutting-edge startups. This approach seeks to provide value in both breadth and depth, while creating new open innovation opportunities.
■ From AI to Quantum: Strategically Covering Next-Generation Industry Frontiers
The fund aims to invest broadly across advanced fields by investing in micro VCs specialized in areas such as AI/Physical AI, Fintech/Blockchain, ClimateTech, HealthTech, next-generation computing, space, and other DeepTech domains.
By working closely with the general partners of these specialized micro VCs, Japanese companies can quickly grasp technology and market trends. These initiatives aim to strengthen the deal flow of CVC (Corporate Venture Capital) activities, promote strategic alliances at early stages, and provide valuable insights that contribute to the formulation of medium- to long-term business strategies.
■ About the Strategic Capital Partnership with SBI Holdings
The partnership with SBI Holdings aims to build a comprehensive strategic alliance that bridges the US innovation ecosystem with Japanese corporations.
SBI Holdings has one of the largest venture investment track records in Japan and is widely recognized as a leader driving innovation domestically and internationally in the finance and technology sectors. Through this partnership, SBI Holdings will invest in the fund as an anchor LP upon its formation. The goal is to combine SBI Holdings' deep investment knowledge and extensive network with Japanese companies, alongside Across Ventures' frontline Silicon Valley network of micro VCs and startups.
Through this collaboration, the fund is expected to function not merely as an investment vehicle but as a strategic platform connecting Japanese companies with cutting-edge US innovation, aiming to elevate US-Japan innovation cooperation beyond traditional cross-border frameworks.
'Having engaged with many Japanese companies seeking access to Silicon Valley innovation, we recognized the need for a new approach beyond traditional frameworks... (cut off in original)'
This fund will be operated as a fund of funds that makes diversified investments in 'specialized micro VCs,' which have been rapidly increasing their presence in the US venture capital market in recent years. Through this structure, the fund aims to provide Japanese companies with systematic access to early-stage US innovation, which has traditionally been difficult to reach.
■ Accessing the 'Source' of Innovation through Specialized Micro VCs
Currently, the US venture capital industry is polarizing into mega-funds and micro VCs. Across Ventures believes that while mega-funds (fund sizes of billions to tens of billions of US dollars) are shifting their investments to large later-stage deals, micro VCs deeply specialized in specific domains (fund sizes around $20 million to $50 million) are playing an increasingly important role in investing in promising pre-seed/seed stage startups.
Across Ventures believes these specialized micro VCs are a powerful means of accessing next-generation innovation, backed by deep expertise in specific fields, close relationships with founders, and deal-sourcing capabilities based on differentiated networks.
Through this fund, Across Ventures envisions making diversified investments in over 20 carefully selected micro VCs, aiming to provide Japanese companies with indirect access to hundreds of cutting-edge startups. This approach seeks to provide value in both breadth and depth, while creating new open innovation opportunities.
■ From AI to Quantum: Strategically Covering Next-Generation Industry Frontiers
The fund aims to invest broadly across advanced fields by investing in micro VCs specialized in areas such as AI/Physical AI, Fintech/Blockchain, ClimateTech, HealthTech, next-generation computing, space, and other DeepTech domains.
By working closely with the general partners of these specialized micro VCs, Japanese companies can quickly grasp technology and market trends. These initiatives aim to strengthen the deal flow of CVC (Corporate Venture Capital) activities, promote strategic alliances at early stages, and provide valuable insights that contribute to the formulation of medium- to long-term business strategies.
■ About the Strategic Capital Partnership with SBI Holdings
The partnership with SBI Holdings aims to build a comprehensive strategic alliance that bridges the US innovation ecosystem with Japanese corporations.
SBI Holdings has one of the largest venture investment track records in Japan and is widely recognized as a leader driving innovation domestically and internationally in the finance and technology sectors. Through this partnership, SBI Holdings will invest in the fund as an anchor LP upon its formation. The goal is to combine SBI Holdings' deep investment knowledge and extensive network with Japanese companies, alongside Across Ventures' frontline Silicon Valley network of micro VCs and startups.
Through this collaboration, the fund is expected to function not merely as an investment vehicle but as a strategic platform connecting Japanese companies with cutting-edge US innovation, aiming to elevate US-Japan innovation cooperation beyond traditional cross-border frameworks.
'Having engaged with many Japanese companies seeking access to Silicon Valley innovation, we recognized the need for a new approach beyond traditional frameworks... (cut off in original)'