Dawn Capital Partners with Singapore-Based VC Ascent Group to Strengthen Global Business Co-Creation Initiative Starting from Asia
Dawn Capital and Ascent Venture Group have signed a strategic partnership agreement to enhance support for startups through co-creation and fundraising, leveraging Ascent Group's global network to expand Japanese innovation across Asia and beyond. This collaboration aims to accelerate the international growth of Dawn Capital's portfolio companies.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 11:03 (96h 31m after Collected)
Dawn Capital (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Partner: Kazuhiko Ishikura) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Ascent Venture Group (Headquarters: Singapore; Representative: Hans De Back, hereinafter referred to as "Ascent Group"), a venture capital firm based in Singapore that invests throughout Asia. Through this partnership, we will strengthen our support system for startups invested in by Dawn Capital, including business co-creation and fundraising, by leveraging Ascent Group's extensive global network.
■ Background and Objectives of this Partnership
Dawn Capital has so far invested in and supported 86 startups (※1) that create services and products that move people's hearts, focusing on the lifestyle and entertainment domains. Furthermore, we have provided hands-on support to portfolio companies of "Heart Driven Fund," an investment project of Akatsuki Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO: Tetsuro Koda), the predecessor of Dawn Capital. As a result, many of our portfolio companies, such as TENTIAL, LOIVE, and Greenspoon, have achieved steady growth, building a solid track record for the fund.
In recent years, while the spread of AI has accelerated societal efficiency, experiences and products driven by unique Japanese technologies, IP, and culture that evoke emotion have extremely high competitive advantages to enthuse the world. Especially now that technology has advanced, we believe it is indispensable to strategically expand the potential originating from Japan to Asia and then to the world.
Ascent Group, our new partner, is a venture capital firm with one of Asia's largest networks, with major investors including MDI Ventures (under Indonesia's telecommunications giant Telkom), CCV (a Singapore-based venture capital firm), and KB Investment (part of South Korea's major financial group, KB Group). Through this partnership, we will promote collaboration in business co-creation and fundraising beyond domestic and international boundaries, and further accelerate the global expansion of startups invested in by Dawn Capital.
■ Key Initiatives Moving Forward
Dawn Capital and Ascent Group will continue to strengthen ongoing discussions and collaboration on the following themes:
Establishment of a Global Co-Investment Scheme
Utilizing Ascent Group's fund, which is managed and structured at up to 150 million US dollars (approximately 22.5 billion yen), we will promote co-investment with leading global capital sources originating from Asia, and comprehensively support fundraising for startups invested in by Dawn Capital.
Overseas Expansion and Business Co-creation for Dawn Capital's Invested Startups
Leveraging Ascent Group's network in various Asian countries, which includes major financial institutions and real estate groups, we will jointly promote overseas expansion and cross-border business co-creation for startups invested in by Dawn Capital.
■ Statements from Representatives
Ascent Group Co-Founder & Managing Partner Eric (Jung Ho) Yoo
Japan plays a critical strategic role within Asia, combining a large domestic market, a mature capital ecosystem, and a diverse industrial base led by world-class manufacturing. It is also home to a growing number of innovative companies with strong potential to expand across Asia and beyond.
We are particularly excited to partner with Dawn Capital, given its strong capabilities in B2C and technology. Together, we aim to support and scale Japan’s next generation of innovative companies.
■ Background and Objectives of this Partnership
Dawn Capital has so far invested in and supported 86 startups (※1) that create services and products that move people's hearts, focusing on the lifestyle and entertainment domains. Furthermore, we have provided hands-on support to portfolio companies of "Heart Driven Fund," an investment project of Akatsuki Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO: Tetsuro Koda), the predecessor of Dawn Capital. As a result, many of our portfolio companies, such as TENTIAL, LOIVE, and Greenspoon, have achieved steady growth, building a solid track record for the fund.
In recent years, while the spread of AI has accelerated societal efficiency, experiences and products driven by unique Japanese technologies, IP, and culture that evoke emotion have extremely high competitive advantages to enthuse the world. Especially now that technology has advanced, we believe it is indispensable to strategically expand the potential originating from Japan to Asia and then to the world.
Ascent Group, our new partner, is a venture capital firm with one of Asia's largest networks, with major investors including MDI Ventures (under Indonesia's telecommunications giant Telkom), CCV (a Singapore-based venture capital firm), and KB Investment (part of South Korea's major financial group, KB Group). Through this partnership, we will promote collaboration in business co-creation and fundraising beyond domestic and international boundaries, and further accelerate the global expansion of startups invested in by Dawn Capital.
■ Key Initiatives Moving Forward
Dawn Capital and Ascent Group will continue to strengthen ongoing discussions and collaboration on the following themes:
Establishment of a Global Co-Investment Scheme
Utilizing Ascent Group's fund, which is managed and structured at up to 150 million US dollars (approximately 22.5 billion yen), we will promote co-investment with leading global capital sources originating from Asia, and comprehensively support fundraising for startups invested in by Dawn Capital.
Overseas Expansion and Business Co-creation for Dawn Capital's Invested Startups
Leveraging Ascent Group's network in various Asian countries, which includes major financial institutions and real estate groups, we will jointly promote overseas expansion and cross-border business co-creation for startups invested in by Dawn Capital.
■ Statements from Representatives
Ascent Group Co-Founder & Managing Partner Eric (Jung Ho) Yoo
Japan plays a critical strategic role within Asia, combining a large domestic market, a mature capital ecosystem, and a diverse industrial base led by world-class manufacturing. It is also home to a growing number of innovative companies with strong potential to expand across Asia and beyond.
We are particularly excited to partner with Dawn Capital, given its strong capabilities in B2C and technology. Together, we aim to support and scale Japan’s next generation of innovative companies.