Plug and Play Japan Announces Final Close of Inaugural Fund at Over 6 Billion Yen
Plug and Play Japan has completed the final close of its first fund, 'Plug and Play Japan Fund I', raising over 6 billion yen. It aims to accelerate investments in and global expansion support for seed and early-stage startups.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 18:28 (127h 56m after Collected)
*MUFG Bank, Ltd. participated in the final close following the first close.
Plug and Play Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Vincent Philip; hereinafter "Plug and Play Japan"), one of the world's largest innovation platforms, announced that it has achieved a total of over 6 billion yen, exceeding its target procurement amount, and completed the final close of its investment limited partnership "Plug and Play Japan Fund I" (hereinafter "this Fund") targeting startups in Japan and overseas.
Leveraging Plug and Play's global investment track record, presence, network, and startup support know-how—which has invested in and supported over 35 unicorn companies through various investment methods over the past 25 years—"Plug and Play Japan Fund I" aims to discover and nurture globally competitive startups from Japan and support their global growth.
In addition to MUFG Bank, Ltd., the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, JAPAN, Tokyu Land Corporation, and The Sazaby League, Ltd., who invested at the time of the first close, six new partners have joined by this final close (in no particular order): Samyang Chemical Group, The Joyo Bank, Ltd., Toyota Invention Partners Inc., Nagase & Co., Ltd., Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd., and Ryoden Corporation.
Features of the Fund and Progress to Date
With the mission of "The fund that connects Japan to the world," this fund targets seed and early-stage investments in domestic startups as well as overseas startups that have high affinity with the Japanese market and possess advanced technology. Since the first close in March 2025, we have already executed investments in domestic and overseas startups.
For portfolio startups, we will support their business growth by maximizing the following global strengths of Plug and Play:
- Global expansion support through a global network of over 60 locations
- Collaboration support between startups and major corporations leveraging networks with domestic and overseas large companies
- Flexible EXIT support focusing on building organizational relationships essential for EXITs and securing liquidity in the global market, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect directly with major overseas companies and advisors.
Although the Japanese startup ecosystem continues to expand, creating companies that are competitive in the global market remains a critical challenge. Starting with this fund, Plug and Play Japan will deepen its support model that integrates investment, acceleration, and business co-creation, striving to create a group of globally competitive companies from Japan.
Comments from Plug and Play
- Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO, Plug and Play
"Since launching Plug and Play Japan in 2017, we have viewed Japan as a critically important innovation ecosystem. Together with our limited partners, we want to support Japanese startups in spreading their ideas to the world. We believe that excellent next-generation companies will emerge from strong local markets like Japan. Through this fund, we intend to invest in such entrepreneurs and leverage our extensive network and resources to support them on a global scale."
- Vincent Philip, President
"I am very pleased to have finalized 'Plug and Play Japan Fund I', Plug and Play Japan's first fund, at a scale exceeding our target amount. The realization of this fund is a significant milestone for Plug and Play Japan, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the limited partners who trusted our vision and supported us. Through this formation, I realize once again that expectations for the strength and potential of the Japanese startup ecosystem are higher than ever.
Japan has world-class technology and a large amount of outstanding talent. However, to maximize its potential, the global market..."
Plug and Play Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Vincent Philip; hereinafter "Plug and Play Japan"), one of the world's largest innovation platforms, announced that it has achieved a total of over 6 billion yen, exceeding its target procurement amount, and completed the final close of its investment limited partnership "Plug and Play Japan Fund I" (hereinafter "this Fund") targeting startups in Japan and overseas.
Leveraging Plug and Play's global investment track record, presence, network, and startup support know-how—which has invested in and supported over 35 unicorn companies through various investment methods over the past 25 years—"Plug and Play Japan Fund I" aims to discover and nurture globally competitive startups from Japan and support their global growth.
In addition to MUFG Bank, Ltd., the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, JAPAN, Tokyu Land Corporation, and The Sazaby League, Ltd., who invested at the time of the first close, six new partners have joined by this final close (in no particular order): Samyang Chemical Group, The Joyo Bank, Ltd., Toyota Invention Partners Inc., Nagase & Co., Ltd., Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd., and Ryoden Corporation.
Features of the Fund and Progress to Date
With the mission of "The fund that connects Japan to the world," this fund targets seed and early-stage investments in domestic startups as well as overseas startups that have high affinity with the Japanese market and possess advanced technology. Since the first close in March 2025, we have already executed investments in domestic and overseas startups.
For portfolio startups, we will support their business growth by maximizing the following global strengths of Plug and Play:
- Global expansion support through a global network of over 60 locations
- Collaboration support between startups and major corporations leveraging networks with domestic and overseas large companies
- Flexible EXIT support focusing on building organizational relationships essential for EXITs and securing liquidity in the global market, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect directly with major overseas companies and advisors.
Although the Japanese startup ecosystem continues to expand, creating companies that are competitive in the global market remains a critical challenge. Starting with this fund, Plug and Play Japan will deepen its support model that integrates investment, acceleration, and business co-creation, striving to create a group of globally competitive companies from Japan.
Comments from Plug and Play
- Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO, Plug and Play
"Since launching Plug and Play Japan in 2017, we have viewed Japan as a critically important innovation ecosystem. Together with our limited partners, we want to support Japanese startups in spreading their ideas to the world. We believe that excellent next-generation companies will emerge from strong local markets like Japan. Through this fund, we intend to invest in such entrepreneurs and leverage our extensive network and resources to support them on a global scale."
- Vincent Philip, President
"I am very pleased to have finalized 'Plug and Play Japan Fund I', Plug and Play Japan's first fund, at a scale exceeding our target amount. The realization of this fund is a significant milestone for Plug and Play Japan, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the limited partners who trusted our vision and supported us. Through this formation, I realize once again that expectations for the strength and potential of the Japanese startup ecosystem are higher than ever.
Japan has world-class technology and a large amount of outstanding talent. However, to maximize its potential, the global market..."