'Forest Management Sustainable for 1000 Years': Investment in Forest Asset Management Startup ForestFolks Inc.
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital has invested in ForestFolks Inc., a startup engaged in forest asset management. ForestFolks aims to solve the issue of unmanaged forests through its comprehensive management system 'Forester Earth', balancing economic value with environmental preservation.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 04:24 (18h 52m after Collected)
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Takuro Kojima) announces that it has invested in ForestFolks Inc. (hereinafter 'ForestFolks') through its managed fund (Mitsubishi UFJ Capital No.10 Investment Limited Partnership).
About ForestFolks Inc.
ForestFolks is a rare startup that takes on forest management from forest owners and engages in forest asset management. As a current social issue, entrusting forest management to forestry cooperatives incurs high costs, making it difficult to secure sufficient profits. Consequently, there are many 'abandoned forests' that are unavoidably left unmanaged. As a result, negative impacts on the ecosystem occur, and in recent years, damages caused by bears and flood disasters have become frequent. In our country, where forests occupy about 70% of the land, this is an urgent issue, and we believe ForestFolks' business will contribute to solving these social issues.
Previously, operations were fragmented—for instance, Company A would acquire forest data, and Company B would sell carbon credits. However, with ForestFolks' system, seamless forest management becomes possible, handling everything in a one-stop manner from on-site data acquisition to log sales and the creation and sale of carbon credits.
The target customers are broad, including individuals, corporations, and local governments that own forests. By utilizing the funds raised in this round to accelerate the development of their forest management tools, they aim to realize 'forest management that can be sustained for 1,000 years into the future'.
Background of the Investment
We highly evaluate ForestFolks for realizing the enhancement of forest (real estate) value through appropriate forest management, while providing multifaceted values such as monetization through carbon credit creation and log sales, as well as mitigating wildlife damage. Furthermore, the 'Forester Earth' developed by the company is an innovative tool that visualizes information such as forest growth, CO₂ absorption amount, timing of monetization, and forest value as data, and we believe it will greatly contribute to the sophistication of forest management.
Taking this fundraising as an opportunity, we expect the company to build a new supply chain in our country, a forestry powerhouse, and drive the revitalization and development of the forestry industry. As MUCAP, we will strongly back ForestFolks' challenge by leveraging the MUFG Group's network and expertise.
[ForestFolks Overview]
Company Name: ForestFolks Inc.
Location: Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture
Representative: Takashi Sakurai, CEO
Established: May 10, 2023
Business Description: Forest asset management business, development of the forest management system 'Forester Earth'
URL: https://www.forestfolks.jp/
[About Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.]
Since its establishment in 1974, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital has provided industry-leading expertise as the venture capital arm of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, investing in a wide range of industries. It boasts a top-class track record in the industry, having helped approximately 930 client companies across various industries achieve IPOs.
◆ Company Profile
Company Name: Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.
Location: Nihonbashi Plaza Building 7F, 2-3-4 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Takuro Kojima, President
Established: August 1, 1974
Business Description: Venture capital business
URL: https://www.mucap.co.jp/
◆ About Mitsubishi UFJ Capital No.10 Investment Limited Partnership
General Partner: Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.
Investors: MUFG Bank, Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.
Established: April 1, 2025
Total Fund Amount: 30 billion yen
About ForestFolks Inc.
ForestFolks is a rare startup that takes on forest management from forest owners and engages in forest asset management. As a current social issue, entrusting forest management to forestry cooperatives incurs high costs, making it difficult to secure sufficient profits. Consequently, there are many 'abandoned forests' that are unavoidably left unmanaged. As a result, negative impacts on the ecosystem occur, and in recent years, damages caused by bears and flood disasters have become frequent. In our country, where forests occupy about 70% of the land, this is an urgent issue, and we believe ForestFolks' business will contribute to solving these social issues.
Previously, operations were fragmented—for instance, Company A would acquire forest data, and Company B would sell carbon credits. However, with ForestFolks' system, seamless forest management becomes possible, handling everything in a one-stop manner from on-site data acquisition to log sales and the creation and sale of carbon credits.
The target customers are broad, including individuals, corporations, and local governments that own forests. By utilizing the funds raised in this round to accelerate the development of their forest management tools, they aim to realize 'forest management that can be sustained for 1,000 years into the future'.
Background of the Investment
We highly evaluate ForestFolks for realizing the enhancement of forest (real estate) value through appropriate forest management, while providing multifaceted values such as monetization through carbon credit creation and log sales, as well as mitigating wildlife damage. Furthermore, the 'Forester Earth' developed by the company is an innovative tool that visualizes information such as forest growth, CO₂ absorption amount, timing of monetization, and forest value as data, and we believe it will greatly contribute to the sophistication of forest management.
Taking this fundraising as an opportunity, we expect the company to build a new supply chain in our country, a forestry powerhouse, and drive the revitalization and development of the forestry industry. As MUCAP, we will strongly back ForestFolks' challenge by leveraging the MUFG Group's network and expertise.
[ForestFolks Overview]
Company Name: ForestFolks Inc.
Location: Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture
Representative: Takashi Sakurai, CEO
Established: May 10, 2023
Business Description: Forest asset management business, development of the forest management system 'Forester Earth'
URL: https://www.forestfolks.jp/
[About Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.]
Since its establishment in 1974, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital has provided industry-leading expertise as the venture capital arm of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, investing in a wide range of industries. It boasts a top-class track record in the industry, having helped approximately 930 client companies across various industries achieve IPOs.
◆ Company Profile
Company Name: Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.
Location: Nihonbashi Plaza Building 7F, 2-3-4 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Takuro Kojima, President
Established: August 1, 1974
Business Description: Venture capital business
URL: https://www.mucap.co.jp/
◆ About Mitsubishi UFJ Capital No.10 Investment Limited Partnership
General Partner: Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.
Investors: MUFG Bank, Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.
Established: April 1, 2025
Total Fund Amount: 30 billion yen