Announcement of SIIFIC's B Corp Certification

SIIF Impact Capital Co., Ltd. (Co-founders: Kazuhiro Umeda, Riri Miura, hereinafter "SIIFIC") is pleased to announce that it has been certified as a Certified B Corporation™ (hereinafter "B Corp™") in June 2026, with its assessment results now publicly disclosed on the B Corp website.

B Corp is a certification awarded to companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. The "B" stands for "Benefit," signifying a commitment to creating benefits not only for shareholders but also for people and the planet.

Amid certification requirements that demand a minimum overall score of 80 points, achieving a high score of 102.2 points serves as a strong endorsement and a deeply encouraging outcome for us.

Why We Pursued Certification – Purpose

Since its founding, SIIFIC has aimed to realize a society where everyone can live better, investing in startups that enhance wellness literacy and social capital. Our concept of impact investing goes beyond merely funding companies that solve social issues; we believe investors themselves must act as responsible agents of social change. (Reference: When VCs Hold Themselves Accountable: What B Corp Reveals About the State of Investing)

In the venture capital industry, while ESG and impact-driven management are often demanded of portfolio companies, investment funds themselves have historically lacked sufficient transparency and accountability in their organizational operations and decision-making processes. We believe it is essential to practice what we preach—to apply the same standards we expect from our investees to our own operations.

The B Corp certification is an international standard requiring companies to be accountable not only to shareholders but also to employees, customers, local communities, and the environment. For SIIFIC, obtaining B Corp certification is not about acquiring a new brand, but rather a commitment to having our values and business practices verified by third-party standards and continuously improving over time.

We chose B Corp certification as a clear statement of intent: rather than delegating responsibility for society and the environment solely to our portfolio companies, we, as investors, must also take responsibility.

The Certification Process

Achieving B Corp certification was not a one-time compliance effort or adaptation to a new system, but rather a process of re-visualizing the values and organizational culture SIIFIC has upheld since its inception, and subjecting them to international standards.

For our young fund, established just three years ago, the most meaningful aspect of this certification was the validation that our long-standing practices since founding have been highly evaluated under international benchmarks. B Corp assesses not only a company’s products and services, but also embedded values, decision-making frameworks, relationships with employees and communities, and the very nature of its management approach. We believe this certification recognizes not just our business model, but the actual corporate behaviors SIIFIC has practiced daily as an organization.

We view this certification not as an end goal, but as a new starting point to further deepen the values we established at our founding.

Relationship with Social and Environmental Impact

The impact SIIFIC aims for extends beyond the growth of individual companies. We place strong emphasis on "system change"—addressing the root structures that generate social issues.

For instance, challenges such as health disparities, social isolation, and the erosion of local communities cannot be solved by a single service or product. Therefore, SIIFIC aims to build societal foundations that empower individuals to live more autonomously by investing in companies that enhance wellness literacy and social capital.

B Corp certification serves as a mechanism to institutionalize this orientation at the organizational level. It requires that social and environmental considerations be placed at the core of decision-making, not treated as peripheral activities.

We believe that if an impact investment fund truly aims for social transformation, its own organization must be part of that transformation. B Corp certification embodies this belief and serves as a key foundation toward realizing SIIFIC’s vision of "wellness equity." By integrating sustainable organizational management with investment returns, we aim to generate greater social and environmental impact.

Future Commitments

Even after obtaining B Corp certification, SIIFIC will not treat certification maintenance as an end in itself, but will continue striving for higher standards through ongoing improvement.

First, co-creation with portfolio companies. We do not see ourselves merely as capital providers, but as partners who co-create system change alongside our investees. To this end, we will advance knowledge sharing on impact measurement, organizational development, and stakeholder governance.

Second, deepening our organizational culture as an impact VC. We believe that outstanding investment performance and social impact are born from a healthy, diverse organizational culture. Moving forward, we will maintain our posture as a learning organization and continue building an environment where each employee can connect with our purpose and autonomously take on challenges.

Third, contributing to the broader VC industry. In Japan, few venture capital firms have obtained B Corp certification. SIIFIC aims to serve as a practical example of a new VC model where investors themselves fulfill social responsibility, thereby promoting broader industry dialogue and action.

We prioritize not just short-term results, but leaving a better societal system for the next generation. B Corp certification marks a significant milestone in this journey, and we will continue striving toward the realization of a society where everyone can live better.