Sumitomo Corporation's CVC Establishes Approximately 10 Billion Yen Startup Investment Fund
Sumisho Venture Partners Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Corporation's CVC, has established a startup investment fund totaling approximately 10 billion yen, including existing investments. The company is transitioning from a traditional corporate structure to a fund scheme for investment activities, promoting investments from a medium- to long-term perspective. Focusing on digital, AI, and deep tech fields, it will leverage Sumitomo Corporation Group's knowledge and network to strengthen startup investments and business co-creation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 16:47
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 23:27 (342h 39m after Collected)
We are pleased to announce that Sumisho Venture Partners Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Hidehiro Yamaki, Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "Sumisho Venture Partners"), Sumitomo Corporation's corporate venture capital, has established a new startup investment fund. The fund size will be approximately 10 billion yen, including existing investments.
Sumitomo Corporation began its CVC activities in the United States in 1998 and has since expanded its CVC business to five global locations: North America, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, and Japan. Sumisho Venture Partners was established in 2022 as a domestic base to promote investments in domestic startups with a view to business co-creation. To further strengthen CVC activities in Japan by leveraging the Sumitomo Corporation Group's knowledge and human resources accumulated over nearly 30 years of startup investment, Sumisho Venture Partners has decided to transition from its traditional corporate structure investment activities to fund scheme investment activities.
Through this transition, Sumisho Venture Partners will promote startup investment activities from a more medium- to long-term perspective and establish a system that allows for lead investments and management participation by increasing the investment amount per project. By continuously incorporating internal and external knowledge, contributing to the cultivation of an innovative corporate culture within the Sumitomo Corporation Group, and strengthening its business conceptualization capabilities, it will evolve its initiatives as a CVC that "produces businesses." Going forward, it will further promote startup investments and business co-creation, primarily in growth areas such as digital, AI, and deep tech, while utilizing the Sumitomo Corporation Group's global knowledge and network.
Company Name: Sumisho Venture Partners Co., Ltd.
Established: April 2022
Location: Shibuya Scramble Square, 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Investment Areas: DX, next-generation energy, social infrastructure, retail/consumer, healthcare, agriculture, etc.
Investment Stage: Primarily early to middle stage investments
Representative Director and President: Hidehiro Yamaki
Company Website: https://sumisho-vp.com/
Sumitomo Corporation began its CVC activities in the United States in 1998 and has since expanded its CVC business to five global locations: North America, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, and Japan. Sumisho Venture Partners was established in 2022 as a domestic base to promote investments in domestic startups with a view to business co-creation. To further strengthen CVC activities in Japan by leveraging the Sumitomo Corporation Group's knowledge and human resources accumulated over nearly 30 years of startup investment, Sumisho Venture Partners has decided to transition from its traditional corporate structure investment activities to fund scheme investment activities.
Through this transition, Sumisho Venture Partners will promote startup investment activities from a more medium- to long-term perspective and establish a system that allows for lead investments and management participation by increasing the investment amount per project. By continuously incorporating internal and external knowledge, contributing to the cultivation of an innovative corporate culture within the Sumitomo Corporation Group, and strengthening its business conceptualization capabilities, it will evolve its initiatives as a CVC that "produces businesses." Going forward, it will further promote startup investments and business co-creation, primarily in growth areas such as digital, AI, and deep tech, while utilizing the Sumitomo Corporation Group's global knowledge and network.
Company Name: Sumisho Venture Partners Co., Ltd.
Established: April 2022
Location: Shibuya Scramble Square, 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Investment Areas: DX, next-generation energy, social infrastructure, retail/consumer, healthcare, agriculture, etc.
Investment Stage: Primarily early to middle stage investments
Representative Director and President: Hidehiro Yamaki
Company Website: https://sumisho-vp.com/
FAQ
What is the investment focus of Sumisho Venture Partners?
Their investment focus includes DX, next-generation energy, social infrastructure, retail/consumer, healthcare, and agriculture.