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Key people at ABIES Ventures, Inc..
Founded in 2017 by Fuyuki Yamaguchi, ABIES Ventures is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm investing in early-stage deep technology and advanced science startups across Japan and the United States. The organization primarily targets seed to Series B opportunities within complex sectors such as robotics, quantum computing, space technology, new materials, and climate tech. Operating with a dedicated team of nine employees, the firm currently manages two private equity funds and oversees approximately four billion Japanese Yen in total assets under management. The firm's active investment portfolio features several notable deep tech companies, including quantum computing startup QunaSys, robotics developer Telexistence, and fusion energy firm Kyoto Fusioneering. Beyond providing financial backing, the firm utilizes a network of executive advisors like Taizo Son and Susumu Furukawa to support the commercialization of university spin-offs and solve global challenges.
Key people at ABIES Ventures, Inc..
Abies Ventures, Inc. is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm founded in 2017 that specializes in early-stage investments in deep-tech startups with unique technologies and high ambitions, primarily in Japan and the United States[1][2][3][4]. Its mission centers on supporting the creation and development of startups capable of solving global challenges through investments in four key areas: robotics/mobility, advanced information processing/communication technologies, new materials/environmental technologies, and space[1][4]. The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes deep tech combined with data science, leveraging a global network of conglomerates, corporations, accelerators, government agencies, and research institutes to aid portfolio companies in international expansion, fundraising, and competitive advantages[1][4].
Abies Ventures impacts the startup ecosystem by providing not just capital but also operating support, insights, and networks, as evidenced by its role as a supporter for programs like J-Startup (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), NEDO commercialization support, and TIP*S[2]. It has raised two funds—Abies Ventures Fund I (July 2018) and Fund II (August 2024)—and maintains a portfolio of around 16 investments, with recent activity including stakes in RUTILEA (AI data center discussions, Nov 2025) and HOBE ENERGY (next-gen battery storage, Oct 2025)[2][4][5].
Abies Ventures, Inc. was incorporated in October 2017 in Tokyo, Japan, with Fuyuki Yamaguchi and Sota Nagano as co-founders serving as Representative Directors and Managing Partners[1][2][4][5]. Yamaguchi, the lead founder, established the firm to focus on deep-tech opportunities, drawing from its early emphasis on seed-stage technology-based startups[2][5]. The firm's evolution has seen it raise Abies Ventures Fund I in July 2018, targeting early deep-tech deals, followed by Fund II in August 2024 to sustain momentum amid growing global deep-tech demand[2].
Key early traction included investments starting in 2018, with peak activity in 2020 (about 2.29 rounds per year on average) and a portfolio featuring companies like Synspective Inc. and Shoof Technologies[4][5]. The firm has grown its team with senior advisors like Taizo SON, Susumu FURUKAWA, Atsushi TAIRA, Olivier Fidry, and others, enhancing its expertise in deep tech and global scaling[4].
Abies Ventures rides the surging wave of deep tech innovation, capitalizing on advancements in AI, robotics, space, and sustainable materials amid global challenges like climate change and data explosion[1][4]. Timing is ideal post-2024 Fund II launch, aligning with Japan's push for tech self-reliance (e.g., J-Startup/NEDO programs) and US-Japan tech alliances, while market forces like rising deep-tech VC demand (peak investments 2020, ongoing in 2025) favor its cross-border focus[2][5].
The firm influences the ecosystem by bridging Japanese startups to US markets and vice versa, fostering international deals (e.g., 10 Japan, 4 US, 2 Singapore investments), and enabling collaborations with majors like Hitachi—amplifying Japan's role in global deep tech against US/China dominance[1][4][5].
Abies Ventures is poised for expansion with Fund II fueling more deep-tech bets, potentially targeting 2026 deals in AI infrastructure and clean energy as portfolio wins like RUTILEA and HOBE scale[4]. Trends like US-Japan tech pacts, space commercialization, and ESG-driven materials will shape its path, evolving its influence from niche investor to key ecosystem enabler via stronger exits and M&A networks[1][2][5]. As deep tech addresses global issues, Abies' global network positions it to discover and propel the next wave of ambitious startups, sustaining its mission from 2017 origins.
