Dentsu Ventures

Dentsu Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Dentsu Group, a global advertising and public relations company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Established in 2015, the firm focuses on supporting entrepreneurs and fostering open innovation within the Dentsu Group by investing in ambitious startups that are creating new futures. Beyond financial backing, Dentsu Ventures provides hands-on support, leveraging the extensive problem-solving resources and global network of the Dentsu Group to assist portfolio companies with business development, strategic partnerships, and marketing solutions.

The firm was founded in April 2015 with the launch of Dentsu Ventures Global Fund I, which had a total capital of ¥5 billion. This was followed by Dentsu Ventures Global Fund II, launched in May 2021, with a total capital of ¥10 billion (approximately $71 million). The establishment of Dentsu Ventures underscores Dentsu Group's commitment to integrating emerging technologies and innovative business models into its core operations, particularly in areas that can transform the broader marketing and communications landscape, as well as high-potential new domains.

Dentsu Ventures has built a diverse portfolio of companies across various sectors. Notable investments include Metagen Therapeutics (Drug Discovery), Culta (Agriculture), Fiddler (Business/Productivity Software, AI observability), Kognitos (enterprise automation through neurosymbolic AI), Mysten Labs (Blockchain platform), GRAIL (Biotechnology & Life Sciences for cancer detection), Twist Bioscience (DNA synthesis platform), Overtime (Sports content), Cheddar (Online video news), OpenWeb (ad network), Vidmob (creative marketing and advertising platform), and Survios (Virtual Reality). These investments highlight the firm's interest in technology, media, life sciences, and innovative solutions that align with Dentsu's strategic vision.

The team at Dentsu Ventures comprises experienced professionals with backgrounds in venture capital, corporate strategy, marketing, and international business development. Key team members include Kotaro Sasamoto, the Managing Partner, who oversees fund management, sourcing, and portfolio support, and other venture partners such as Daiji Horibe, Yuki Koyama, Masataka Wakamatsu, and Kana Nakako. Their collective expertise enables the firm to provide strategic guidance and operational assistance to its portfolio companies, fostering a culture of co-creation between startups and corporations to drive impactful innovation globally.