Kicker Ventures

Kicker Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in companies that are developing novel and transformative technology solutions to address global healthcare challenges. The firm focuses on innovations that leverage biosignal analysis, data science for pattern recognition, and artificial intelligence to personalize engagement at scale within the healthcare sector. Kicker Ventures seeks out science and technology-driven solutions that profoundly improve patient outcomes and access to care, backing ideas that envision a fundamentally more advanced, equitable, empowered, and uplifting future for human health. Their investment strategy extends beyond traditional healthcare or pharmaceuticals, emphasizing the latest advancements in digital technology to deliver cutting-edge care.

Founded in 2021, Kicker Ventures emerged with a mission to support groundbreaking health technology. Masashi Kiyomine and Tomoko Saeki serve as Managing Partners, bringing extensive experience in venture capital and healthcare innovation. The firm is based in Menlo Park, California, and actively partners with scientists, engineers, and founders who are revolutionizing healthcare with tomorrow's tools and solutions.

Kicker Ventures invests in companies from Pre-Seed to Series A stages, with initial check sizes ranging from US $100K to $1M, participating as both lead and syndicate investors. Their portfolio includes companies such as Beacon Biosignals, which focuses on precision neurotechnology and AI-powered sleep diagnostics; Anise Health, a digital mental health platform for the Asian American community; and Woebot Health, a developer of chat-based AI wellness tools for mental health support. Other notable investments include Place Genomics, Ruby Bio, Behacidence, CAREX.AI, Colabra, Do.Sukasu, and Swing Therapeutics, all contributing to the advancement of health technology.

The Kicker Ventures team is characterized by its diversity and real-world experience, comprising licensed MDs, health systems experts, and seasoned AI innovators. Many team members are C-level executives from companies further along in their investment journey, providing practical guidance to portfolio companies. Managing Partners Masashi Kiyomine and Tomoko Saeki lead a team of associates, advisors, and fellows with expertise spanning strategic AI, hospital integration, business development, clinical operations, health equity, finance, and life science commercial strategy, fostering a supportive ecosystem for their startups and partners.