Nissay Capital

Nissay Capital is a highly established venture capital firm headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operating as a subsidiary of Nippon Life Insurance Company, one of Japan's largest life insurance providers. Founded in 1991, it has grown to become a cornerstone of the Japanese startup ecosystem, known for its comprehensive investment strategy spanning across seed, early-stage, middle-stage, and later-stage companies. This broad mandate allows Nissay Capital to support promising ventures from their nascent phases through significant growth and expansion, reflecting a long-term commitment to its portfolio.

The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes identifying and nurturing innovative companies across various sectors, including information technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and deep tech. Nissay Capital is not merely a financial investor; it actively leverages the extensive network and resources of its parent company, Nippon Life, to provide strategic support, market access, and operational guidance to its portfolio companies. This hands-on approach, combined with a willingness to participate in multiple funding rounds, helps accelerate the growth and market penetration of its investees.

Nissay Capital consistently raises substantial funds to fuel its investment activities. Its most recent vehicles include the Nissay Capital 10th Investment Limited Partnership, which closed in 2021 with a total commitment of JPY 20 billion (approximately $133 million USD), and the Nissay Capital 11th Investment Limited Partnership, established in 2023 with an even larger commitment of JPY 25 billion (approximately $167 million USD). These significant fund sizes underscore the firm's robust capacity to deploy capital across its diverse investment stages.

For initial investments, Nissay Capital typically deploys a wide range of capital, reflecting its multi-stage investment approach. While seed-stage companies might receive initial checks starting from around $300,000 USD, the firm is capable of making substantially larger first investments for more mature, growth-stage companies. For later-stage or growth equity opportunities, initial commitments can extend up to $5,000,000 USD, with the potential for even larger follow-on investments as companies scale. This flexibility allows Nissay Capital to be a relevant partner for startups at nearly any point in their lifecycle, from initial concept to pre-IPO growth.