Alumni Ventures Announces Strategic Partnerships in Japan, Marks Global Expansion with Japan Office
New strategy creates strategic partnerships to bridge US and Japanese start-up ecosystems; firm also opens Tokyo office in the Roppongi district
Alumni Ventures, one of TIME Magazine’s Top 20 VC Firms in America, today announced the formation of strategic partnerships in Japan with KDDI, one of Japan’s leading telecommunications companies, and UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC), a subsidiary of the University of Tokyo, Japan’s premier public university focused on driving innovation, to accelerate cross-border growth of startups in Japan and the United States. The launch of these relationships represents a cutting-edge strategy designed to provide a bridge between the two venture capital ecosystems, invigorating startups to collaborate on a global scale with innovative technologies and services.
The firm also announced the opening of Alumni Ventures Japan KK in the Tri-Seven Roppongi building in Tokyo, marking a significant milestone in Alumni Ventures’ Asia-Pacific growth strategy. The office is led by Michael G. Phillips, Head of Asia Pacific, Chief Legal Officer and Executive Managing Director at Alumni Ventures, who has relocated to Tokyo to spearhead the firm’s regional expansion and deepen relationships across Japan’s innovation ecosystem.
“Japan has world-class capital and world-class innovation, and the U.S. venture market has historically been difficult for Japanese institutions to access in a structured, meaningful way,” said Mike Collins, CEO, Board Chairman and Founder at Alumni Ventures.
“With our permanent office in Tokyo, we are building a real bridge between two powerful venture ecosystems. We believe Japan’s innovation ecosystem is at an inflection point, and our permanent presence here will enable deeper collaboration between Japanese and U.S. founders and institutions.”
— Mike Collins
Among the firm’s strategic partners is KDDI Corporation, one of Japan’s leading telecommunications companies, and UTokyo IPC, underscoring growing interest among Japanese corporations and academic institutions in jumpstarting growth among start-ups through venture capital. Alumni Ventures is actively working with additional institutions and universities for collaboration opportunities.
“Through our partnership with Alumni Ventures, KDDI aims to build an environment that seamlessly enables Japanese startups to expand overseas and U.S. startups to enter Japan, while simultaneously elevating the investment and business development skills of KDDI employees to a global standard. We expect this partnership to be a massive catalyst for the development of the U.S. and Japanese startup ecosystems and the cultivation of human resources,” stated Tomohiko Katsuki, Managing Executive Officer, CSO & CDO, Executive Director of Corporate Strategy & Open Innovation at KDDI.
Alumni Ventures’ expansion into Japan reflects the firm’s broader global growth strategy and its long-term conviction in the strength of Japan’s innovation economy. With deep technical talent, leading research institutions, strong corporate participation, and increasing momentum around entrepreneurship and startup formation, Japan represents a compelling market for long-term venture investment. Through its permanent presence in Tokyo, Alumni Ventures aims to help connect investors, founders, and institutions across two of the world’s most important innovation ecosystems.
While global expansion is essential for Japanese deep-tech startups to realize significant growth and build a globally competitive ecosystem, achieving this is no easy task,” said Masafumi Kawai, Chief Investment Officer at UTokyo IPC. “We offer various programs to support startups’ global expansion, and believe that our strategic partnership with Alumni Ventures — which has an extensive network of overseas investors and entrepreneurs — will serve as a catalyst to accelerate these efforts.”
About the Bridge Strategy
Alumni Ventures’ strategy involves combining exposure to high-potential startups across both geographies, linking founders from each jurisdiction with strategic partners and across local country networks. Alumni Ventures intends to work with public and private universities in Japan and other firms to source and help develop promising startups, with a goal of offering exposure to US venture capital to finance global growth strategies. At the same time, Alumni Ventures will help connect US-based startups from its portfolios with potential institutional partners in Japan to facilitate Asia Pacific expansion strategies.
About Alumni Ventures Japan KK
Alumni Ventures Japan KK is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alumni Ventures, established in 2025 to support the firm’s operational presence and partnerships in Japan. Its formation represents Alumni Venture’s deep commitment to Japan, offering an opportunity for Alumni Ventures to work directly with its institutional partners and startups in both Japan and broader Asia Pacific jurisdictions. Alumni Ventures’ boots-on-the-ground approach creates the opportunity to expand its global network with direct connections among VC ecosystem participants.
About Alumni Ventures
Recognized as one of North America’s premier venture capital firms, Alumni Ventures was recently named to TIME’s “America’s Top Venture Capital Firms of 2025” and CB Insights‘ “Top Venture Investors in North America.”
Company Name: Alumni Ventures, LLC
Headquarters: Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Established: 2014
CEO: Michael Collins
Investment Focus: Startups in Japan and the U.S. focusing on AI, Deep Tech, DX, and Life Sciences.
About KDDI
KDDI is a leading Japanese telecommunications company dedicated to creating a society where anyone can achieve their dreams, by enhancing the power to connect. KDDI leverages 5G, data-driven practices, and generative AI to accelerate innovation. The company is focused on expanding value in key growth areas such as DX, finance, energy, and Life Transformation (LX) — which includes mobility, entertainment, Web3/Metaverse, healthcare, and space — all while placing sustainability at the core of its management.
About UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC)
UTokyo IPC was established in 2016 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Tokyo. The company aims to strengthen Japan’s industrial competitiveness by fostering globally competitive startups and developing innovation ecosystems in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including universities, corporations, venture capital firms, and government entities.
In parallel with its investment activities in over 80 university-affiliated startups and venture capital funds, UTokyo IPC provides hands-on support through initiatives such as venture creation programs for academic seeds, the “1stRound” program—one of Japan’s largest startup acceleration programs co-hosted with academic institutions—and talent development programs including “DeepTech Dive.”
In 2024, UTokyo IPC established the ASA Fund following selection through a public call by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, aiming to build a new foundation for deep-tech startup creation in collaboration with domestic and global partners.
Not an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to purchase, any security. Venture capital investing involves substantial risk, including risk of loss of all capital invested. See important disclosures here.
This press release is provided by Alumni Ventures (AV). The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in ventures capital and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of all capital invested. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.