By combining the intellectual capital of Japanese companies that have supported social infrastructure, such as their reliable technology, skilled workforce, customer base, and trusted brand - with the exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and future-oriented service development capabilities of emerging venture entrepreneurs, together with experts with high-level expertise and extensive experience, we aim to transcend organizational boundaries. We provide globally timely and rapid funding and hands-on support for co-creation activities that deliver value to society. Through these efforts, we will advance the implementation of services that are valuable to our customers and society.
Our Strategy
ICMG Ventures' co-creation activities leverage ICMG Group's network of leading Japanese companies to identify the right synergies for the startups in which ICMG invests in. In addition, by partnering with specialized teams from consulting, digital transformation (DX), and social transformation (SX) backgrounds, ICMG Ventures is able to allocate more than 100 hours per month to its portfolio, acting as a bridge to facilitate value creation between leading Japanese companies and innovative international startups.
Outcome
∙ We have worked with major Japanese companies on a wide range of products from FMCG to software. For example, we have distributed Japanese products to e-commerce startup platforms in India and Indonesia while providing support in the analysis of consumer behavior, increase of SKUs, and acquisition of new customers.
∙ Supported business expansion into Japan and other countries by re-importing digital technology and intellectual capital, such as digital platforms related to smart cities in Southeast Asia, and conducting pilot projects at the prefectural level in Japan.
Explore our presence
in Numbers
in Numbers
40+
Investees
170 Billion+
Total amount of Valuation
6 Countries
Invested in
10 Billion+
Total Funds Under Management
Funds we manage
We will work together with leaders who have the will to innovate and confront social issues.
Not only by accompanying them, but by becoming “practitioners” ourselves,
2023.04.11
ICMG Co-creation Fund No.1 Investment Limited Partnership
A fund managed by ICMG Partners, Inc. and funded by Japan Airport Building Corporation and Kiriboshi Bank, Ltd. as Limited Partners (LP), which encourages co-creation through partnership between entrepreneurs and large companies that support social infrastructure. The fund is certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as an investment business that promotes the use of external management resources based on the Industrial Competitiveness Enhancement Act.
2023.05.24
ICMG Co-creation Fund No.2 Limited Liability Partnership for Investment
Started fund management based in Singapore, investing in global startups that will become the next unicorns in India and Asia, and accelerating cross-border co-creation projects with Japanese companies.
2017.09.19
A joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Energy Partners, Inc. and ICMG Group. The company's goal is to create new products and services that bring security, convenience, and comfort to the daily lives of its customers.
2019.01.22
A joint venture between WEnergy Global Pte Ltd and ICMG Group. Manages renewable energy funds in collaboration with local partners.
Portfolio
The co-creation fund managed by ICMG invests in startups across various industries that are expected to create synergies through co-creation with Japanese companies. The fund supports business creation and ecosystem development in the global market.
Ram N Kumar
NirogStreet CEO, Co-Founder
Transforming Alternative medicines with trust, integrating healthcare
“NirogStreet is an Ayurveda Platform in India that is transforming the entire Ayurveda market with a mission to bring forth a positive change towards affordable traditional healthcare for all households.
ICMG’s aim to build an ESG focussed company in healthcare is aligned with NirogStreet’s mission and together with ICMG’s deep operational expertise for Japan Go-to-market strategies, the partnership will enable the Company to enter into new markets like Japan.”
Joseph Aditya
Ralali CEO, Founder
Empowering business growth via digital ecosystem and services
“Ralali is a B2B E-commerce marketplace focused on MSMEs. We have a strong ambition to accelerate positive changes in Indonesia's B2B e-commerce.
Since the beginning, ICMG's vision has aligned with Ralali's values in terms of a sustainable business and impact on society. We believe ICMG will act as a strong strategic partner and will help to strengthen the company's performance.”
Shruti Shruti
ApnaKlub CEO,Co-Founder
Revolutionising Kiranas in India, elevating livelihoods with innovation
“As a founder of ApnaKlub, I am proud to say that we have been able to revolutionize the way FMCG goods are supplied in semi-urban and rural areas in India.
Our mission is to empower and encourage small business owners to set up and expand their hyperlocal businesses by giving equitable access to a large assortment of brands and SKUs, fairer prices, and reliability in supply.
Amit Koshal
TWID CEO, Co-Founder
Enabling growth through an open Rewards Network.
"Twid is a reward points payment network based in India that allows users to aggregate their reward points from point issuers and spend them across countless merchants as a form of payment. We at Twid are thrilled to partner with Gen-san and entire ICMG Partners team in this journey to build a large enduring company.
The passion and conviction on the business and team was mutual, and we believe that together with Gen-san, the team and their LP's we can learn and build better together."
Venture Capital Certificates
27th.APR.2023
Licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to manage venture capital funds.
4th.APR.2023
Obtained approval from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for "Special Provisions on Overseas Investment Regulations for Limited Partnership for Investment".
23rd.APR.2021
Registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau of the Ministry of Finance for the Special Business as Qualified Institutional Investors for the establishment of the fund business.
Co-investment Partners
Gen Funahashi
ICMG Group Group COO
ICMG President
ICMG Ventures CEO
ICMG Director
ICMG Partners Founder
ICMG Digital Co-Founder
ICMG Next Co-Founder
Keizai Doyukai
Singapore FSA Certified Fund Manager
ICMG Co-Creation Fund General Partner
B.A. in Economics, Waseda University
Boston University Economics
"We are on a course for growth, together."
At Deloitte, he was involved in cross-border M&A of manufacturing clients in the US and UK. He has also managed aerospace and healthcare funds at ACA Investments, a private equity fund in Singapore. He then launched CleanGrid Partners and Greenway Grid Global, joint ventures with Tokyo Electric Power Company and Chubu Electric Power Company to invest in renewable energy and next-generation infrastructure to supply electricity to un-electrified areas in Southeast Asia. He also managed the ICMG Co-Creation Fund No. 1, a venture capital fund started with Haneda Airport and Kiriboshi Bank as LPs, and led the Fund No. 2 as the representative partner.
In 2016, he moved to Singapore to oversee investments across Asia, including India, and has co-invested with top Asian VC firms such as Sequoia Capital, Google, Tiger Global Management, and Jungle Ventures. In 2023, he joined Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives). In 2024, he was appointed the Group COO of ICMG Group, and co-found ICMG Next, which executes product design for Japanese companies, with Ana Arriola-Kanada, former Head of Product Design and Research at Microsoft's U.S. headquarters.
Yoshihiko Shimizu
ICMG Group Advisor
Former Vice President and Representative Director, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Former President and Representative Director, SMBC Nikko Securities Former Chairman, Yamanashi Prefectural Federation of People's Associations Director, United Nations Association for UNHCR
Bachelor of Commerce, Waseda University
"We will think and act to realize the society as it should be, a new society."
In 1978, he joined Sumitomo Bank (currently Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation). After achieving a number of successes in corporate sales, he held several important positions, including Managing Executive Officer, General Manager of Corporate Banking Division, Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, and was appointed Representative Director and Vice President of the bank in 2012. He joined SMBC Nikko Securities in 2015 after retiring from the bank, and was appointed President and Representative Director of SMBC Nikko Securities in 2016, and Chairman and Representative Director in April 2020, leading the company's development.
He was appointed to the Board of Directors of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group from June 2020 to June 2021. He is currently serving as an advisor to several domestic and foreign funds as well as an advisor to industrial companies. He helps each company realize its mission of contributing to environmental, social, and corporate governance in Japan and beyond. He also serves as President of the Yamanashi Prefectural Association of People's Associations and as a board member of the United Nations Association for UNHCR, promoting local economic development and Japan's cooperation with the international community.
Yu Aruga
Director, ICMG Ventures
Fund manager accredited by the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan
Certified Management Accountant
University College London M.A. in Urban Economic Development
"Creating and Expanding the Co-Creation Ecosystem through International Finance"
He was in charge of fund raising, investment and liquidity management in Morgan Stanley's finance division. Later, as a founding member of the Singapore subsidiary of a boutique investment bank, he developed the corporate finance business model for Japanese, Indian, and Southeast Asian companies. He was involved in VC investments in India and advisory services for capital tie-ups to APAC companies.
He was also in charge of sourcing and DD for the establishment of a global fund of funds. After that, he worked at Nomura Research Institute Singapore as a consultant in the smart city and agriculture fields, and as an advisor for investment in energy business, before joining ICMG Ventures. He is currently engaged in sourcing and DD of investment targets in Asia and networking with VC firms. He lives in Singapore.
Makoto Kigawa
External Director, ICMG Special Advisor, Yamato Holdings, Inc. External Director, Seven Bank, Ltd. External Director, Oki Electric Industry External Director, Higo Bank, Ltd.
Author of "Creating Future Markets" (Nikkei BP, Inc.)
Bachelor of Commerce, Hitotsubashi University
"We will continue to be a challenger toward realizing the richness of a diverse and inclusive society."
After working for Fuji Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank, he joined Yamato Transport Co., where he was in charge of structural reforms to make the company a holding company and to realize its growth strategy. He also served as President and Representative Director of Yamato Transport, President and Representative Director of Yamato HD, Chairman of Yamato Transport, and President of the Yamato Group Research Institute, Inc.
He has also served as Vice President of the Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) and as a member of the Hitotsubashi University Management Council. He currently serves as an outside director of Seven Bank, Oki Electric Industry, Higo Bank, and others.
Takehiko Ogi
External Director of ICMG
Professor, Kyushu University Business School
Author of "The Law of Decline: The Silent Killer Eroding Japanese Companies" (Toyo Keizai Inc.)
Having graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, he holds a B.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations, Princeton University, N.J., and an M.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, D. (Economics), Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo
"Creating a society in which each and every one of us can fulfill our potential."
He has served in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), as the President and Representative Director of Tsutaya Online, Representative Director and Managing Director of Culture Convenience Club, President and Representative Executive Officer of Kanebo (seconded from the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan), President and Representative Director of Maruzen (now Maruzen CHI Holdings),
and President and Representative Director of Japan Human Resources Development Organization. He has always been involved in the forefront of corporate and social reform.
Ryoji Sato
ICMG Chief Strategic Development Officer
Former Executive Officer, Hitachi Capital Former President and Director, Hitachi Capital Securities
B.A. in Social Sciences, Waseda University M.A. in Law and Politics, University of Tokyo
"We must say goodbye to greed and create a society where diversity is respected."
In 1982, he joined Hitachi Credit Corporation (now Hitachi Capital Corporation), where he served as Deputy General Manager of the Accounting Department, Executive Manager of the President's Office, General Manager of Group Strategy Office of Hitachi Capital Corporation, President of Hitachi Capital Securities Corporation, Senior Executive Officer and General Manager of Legal Department of Hitachi Capital Corporation, President and Representative Director of Hitachi Capital General Insurance Corporation,
Chairman of Hitachi Lease (China) Co. and Executive Officer and General Manager of Corporate Strategy Division of Hitachi Capital Corporation.
He has also served in a number of public positions, including as an expert member of a government council. He is the author of numerous articles and publications.
