Yukiko Kato is director, executive officer and general manager of corporate venture capital department at SBI Investment, the VC arm of Japanese financial services business SBI Group.
She joined SBI Investment’s predecessor, SoftBank Investment, in 2002 and began managing the CVC group in June 2019. Her team has grown from three to 25 members and has $1bn under management.
During the past four years, Kato helped shape the CVC practice at SBI, identifying startups emerging from universities and concentrating on healthcare, clean technology and healthcare IT sectors.
“Striking the right balance between strategic and financial goals is a constant challenge. It is not just about returns, it is about sustainable, strategic investments that align with our corporate partners.”
Managing CVC funds for corporates such as Panasonic, Nikon, Ricoh and KDDI, Katooversees a diverse portfolio of more than 100 companies. Her team’s investments typically range from series A to C rounds sized between$1m and $5m, with possible follow-on funding.
Kato believes regenerative medicine is an exciting prospect for this year. “We have identified a few companies spun out of Japanese universities,” she says.
Reflecting on the challenges she faces, she mentions the recurring debate in the CVC community around striking the right balance between strategic and financial goals. “It is a constant challenge. It is not just about returns, it is about sustainable, strategic investments that align with our corporate partners,” she says.
Despite the tough investment climate in 2023, Kato remains resolute. “It is crucial not to halt investments based on external challenges. Persistence is key,” she says. “Whether the environment is favourable or not, we must continue to make informed, strategic investments.”
Before her seven-year journey in corporate venturing, Kato had extensive experience in equity capital market business, including domestic and international IPOs and equity offerings. Before joining SBI Investment, she worked at ING Baring Securities’ equity capital markets team in Japan.
See the full list of GCV Emerging Leaders for 2024 here.