NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate venturing unit operated by telecommunication firm NTT Group’s mobile network subsidiary, NTT Docomo, has hired Ken Asada as managing director.
Asada comes from Intel Capital, semiconductor and data technology provider Intel’s corporate venture capital subsidiary, where he was a Japan-based investment director.
NTT Docomo Ventures funds companies focusing on information and communications technology, big data, cloud and authentication security across all stages. Asada will report to Takayuki Inagawa, its president and chief executive.
The unit’s investments include series B rounds for autonomous building data management platform Locix and natural language processing startup Inbenta as well as a $94m series E round for data management software provider Cloudian.
Intel Capital hired Asada as an investment manager in 2011 before promoting him to investment director two years later. His primary focus was robotics and artificial intelligence venture opportunities in Japan.
Asada told Global Corporate Venturing that during his time at Intel Capital he participated in deals totalling more than $200m and sat on the boards of portfolio companies Cloudian – also part of NTT Docomo Ventures’ portfolio – LeapMind, Gengo and Fileforce.
Regarding his new position, Asada said: “At NTT Docomo Ventures, I am tasked with venture investment activities and collaboration with startups on behalf of the entire NTT Group.
“It is a challenge to explore wider segments, countries and regions than ever, but I look forward to bringing positive impact to NTT Group through activities at NTT Docomo Ventures and contributing to the group’s business.”
Photo of Ken Asada courtesy of LinkedIn.
