Japan-based investment firm Signifiant has harnessed financial services firm Mizuho Financial Group to launch a ¥20bn ($186m) growth investment vehicle dubbed The Fund today to back growth-stage companies.
Mizuho Capital, the venture capital arm of Mizuho Financial’s retail and banking subsidiary Mizuho Bank, will own 33.3% of the vehicle while the rest will be held by Signifiant.
In addition to providing capital for The Fund, the banking group will look to complement Signifiant’s business development initiatives through its consumer networks and resources.
The Fund intends to invest several billions of yen (¥1bn = $9.3m) in each round to take a minority stake in portfolio companies. It will focus on startups at growth stage prior to their initial public offering, and will offer management and financial assistance to achieve smooth and continuous growth once they have gone public.
Signifiant will also provide assistance for portfolio companies in executing business and financial strategies, organisational management and governance, while The Fund will offer strategic support.
The firm has already participated in several funding rounds in recent months, having provided capital and mentoring for online securities brokerage Folio, logistics platform developer OpenLogi and artificial intelligence-equipped analysis technology provider Neural Pocket.
