#Japan #Tokyo #Impact Investing #B Corp #SIIFIC

SIIFIC Achieves B Corp Certification

SIIF Impact Capital Inc. (co-founders: Kazuhiro Umeda and Riri Miura), commonly referred to as SIIFIC, is proud to announce that it has received the Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp™) certification as of June 2026. The evaluation results have been disclosed on the B Corp website, highlighting our commitment to high social and environmental performance standards.

The B Corp certification indicates that a company has met verified standards regarding social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The 'B' in B Corp stands for 'Benefit,' which signifies the pursuit of benefits not just for shareholders, but for people and the planet.

With a remarkable score of 102.2 out of a required 80 points for certification, this achievement serves as a strong endorsement and inspiration for our mission.

Why Did SIIFIC Pursue B Corp Certification?

Since its inception, SIIFIC has aimed to create a society where everyone can live better by investing in startups that enhance wellness literacy and social capital. We see impact investing as a dynamic process that goes beyond merely providing capital to companies solving social issues; we believe that investors must also take their responsibilities seriously as agents of social change.

While the venture capital (VC) industry often demands ESG and impact governance from its portfolio companies, it has historically lacked sufficient transparency and accountability within the funds’ own operational and decision-making processes. SIIFIC seeks to embody the principle of enforcing the standards we expect from our investments within our own practices.

The B Corp certification represents an international recognition system that requires companies to hold responsibility to all stakeholders, including employees, customers, local communities, and the planet—not just shareholders. For us, obtaining B Corp status is not merely about acquiring a new brand; it is a commitment to validate our values and management practices against third-party standards and to continuously seek improvement.

We believe that social and environmental responsibilities should not be solely delegated to our portfolio companies; investors must also shoulder this duty themselves. Hence, we chose to pursue B Corp certification as a declaration of this commitment.

The Process of Achieving B Corp Certification

Receiving the B Corp certification was not simply a reaction to a new standard or a temporary effort; it was a way to visually reaffirm the values and organizational culture we have held dear since the founding of SIIFIC and subject them to international standards for evaluation.

As a relatively young fund, established just three years ago, one of the most significant aspects of acquiring this certification was the high regard in which our efforts have been held when assessed against global benchmarks. The B Corp assessment considers not just a company's products or services, but also the embedded values within the organization, decision-making processes, and relationships with employees and communities. We believe that being certified recognizes the corporate actions we have consistently practiced as an organization, rather than confirming just a business model.

We see this certification not as an endpoint but rather as a new starting point to further deepen the values we established at the outset of our company.

Relation to Social and Environmental Impact

The impact SIIFIC aims for goes beyond individual corporate growth. We focus on 'system change,' addressing the structural issues that generate societal challenges. Issues such as health disparities, social isolation, and community disconnection cannot be resolved by a single service or product. Thus, SIIFIC is dedicated to investing in companies that enhance wellness literacy and social capital, aiming to create a societal framework that enables people to live more proactively.

The B Corp certification safeguards this orientation at an organizational level. It calls for placing social and environmental considerations not on the periphery of business activities but at the very center of decision-making. We believe that for impact investment funds to genuinely aim for societal transformation, their own organizations must also be a part of that change. B Corp certification embodies this philosophy, serving as a crucial foundation for achieving SIIFIC's vision of 'wellness equity.' By integrating long-term returns from investments with sustainable organizational operations, we aspire to create a more significant social and environmental impact.

Future Commitments

Even after obtaining B Corp certification, SIIFIC does not view maintaining the certification as the end goal; rather, we are committed to continuous improvement aimed at higher standards.

First, we envision a co-creative approach with our portfolio companies. We do not want to merely be capital providers; we wish to be partners that facilitate system change alongside these companies. Therefore, we will enhance our knowledge sharing around impact measurement, organizational development, and stakeholder management.

Secondly, we aim to deepen the organizational culture among impact VC firms. We believe that sustainable and diverse organizational cultures yield excellent investment outcomes and social impacts. We will continue to foster an environment that supports each employee to connect with our Purpose and autonomously embrace challenges, maintaining our stance as a learning organization.

Thirdly, we want to contribute to the overall VC industry. In Japan, there are still relatively few VCs with B Corp certification. SIIFIC aspires to act as a practical example of a new VC model where investors fulfill their social responsibilities, promoting discussions and practices within the industry as a whole.

We emphasize the importance of leaving behind a better social system for future generations rather than focusing solely on short-term results. Achieving B Corp certification is a milestone in this journey, and we will continue our challenges towards realizing a 'society where everyone can live better.'