Strategic Alliance Between NVenture Capital and Kubell to Tackle Labor Shortages in Small Businesses
In a groundbreaking development, NVenture Capital Inc. and Kubell Inc., both headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, have entered into a strategic alliance aimed at addressing the increasingly severe labor shortage facing small businesses in Japan. Under the directive of Kazuo Kunieda, CEO of NVenture Capital, and Masaki Yamamoto, CEO of Kubell, this partnership represents a proactive approach to a national concern that is projected to reach a labor shortfall of approximately 3.4 million by 2030.
The growing shortage of labor in Japan poses significant challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 99.7% of all businesses in the country. According to the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, 64.8% of SMEs are currently experiencing labor shortages, with nearly 65% of them not taking steps to invest in solutions to this issue. This lack of investment is often attributed to the challenges these companies face, including the difficulty of accessing funds, selecting appropriate technologies, and the scarcity of human and temporal resources needed for implementation.
In response to this pressing issue, the Tokyo metropolitan government has launched the "Workforce Innovation Fund (Fund No. 1)," which aims to support SMEs in overcoming labor shortages. NVenture Capital has been selected as the management operator for this fund, which combines 2 billion yen from Tokyo with additional private investment, targeting a total scale of 5 billion yen, potentially increasing to 10 billion yen by March 2027. The fund is designed to invest in and provide hands-on support for startup ventures that develop technologies and services tailored to alleviate workforce shortages.
Kubell, known for its mission to "Make Work More Enjoyable and Creative," has been diligently working to increase labor productivity among SMEs through a variety of services, including Japan's leading business chat platform "Chatwork" and the outsourcing service "Taksita." With 990,000 customers served as of March 2026, Kubell has established itself as a vital player in enhancing operational efficiency for businesses across the country.
The partnership between NVenture Capital and Kubell aims to leverage their respective strengths to address the labor shortage problem met by Japan's 3.36 million SMEs, paving the way for sustainable growth. By combining resources and expertise, both companies are committed to delivering effective solutions that resolve these pressing challenges.
This alliance is structured to complement the strengths of both companies, focusing primarily on investments made via NVenture Capital’s venture investment fund. NVenture Capital, a wholly-owned subsidiary established in 2021, has successfully invested in over 60 firms, enhancing their growth and supporting processes such as project management, fundraising, and internal management systems, which have led many venture firms toward successful IPOs and M&As.
Kubell’s extensive customer base comprised mostly of SMEs and its domain knowledge gained through diverse service offerings provide significant added value to this partnership. As both companies deepen their investment and sales collaborations, they aim to accelerate innovations that address labor shortages effectively.
Moving forward, NVenture Capital and Kubell plan to enhance their alliance by delivering tech-driven solutions swiftly and effectively to small businesses. They aim to create mechanisms that directly channel startup solutions from the WIF1 fund to Kubell’s customer base, actively involving innovative services in Kubell's BPaaS offerings. This will facilitate the implementation of solutions designed to alleviate labor shortages through startups.
Kazuo Kunieda, representing NVenture Capital, emphasized the urgency of resolving labor shortages for Japan’s SMEs and underscored their commitment to maximizing investment returns while contributing to this significant social challenge. He noted that the collaboration with Kubell strengthens their initiative to deliver vital products and services to businesses in need.
Seiji Fukuda, COO of Kubell, reaffirmed their commitment to transforming small business operations via technology, highlighting the disparity between available solutions and their implementation. He expressed optimism about this new collaboration, stating it will directly support their mission to enhance the working conditions for SMEs in Japan.
In summary, this joint venture not only reflects a smart strategic partnership but also symbolizes a concerted effort to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing Japan’s economy today.
Background and Purpose
The growing shortage of labor in Japan poses significant challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 99.7% of all businesses in the country. According to the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, 64.8% of SMEs are currently experiencing labor shortages, with nearly 65% of them not taking steps to invest in solutions to this issue. This lack of investment is often attributed to the challenges these companies face, including the difficulty of accessing funds, selecting appropriate technologies, and the scarcity of human and temporal resources needed for implementation.
In response to this pressing issue, the Tokyo metropolitan government has launched the "Workforce Innovation Fund (Fund No. 1)," which aims to support SMEs in overcoming labor shortages. NVenture Capital has been selected as the management operator for this fund, which combines 2 billion yen from Tokyo with additional private investment, targeting a total scale of 5 billion yen, potentially increasing to 10 billion yen by March 2027. The fund is designed to invest in and provide hands-on support for startup ventures that develop technologies and services tailored to alleviate workforce shortages.
Kubell, known for its mission to "Make Work More Enjoyable and Creative," has been diligently working to increase labor productivity among SMEs through a variety of services, including Japan's leading business chat platform "Chatwork" and the outsourcing service "Taksita." With 990,000 customers served as of March 2026, Kubell has established itself as a vital player in enhancing operational efficiency for businesses across the country.
The partnership between NVenture Capital and Kubell aims to leverage their respective strengths to address the labor shortage problem met by Japan's 3.36 million SMEs, paving the way for sustainable growth. By combining resources and expertise, both companies are committed to delivering effective solutions that resolve these pressing challenges.
Overview of the Partnership
This alliance is structured to complement the strengths of both companies, focusing primarily on investments made via NVenture Capital’s venture investment fund. NVenture Capital, a wholly-owned subsidiary established in 2021, has successfully invested in over 60 firms, enhancing their growth and supporting processes such as project management, fundraising, and internal management systems, which have led many venture firms toward successful IPOs and M&As.
Kubell’s extensive customer base comprised mostly of SMEs and its domain knowledge gained through diverse service offerings provide significant added value to this partnership. As both companies deepen their investment and sales collaborations, they aim to accelerate innovations that address labor shortages effectively.
Future Projections
Moving forward, NVenture Capital and Kubell plan to enhance their alliance by delivering tech-driven solutions swiftly and effectively to small businesses. They aim to create mechanisms that directly channel startup solutions from the WIF1 fund to Kubell’s customer base, actively involving innovative services in Kubell's BPaaS offerings. This will facilitate the implementation of solutions designed to alleviate labor shortages through startups.
Company Comments
Kazuo Kunieda, representing NVenture Capital, emphasized the urgency of resolving labor shortages for Japan’s SMEs and underscored their commitment to maximizing investment returns while contributing to this significant social challenge. He noted that the collaboration with Kubell strengthens their initiative to deliver vital products and services to businesses in need.
Seiji Fukuda, COO of Kubell, reaffirmed their commitment to transforming small business operations via technology, highlighting the disparity between available solutions and their implementation. He expressed optimism about this new collaboration, stating it will directly support their mission to enhance the working conditions for SMEs in Japan.
In summary, this joint venture not only reflects a smart strategic partnership but also symbolizes a concerted effort to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing Japan’s economy today.
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