#Japan #Tokyo #Regional Banks #Angel Bridge #VC Seminar

Angel Bridge's Seminar on Investment Practices

On January 29th, 2026, Angel Bridge Inc., a Tokyo-based independent venture capital firm led by Yuutaro Kawanishi, held a joint seminar for regional banks aimed at improving investment practices and promoting networking among participants. The seminar, known as the "Regional Bank Capital Joint Seminar," is part of Angel Bridge's initiative to collaborate with regional banks as limited partners in their funds to address local challenges.

Background and Objectives

Angel Bridge has adopted a private equity-like approach in their investment activities, focusing on sourcing, due diligence, hands-on support, and exit strategies. The purpose of the seminar was to bolster the investment capabilities of regional bank capitals and strengthen interbank collaboration through cooperation with local banks.

Seminar Overview

The seminar featured a structured sharing session led by Angel Bridge on essential aspects of investment practices. To foster mutual learning, various group activities were incorporated around specific themes:

• - Sourcing (案件開拓): Angel Bridge shared its sourcing techniques and encouraged each bank to present its own efforts, leading to the organization of a high-reproducibility project sourcing process.

• - Due Diligence (投資判断): Discussions centered on clarifying decision-making criteria, utilizing case studies to explain concrete verification methods, and extracting useful insights for improving accuracy and speed of judgment based on each bank's operational realities.

• - Hands-on Support (投資後支援): Participants exchanged details about specific post-investment support actions and aspects to consider, facilitating a practical understanding of how these methods can be applied.

Additionally, a networking session followed, where lively discussions transcended regional and organizational boundaries.

Participating Organizations (in Japanese alphabetical order)

• - Keiyo Bank Inc.
• - Gunma Bank Inc.
• - Go-Gin Capital Co., Ltd.
• - Shizuoka Bank Inc.
• - Joy Capital Partners, Inc.
• - Chiba Gin Capital, Inc.
• - Tochigin Capital & Consulting Co., Ltd.
• - Hyakujushi Co-Creation Investment Co., Ltd.
• - Hokuhoku Capital Co., Ltd.
• - Yokohama Capital Inc.
• - YMFG Capital, Inc.

Feedback from Participants

The attendees expressed the value of the event through their comments:

• - "Comparing traditional methods with those from Angel Bridge made our gaps clearer."
• - "It was beneficial to discuss various experiences, including failures, with other regional bank capitals."
• - "I gained valuable insights by sharing thoughts and challenges with peers."
• - "Listening to the unique sourcing and due diligence strategies from Angel Bridge was incredibly informative."
• - "This opportunity helped us recognize and understand challenges as an organization."

Future Prospects

Angel Bridge is committed to continually advancing efforts that support solutions to local issues through collaboration with regional banks. Plans include regularly scheduled seminars focused on enhancing investment capabilities and interbank cooperation. They also aim to create matching opportunities between their portfolio startups and regional needs, aspiring to establish an ecosystem where values can be co-created.

Company Overview

• - Company Name: Angel Bridge Inc.
• - CEO: Yuutaro Kawanishi
• - Founded: October 21, 2015
• - Location: 101 Nagata-cho 2-17-4, Kasamatsu Chiyoda Building, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0014
• - Contact: [email protected]