#Japan #Tokyo #Mori Building #Spiral Innovation #CVC Fund

New CVC Fund Launched for Urban Innovation

Spiral Innovation Partners, a subsidiary of Spiral Capital based in Tokyo, has joined forces with Mori Building Co. to create a new venture capital fund known as the Mori Building Innovation Fund. This ambitious fund, amounting to an impressive 10 billion yen (approximately 65 million USD), marks the eighth corporate VC fund established by Spiral Innovation Partners (SIP), bringing the total assets managed by the Spiral Capital Group to 93 billion yen.

The Mori Building Innovation Fund is dedicated to fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem that supports the evolution of urban life through investments and collaborations with startups. Its primary mission is to connect large corporations with emerging businesses to transform industry structures and create new business opportunities.

Foundation and Objectives

With a vision of "creating and nurturing cities," Mori Building has established a strong foundation for generating urban innovation. To further accelerate these efforts, the partnership underscores the need for increased financial involvement with startups that tackle societal issues and promote industrial transformation. SIP’s commitment to supporting such collaborations is epitomized in their partnership with Mori Building.

By combining Mori Building's urban assets and innovation foundation with SIP's investment insights, the fund aims to create a unique model that integrates capital investment with collaborative development, thus expediting the construction of a robust urban innovation ecosystem.

Investment Policy and Priority Areas

The Mori Building Innovation Fund will invest in startups both within Japan and internationally, focusing not only on their growth potential but also on their contributions to building a sustainable innovation ecosystem for urban evolution.

The fund will prioritize investments and collaborations in several key themes:

• - Evolution of Urban Infrastructure and Industries: This encompasses smart buildings, energy optimization, disaster resilience, mobility solutions, urban operating systems, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space tech, robotics, and cyber security.
• - Creation of New Values and Experiences in Urban Settings: Areas such as entertainment, tourism, food, luxury crafts, community engagement, and media are also focal points.
• - Knowledge Exchange and Co-Creation in Urban Contexts: The fund encourages collaboration among large corporations, cross-industry platforms, commercializing research findings, entrepreneurship education, and overseas expansion initiatives.

Expanding Collaborative Foundations

What sets the Mori Building Innovation Fund apart is its comprehensive approach that goes beyond mere financial investment. Utilizing Mori Building's urban real estate and innovation framework, the fund supports the growth and societal impact of its investment partners.

The fund plans to utilize prominent locations such as Roppongi Hills, Azabudai Hills, and Toranomon Hills as testing grounds for cutting-edge technologies and new services. Additionally, through partnerships with institutions like ARCH Toranomon Hills, CIC Tokyo, and Tokyo Venture Capital Hub, the fund aims to provide a toolkit for collaboration, growth opportunities, and platforms for implementing innovations.
Furthermore, leveraging a global network like the Japan Innovation Campus will help connect Japanese startups with international leaders in technology, investment, and research, facilitating overseas expansion and the introduction of foreign technologies to urban settings.

The fund is poised to create new value across intersections of business, technology, and culture, transforming urban environments into stages for emerging industries and experiences.

Comments from Leadership

Hiroshi Oka, the General Partner of Spiral Innovation Partners, expressed, "Looking ahead to Tokyo's future 100 years from now, creating an ecosystem where new industries continuously emerge is crucial, rather than merely enhancing urban functionalities. We believe that addressing these challenges through shared risk with startups is essential. Through this fund, we are committed to fostering an ecosystem that supports urban evolution and contributes to the next generation of industry creation."

Fund Overview

• - Fund Name: Mori Building Innovation Fund Investment Limited Liability Partnership
• - General Partner: Spiral Innovation Partners LLP
• - Limited Partners: Mori Building Co.
• - Total Investment Amount: 10 billion yen
• - Investment Target: A wide range of startups contributing to the construction of an innovation ecosystem supporting urban evolution
• - Investment Amount per Project: Approximately 100 to 1 billion yen
• - Website: Mori Building Innovation Fund

About Spiral Innovation Partners

Spiral Innovation Partners operates as a subsidiary of the independent VC firm Spiral Capital, focusing on managing CVC funds and supporting open innovation. With experience spanning logistics, housing, insurance, finance, and railways, SIP has facilitated collaborations between large corporations and startups. The Mori Building Innovation Fund is Sip's eighth corporate VC fund and will be instrumental in generating new value through collaboration with diverse urban stakeholders.

For more information, visit the official website of Spiral Capital Group at Spiral Capital.