NEXTBLUE Ⅱ Limited Liability Partnership (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; General Partners: Kanako Inoue, Yuichi Kori, Vincent Tan, Saki Oshima) has received an investment from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as part of the “Women’s Empowerment Startup Support Fund”, Japan’s first fund fully dedicated to supporting female founders and advancing women’s empowerment. NEXTBLUE TOKYO Investment Limited Partnership, with a maximum fund size of 5 billion yen ($33M), was established to back startups founded by women, as well as companies developing products and services that contribute to women’s empowerment and wellbeing. With this investment, NEXTBLUE will further strengthen its commitment to supporting female founders and driving sustainable economic growth.
Addressing Challenges Faced by Female founders
Despite progress, the percentage of female founders in Japan remains low, and women face significant hurdles in launching and scaling businesses, including limited access to funding, restricted networks, and the challenges of balancing work with childcare or caregiving responsibilities. According to a report by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Japan ranked 118th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index (World Economic Forum, 2024 edition), with gender disparities particularly pronounced in the startup sector.
NEXTBLUE aims to address these challenges by investing in seed and early-stage startups led by female founders, fostering connections among women founders, and providing mentorship programs with seasoned industry leaders. Additionally, NEXTBLUE will leverage its global network to help Japanese female-led startups expand internationally.
The Business Case for Investing in Female founders
Investing in female founders is not just about social impact—it also makes financial sense. Research by BCG and MassChallenge shows that female-led companies have a 35% higher return on investment (ROI) than those led by men. Women founders are also more likely to identify underexplored market opportunities, developing solutions for underserved sectors. Their diverse perspectives and experiences drive innovation, leading to products and services that cater to a broader range of consumers.
Leveraging Global Expertise to Strengthen Japan’s Market
Over the past five years, NEXTBLUE has been actively involved in supporting female founders in Europe and the United States, fostering numerous success stories. Through this experience, NEXTBLUE has gained deep insights into the challenges women face and the most effective investment and support strategies. By applying this expertise, NEXTBLUE aims to enhance funding access and growth opportunities for female founders in Japan, contributing to the development of a sustainable and thriving startup ecosystem.
Expanding Support Through Collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
With the investment from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, NEXTBLUE will expand its ability to support even more female founders. Through this partnership, NEXTBLUE will help create an environment where women can more easily start and scale their businesses, while working with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
NEXTBLUE remains committed to empowering female founders and fostering companies that drive meaningful societal impact.
【NEXTBLUE Fund Ⅱ Overview】
Company Name: NEXTBLUE Ⅱ Limited Liability Partnership
Members: Kanako Inoue, Vincent Tan, Yuichi Kori, Saki Oshima
Location: xBridge-Global 2F, 3-1-3 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established: May 11, 2023
Business activities: Entrepreneur support, management of investment limited partnerships, attracting Japanese companies to Europe and the United States
URL:https://nextblue.com/en/
Contact for inquiries regarding this matter: Kanako Inoue
Email: press@nextblue.com
