Making a brighter future with talents we work with.
Vision
We are committed to investing in leading-edge and deep-tech startups, and to incubating them through co-creation with all our networks, thereby delivering social impact and enriching people's lives for all our tomorrows.
Utilization of Yanmar resources
We are committed to our portfolio companies' growth by leveraging the resources and networks held by both the Yanmar Group and Yanmar Ventures.
Investment Scope & Criteria
We focus on investing in startups across four areas to realize "A Sustainable Future."
Sustainable food production
Climate change mitigation
Labor-saving
Enhancing customer experience
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PtBio Inc.
Business Description
Research and development and safety evaluation of genome editing, etc.
Cooperation Details
Currently promoting collaboration at Yanmar Bio Innovation Center for metagenomics of bacteria materials for biocomposters
Invested in: August 2021
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Fairy Devices, Inc.
Business Description
Development and provision of speech recognition/speech translation related technologies, cloud infrastructure, and edge AI devices
Cooperation Details
Yanmar Energy System Co., Ltd. is collaborating to sell wearable solutions used for maintenance and inspection of factory equipment and other facilities externally after 2024
Invested in: November 2021
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Amogy Inc.
Business Description
Development and production of Amogy Power Pack using proprietary ammonia cracking technology
Cooperation Details
Looking toward decarbonization of commercial marine engines, considering the possibility of joint research and so on with Yanmar Research and Development Center
Invested in: March 2023
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Terrace Mile Inc.
Business Description
Development and sales of RightARM, a farm management support system
Cooperation Details
Yanmar Marche Co., Ltd. is considering collaboration to visualize GHG footprints in the value chain of agricultural products
Yanmar Research and Development Center is considering collaboration for the development of a farm machinery sharing serviceInvested in: May 2023
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IntegriCulture Inc.
Business Description
Development of cultured meat and cultured cosmetics using the CulNet System, a general-purpose large-scale cell culture system
Cooperation Details
Gathering information to achieve “sustainable food production”
Invested in: May 2023
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Nature Architects Inc.
Business Description
Providing a unique design technology, "Direct Functional Modeling (DFM),” using metamaterials
Cooperation Details
Exploring building relationships aimed at improving the performance of the product lineup handled by various companies within Yanmar Group and anticipating future environmental regulations
Invested in: October 2023
We support startups and the challengers aspiring to build them, by leveraging Yanmar Group resources and more.
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Our Philosophy
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Business List
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Global Network
Our team consists of members with expertise across diverse fields, providing multifaceted support to startups.
Nobuyuki Oda
- Founding Partner & CEO
- Doctor of Science
- Recommendation Committee Member, J-Startup KANSAI
- • At the UFJ Research Institute, engaged in management consulting services mainly for SMEs, and at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory, participated in the launch of an intellectual property group. Engaged in corporate acquisitions, startup investment, new business development, technical strategic planning and intellectual property assessment in the fields of electricity, electronics, machinery, materials, and life sciences, and conducted mentoring activities for startups at the MIT Entrepreneur Forum Japan, etc.
- • Joined Yanmar Group in 2011. After executing corporate acquisitions focused on cross-borders as a deal manager in Corporate Planning Division, engaged in medium-term strategic planning and led Group reform projects. Currently responsible for Yanmar Group startup investments as a representative of Yanmar Ventures Co., Ltd.
- • Graduated from the Department of Molecular Materials Science at the Graduate School of Science from Osaka City University, completing the degree early by combining semesters. Was a JSPS Research Fellow as an enrollee in his doctoral course (DC1). Doctor of Science. Completed Columbia Business School Certificate in Business Excellence.
- • Since April 2025, became visiting professor at Tokyo University of Science.
Masaya Okawa
- Director/Partner
- Doctor of Business Administration
- • Joined Yanmar Diesel Co., Ltd. (current Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.) in 1991.
Started at a branch office, before working at an overseas Business Division, Finance Division, local subsidiary in Thailand, and the Business Administration Division. During this period, engaged in the following business areas: accounting practices, establishment of overseas subsidiaries, fund management, fundraising, pension management, exchange management, budget management, investment management, and sales finance company management, etc. - • Currently serves as Director, CFO, and Financial Manager of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., and Directors of several subsidiaries.
- • Completed a doctoral program at the Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University. Doctor of Business Administration.
Specialized in corporate finance and real options. - • Since April 2025, became visiting professor at Tokyo University of Science.
Minoru Okubo
- Director/Partner
- Doctor of Engineering
- • Joined Yanmar Diesel Co., Ltd. (current Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.) in 1983 after graduating from the Doshisha University Graduate School of Engineering.
Engaged in research on predictive machine vibration and noise reduction technology at the Research & Development Center. During this period, contributed to making all Yanmar products low vibration and low noise, advanced academic studies and summarized these studies, and in March 2005 received a PhD in engineering from the Doshisha University Graduate School. Conducted noise prediction research as a visiting researcher at Michigan Technological University from 1992 to 1994. - • In 2002, became the Manager of Electronics Development Center, promoting the consolidation and integration of controllers and electronic control for all Yanmar products, and promoted and realized the remote monitoring of agricultural and construction machinery, marine products, etc. Promoted to Executive Principal in 2009. Appointed Director of Research & Development Center in 2011. Appointed as the General Manager of Agricultural Business Unit in 2012, renewed tractors, combines, and rice transplanters and introduced them to the market as YT Tractors, YH Combines, and YR Rice Transplanters. Appointed as the Manager of Electronic Control Development Division in 2016. Became the Deputy Group General Manager of Innovation and Technology Division from 2017.
- • Currently Director at Yanmar Ventures Co., Ltd., concurrently with Director of Kansai Electronics Industry Association and Director of Embedded System Industry Promotion Organization
Sebastiaan Masselink
- Senior Investment Manager,
Investment Department,
Investment Division
- • More than 25 years of experience in illiquid equity investments, both in listed and private markets.
- • Started his career at ABN AMRO / Hoare Govett (NL / UK), and holds an MSc in Business Management from Rijks University Groningen (NL) . Since 2017 Sebastiaan is also part time senior researcher at HVHL University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands , in sustainable agriculture transitions & startups.
- • Worked at Kempen & Company, 7 years as managing director of the New York (USA) based activist equity practice, and after that 5 years as founding managing director of the Cleantech Equity business unit (Amsterdam) focusing on renewable energy, biobased solutions, recycling etc.
- • For 8 years, has managed private impact investments at Cardano Asset Management (NL/UK) for European institutional Investors and family offices, with a focus on in sustainable energy transition and sustainable food and agriculture.
- • In March 2025, joined Yanmar Ventures and belongs to the Investment Team in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Sota Tsutsuki
- Senior Capitalist
- Investment
- • Following the graduation from graduate school, joined JX Nippon Oil & Energy (now ENEOS). For eight years, worked as an electrical engineer at the Negishi Refinery and Chita Refinery with responsibility for the maintenance of electrical equipment, new construction design, and construction management. In 2019, transitioned to CVC department, where engaged in collaboration with domestic startups and investment operations. From 2022, based in Silicon Valley, US, where focused on investing in global startups centered on North America, with notable investments in startups specializing in reuse battery technologies and next-generation transportation.
- • In February 2025, returned to Japan and joined Yanmar Ventures. Belongs to the Investment, leveraging the experience from previous job to invest in and develop networks with domestic and international startups.
- • Completed the Electronic and Electrical Network Course in the Department of Physics and Information Engineering at Yokohama National University Graduate School. Certified Class 2 Chief Electric Engineer, Certified SME Management Consultant, and Certified Energy Manager.
Ryuji Kurosaki
- Associate
- Investment
- • After completing the masters, joined Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support with responsibilities for planning new businesses for corporations and supporting investment/collaboration for startups (Due Diligence, Market Research). Also managed the branding and PR of innovation related programs and events hosted by the public sector. Later then, in charge of the dissemination as well as the implementation of the Venture Client Model to Japanese corporations.
- • In March 2025, joined Yanmar Ventures. Belongs to the Investment, being in charge of sourcing and investing in both domestic and international startups.
- • Graduated from the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University as a Plant Biosciences major focusing on Biotechnology.
Saya Kimura
- Senior Staff to the CEO
- Corporate Planning
- Juris Doctor
- • Graduated from the Faculty of Law (Department of Law), Keio University, and joined Yanmar Co., Ltd. (now Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.). In the Legal Division, engaged in international legal affairs, particularly U.S. product-liability litigation, and won U.S. product-liability litigation (incl. Yanmar Co., Ltd. v. Slater, 2012 Ark. 36, 386 S.W.3d 439). While practicing law, completed Osaka Gakuin University Law School and earned a Juris Doctor.
- • In 2013, moved to the Corporate Planning Division of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., engaging mainly in cross-border M&A (7 overseas, 2 domestic) and supporting medium-term strategic planning and Group reform projects. In 2018, joined a Family Office, providing support including business succession.
- • Since 2021, concurrently served as Senior Staff for CEO in Corporate Planning at Yanmar Ventures Co., Ltd.; since 2025 in a primary capacity. Currently, as the Corporate Planning function of the CVC, oversees back-office operations across corporate planning, finance & accounting, HR & labor, general affairs, legal, and marketing.
- • Juris Doctor
