Globis Capital Partners
Professional services
UnclaimedA Japanese hands-on venture capital firm investing in and supporting technology and growth companies.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Globis Capital Partners, commonly known as GCP, is a Japanese private venture capital firm headquartered in Banchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is part of the broader Globis Group and focuses on investing in Japanese startups and growth companies while providing operational assistance beyond capital. The firm describes its approach as hands-on: in addition to supplying financing, it supports portfolio companies with organizational development, senior executive recruitment, management systems, and international expansion. GCP began in 1996 when Yoshito Hori established a venture capital activity within Globis Corporation. Its first vehicle, the GLOBIS Incubation Fund, raised ¥540 million. Globis Corporation, Hori as general partner, and Soichi Kariyazono as managing partner supplied part of the initial capital, while institutional and corporate investors supplied the balance. Sega Enterprises chairman Isao Okawa was among the early corporate backers. The firm expanded its institutional profile in 1999, when Alan Patricof of Apax Patricof selected Globis as its Japanese partner. The two organizations formed Apax Globis Partners & Co., which raised the Apax Globis Japan Fund. The joint venture invested in Japanese technology and internet businesses, including Works Applications and Gonzo Digimation Holdings. In April 2004, the joint venture adopted the name Globis Capital Partners. In 2006, GCP established a separate advisory company to oversee its funds, creating a clearer organizational distinction from Globis Corporation. Over subsequent fund cycles, GCP invested across enterprise software, online services, marketplaces, consumer internet, education technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, supply-chain technology, digital healthcare, climate technology, and other technology-enabled sectors. Its portfolio has included Gree, KAYAC, Quipper, Lancers, SmartNews, Mercari, Uzabase, Creema, AI Medical Service, CADDi, Telexistence, Josys, Gojo & Company, Orange, estie, Ookuma Diamond Device, Sun Metalon, Knowhere, Tensor Energy, and Manabie. These investments range from early-stage venture rounds to later growth financings. GCP has raised additional funds in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022. According to the cited reference material, it managed cumulative fund capital of more than ¥180 billion as of April 2023 and had invested in more than 200 Japanese companies by that year. The firm also operates programs intended to strengthen the startup ecosystem. In 2019 it created G-STARTUP, an accelerator designed around an ambition to help produce 100 unicorn companies. By 2023, the program had supported 173 startups. In 2020, GCP launched GCP X, a value-added team focused on organizational development, CXO recruitment, and operating support. GCP has increasingly supported portfolio companies seeking international growth. In April 2024 it opened a San Francisco office to assist Japanese portfolio companies with overseas expansion. Its 2022 fund was also notable for attracting Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund, which disclosed an investment in the vehicle, described in the reference material as the first such investment by GPIF in a Japanese venture capital fund. GCP remains an active private investment organization rather than a publicly traded operating company.
History
Globis Capital Partners was founded in 1996 by Yoshito Hori as a hands-on venture capital activity within Globis Corporation. The initial GLOBIS Incubation Fund raised ¥540 million, with contributions from Globis Corporation, Hori, managing partner Soichi Kariyazono, and outside institutional and corporate investors. Early backing included an investment associated with Isao Okawa, chairman of Sega Enterprises. The original purpose was to provide capital and practical support to Japanese startup companies. In 1999, the firm entered an international partnership with Apax Patricof. Alan Patricof selected Globis as Apax's local Japanese partner, leading to the formation of Apax Globis Partners & Co. The resulting Apax Globis Japan Fund raised $187 million and gave the organization a larger institutional platform. Investments from this period included enterprise software company Works Applications and animation producer Gonzo Digimation Holdings. The joint venture changed its name to Globis Capital Partners in April 2004. In 2006, following the raising of GLOBIS Fund III, Globis Capital Partners Co., Ltd. was established as an independent advisory company responsible for overseeing the fund-management business. This separated the investment advisory operation from Globis Corporation while retaining the connection to the Globis Group. GCP continued building a Japan-focused portfolio through the 2000s and 2010s. Its investments covered internet media, mobile and online services, software, education, marketplaces, business intelligence, and emerging mobility technologies. Examples include Gree, KAYAC, Quipper, Lancers, SmartNews, GLM, Mercari, Uzabase, and Creema. The firm participated in both early financing rounds and larger later-stage rounds as companies expanded. Additional funds were raised in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022. During this period GCP expanded beyond conventional venture financing by developing programs for company building and portfolio support. In 2019 it launched G-STARTUP, an accelerator with an ambition to help create 100 unicorn companies. In 2020 it announced GCP X, a specialized team intended to help portfolio companies with organizational design, CXO-level hiring, and operational execution. The investment strategy broadened further in the 2020s. GCP backed companies in supply-chain technology, robotics, software and device management, artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, financial inclusion, manga localization, real-estate data, advanced materials, renewable-energy software, and education technology. Notable later investments included CADDi, Telexistence, Josys, Gojo & Company, Orange, estie, Ookuma Diamond Device, Sun Metalon, Knowhere, Tensor Energy, and Manabie. GCP's 2022 fund attracted attention because Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund disclosed an investment in the vehicle. The reference material identifies this as GPIF's first investment in a Japanese venture capital fund. By April 2023, GCP was reported to manage more than ¥180 billion in cumulative fund capital, with investments in over 200 Japanese companies. In April 2024, it opened a San Francisco office to support the overseas growth of its portfolio companies. The firm therefore combines a Japan-centered investment mandate with an increasingly international support role.
- 2024
San Francisco office opens
[1]GCP established a local San Francisco presence to assist portfolio companies with global expansion.
- 2022
Latest fund attracts GPIF investment
[1]GPIF disclosed an investment in GCP's latest venture fund.
- 2020
GCP X launches
[1]The firm formed a dedicated portfolio-support team for organization building, executive recruitment, and operations.
- 2019
G-STARTUP launches
[1]GCP created an accelerator program intended to support startups and help produce unicorn companies.
- 2006
Independent advisory company established
[1]Globis Capital Partners Co., Ltd. was established as a separate advisory company to oversee the funds.
- 2004
Name changes to Globis Capital Partners
[1]Apax Globis Partners & Co. adopted the Globis Capital Partners name.
- 1999
Apax Globis partnership formed
[1]Globis became Apax Patricof's Japanese partner, creating Apax Globis Partners & Co. and raising the Apax Globis Japan Fund.
- 1996
GLOBIS Incubation Fund is established
[1]Yoshito Hori founded GCP within Globis Corporation and launched an initial ¥540 million incubation fund.
Products and positioning
A Japan-focused, hands-on venture capital platform combining institutional fund management with practical support for company building, executive recruitment, organizational development, and international expansion.
Venture capital funds · 1996
GCP venture capital funds
A series of private funds investing primarily in Japanese startups and growth companies. The funds have covered enterprise software, online services, marketplaces, education, artificial intelligence, robotics, healthcare, supply-chain technology, climate technology, and other technology-enabled sectors. GCP combines equity financing with active portfolio-company support.
Portfolio support · 2020
GCP X
A specialized support function announced in 2020. GCP X assists portfolio companies with organizational development, CXO-level recruitment, and operational issues that arise as startups scale.
Startup accelerator · 2019
G-STARTUP
An accelerator program established by GCP in 2019. It is designed to support startup founders and companies through guidance, networks, and access to the Globis ecosystem, with a stated ambition of contributing to the creation of 100 unicorn companies.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019G-STARTUP
Japan
GCP launched G-STARTUP as a startup accelerator aimed at supporting ambitious companies and helping develop a large population of potential unicorns.
Outcome. The reference material states that 173 startups had received support by 2023.
Brand decisions
2024
Open a San Francisco officeStrategyBackground
Japanese portfolio companies increasingly sought overseas customers, partners, and capital.
Action taken
GCP established a local San Francisco office to support international expansion.
Aftermath
The office extended GCP's portfolio-support infrastructure beyond Japan.
2020
Establish GCP XStrategyBackground
Portfolio companies needed support with scaling organizations, hiring senior leaders, and improving operations.
Action taken
GCP formed GCP X as a dedicated value-added team.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened GCP's role from capital provider to operating and organizational partner.
1999
Create a Japan-focused joint venture with ApaxStrategyBackground
Globis sought to expand its venture capital platform and connect Japanese startup investing with international institutional capital.
Action taken
It partnered with Apax Patricof to form Apax Globis Partners & Co. and raise a dedicated Japan fund.
Aftermath
The partnership produced a larger institutional fund and preceded the eventual adoption of the Globis Capital Partners name.
Fund size. $187 million (1999)
Recent events
Sources2 sources
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