Japanese IT services and equipment maker Fujitsu is investing 15 billion yen ($104 million) in its second corporate venture capital fund, which includes an impact focus. The company launched its corporate venture strategy in 2021 with a 10 billion yen first fund to invest in startups in Japan, the US, Europe and Israel.
The venture group, Fujitsu Ventures, expanded its mandate last year to include impact investing. Its first impact investment was in Tokyo-based microfinance Gojo & Company, which serves micro to medium-sized businesses and individuals, 96% of whom are women, spread across 14 countries in Asia, the Caucasus and Africa.
Japanese impact
Japan’s impact investing market grew 150% last year over 2023, reaching 15.7 trillion yen. Propelling the growth: capital from eight major banks and life insurance companies. Venture funds account for 28% of market players by number of firms.
The scope of issues Japanese impact investors focus on remains narrow: Three-quarters of Japanese impact capital goes to investments in climate change mitigation.
