The famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo, where more than 100 people pass by in front, behind, on both sides.
The people involved in Pitaru said that this is "the center of innovative startups in Japan." Among them, we were able to take photos of the scramble intersection, which was bustling with people.
Across from the tea ceremony franchise coffee shop is a startup community called "Hive Shibuya." Hive Shibuya is a startup community run by Z Ventures, a company that belongs to the LINE Yahoo Group.
It was jointly funded by ZVC Capital (ZVC), Southeast Asian venture capital firm East Ventures, and Japanese real estate company Sun Frontier.
When you enter Hive Shibuya, the first thing that catches your eye is the space where the staff of the tenant companies gather to work and the rest area with a view of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
There is also a meeting space for East Ventures and ZVC, which have 25 portfolio companies. East Ventures invests in the space first, and then the companies are established.
The structure is that ZVC will participate in the investment when the company grows to a certain level. The period during which companies can move into Hive Shibuya is about one year. About 80 startup companies have passed through here so far.
"Frontier is structured to support a kind of startup incubation space," he said, explaining that companies that grow here will move their headquarters to Roppongi or Akasaka.
They hold pitch events for young founders from around the world and provide offices to outstanding companies, among other practical benefits. In recent years, the Japanese investment industry has also been focusing on artificial intelligence in line with global trends.
More and more investment companies are focusing on AI and big tech investments, and there is a growing trend to invest in startups with a view to expanding globally.
For example, ZVC is a Korean AI service platform company that recently attracted investment of 100 billion won (approximately 10 billion yen).
The company has also invested in Luton Technologies, a company that is accelerating its expansion into the world, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia, following Japan.
Leaving Hive Shibuya, crossing the Shibuya Scramble Crossing and arriving at Shibuya Station, you'll find the Shibuya Sky Observatory, packed with tourists.
The building comes into view. Right next to the building is a space for many startup companies. There are about 300 projects here that are in the early stages of being founded and have not yet been incorporated.
In addition to the above, about 80 companies are based here. It is a large facility that is not only home to local governments but also major corporate sponsors.
The area around Shibuya Station is in the midst of redevelopment and is crowded in many places.
They explain that this is where startup community spaces established by venture capital firms around the world are gathering. A local venture capital firm said, "It's like Silicon Valley.
"Like Le, there are periodic events for startups and venture capitalists in Shibuya," he said. "Not just general meetings, but coffee chats."
"There are a variety of events, from small events to social events in various formats," he said. For example, Hive Shibuya hosts a matching event called Venture Capital Scramble.
There are a variety of venture capital firms, from early stage investment firms to late stage venture capital firms, and venture capital firms specializing in specific sectors such as deep tech and healthcare.
Many investment companies will participate. There are corporate venture capital firms affiliated with large companies, as well as local venture capital firms that invest globally, providing global founders with the opportunity to raise funds.
Meetings are offered.
2025/04/05 07:10 KST
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