B Dash Ventures

B Dash Ventures is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm founded in 2011 by CEO Hiroyuki Watanabe, operating from Minato-ku. The firm invests in seed through late-stage technology startups that it believes will define the next generation of the internet, with a primary focus on Japan and an expanding presence across Asia-Pacific and the United States. B Dash has deployed capital across six funds — B Dash Fund I through V and additional vehicles — and leads rounds with checks averaging $3 million and ranging up to $10 million. The firm has invested in 92 companies, producing 3 IPOs and 7 acquisitions. Notable portfolio companies include Gumi Inc in gaming (IPO), Liquid Global in cryptocurrency exchange (IPO), Mynet Inc in mobile games (IPO), and Newmo, which raised a $41.1 million Series A. Limited partners include Japan's largest technology companies and financial institutions: NTT Docomo, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, GREE, NEC BIGLOBE, Fuji Television, and the Japanese government — a LP roster that underscores the firm's institutional credibility in the Japanese market. B Dash Ventures also provides incubation support through B Dash Lab, an office space for early-stage startups, giving it touchpoints with companies before formal investment. The firm covers media and entertainment, fintech, gaming, software, web3, and consumer technology, reflecting the breadth of Japan's tech ecosystem. Its deep relationships with major Japanese corporations and its track record of producing public companies make it a reference-point early-stage institution for technology investing in Japan.