Organization · Corporate Venture Capital

NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc.

NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. is a corporate venture capital firm based in Tokyo, Japan, focusing on investing in startups globally across various sectors including telecommunications, AI, and IoT. It aims to foster innovation through collaboration with the NTT Group.

Corporate Venture CapitalFunderEvent host

Overview

What NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. does

What NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. is

NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. is a corporate venture capital firm based in Tokyo, Japan, focusing on investing in startups globally across various sectors including telecommunications, AI, and IoT. It aims to foster innovation through collaboration with the NTT Group.

How it participates in the startup ecosystem

The current public profile supports funder and event host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.

Operational profile

Organization status and context

Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.

Operational status
Active
Organization type
Corporate Venture Capital
Founded
Founded in 2008
Approximate age
About 18 years
Structured capabilities
Funder · Event host
Last reviewed
May 4, 2026

Official channels

Find NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. elsewhere

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Capability profile

NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. as a funder

Investment thesis

NTT DOCOMO Ventures invests in B2C and B2B startups with a focus on financial returns and co-creation potential with NTT Group. The firm emphasizes advanced technologies and digital transformation solutions across various sectors.

Focus narrative

NTT DOCOMO Ventures invests in startups across various sectors, including telecommunications, AI, cloud computing, and mobility. The firm operates globally, with a focus on regions such as North America, Europe, Israel, and Asia. It supports investments in early-stage to growth-stage companies, emphasizing advanced technologies and digital transformation solutions.

Value beyond capital

NTT DOCOMO Ventures adds value to its portfolio companies through access to the extensive resources and capabilities of the NTT Group, facilitating co-creation opportunities that enhance business development and market reach. The firm also provides strategic guidance and support in navigating technological advancements and market challenges.

Terms and economics

Typical check
$1,000,000–$20,000,000
Sweet spot
$5,000,000

Focus and fit

Stages
Seed · Series A · Series B · Growth Equity
Regions
Global · North America · Europe · Asia

Availability

Currently deploying
Yes

Portfolio and track record

Recorded portfolio count
30
Recorded notable exits
Coinbase and Mist Systems

Portfolio context

Notable portfolio companies include: aCommerce (marketing platform in Asia, invested since 2013), Gengo, Inc. (translation service in North America, invested since 2013), Doppel, Inc. (digital risk protection platform, invested in 2025), HappyRobot Inc. (AI worker platform, invested in 2025), Commonwealth Fusion Systems, LLC (fusion energy company, invested in 2025), ElevenLabs, Inc. (AI voice generation platform, invested in 2025), Wasabi Technologies, Inc. (object storage service, invested in 2019), Otonomo Technologies Ltd. (connected car data marketplace, invested in 2017), Auth0, Inc. (authentication security service, invested in 2017), and TrackR, Inc. (lost item prevention tag, invested in 2017).

Capability profile

NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. as an event host

Event focus

NTT DOCOMO Ventures invests in a variety of sectors including big data, fintech, marketing, entertainment, energy, healthcare, robotics, IoT, web3, XR, security, communication, mobility, deep tech, SaaS, AI, and digital transformation (DX). The firm operates corporate venture funds and has been active in the venture capital space for over a decade, targeting innovative technologies and solutions globally, particularly in Japan, North America, Europe, Israel, and Asia.

Format narrative

NTT DOCOMO Ventures runs a structured engagement pathway for founders, including monthly pitch events, annual flagship events, and topical seminars. The firm actively engages with startups through various formats to foster collaboration and investment.

Participant value

NTT DOCOMO Ventures offers startups not only financial investment but also the opportunity for co-creation with the NTT Group, leveraging its extensive resources and market presence to accelerate business development.

Format and cadence

Event types
summit and pitch-night
Recurrence
monthly
Modality
in-person
Startups can present
Yes

Availability

Registration state
Accepting
Next recorded event
June 1, 2026
Next event location
Tokyo

Audience and fit

Selection criteria
open
Stages
Pre-seed · Seed · Series A · Series B · Series C
Audience
Founders · Investors

Speakers and past editions

Speakers

Key team members include Takuya Takagi, Christopher Hermanowicz, and Neil Sadaranganey, all of whom have extensive experience in venture capital and technology.

Past editions

The firm has hosted 67 editions of its monthly pitch event series, showcasing diverse startups and their innovations. The most recent annual flagship event, NTT DOCOMO VENTURES DAY, took place on February 19, 2026.

Common questions

What to know about NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc.

Upseed classifies NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc. under the Corporate Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and event host capabilities.

Next step

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Source and update disclosure

Know what this page is based on

Source basis

Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.

Last reviewed

May 4, 2026

Known limits

Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.

Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.