Twelve startups pitched to Japanese VCs and CVCs during four-day mission; Invest Seoul expands advisory and fund cooperation channels

TOKYO, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Invest Seoul, the City of Seoul's official investment promotion agency, wrapped up a four-day investor road show in Tokyo last week, bringing twelve promising Seoul-based creative-sector startups face-to-face with Japanese venture and corporate investors.

The "2026 Invest Seoul IR in Tokyo," held April 26–29, centered on startups operating in fashion, beauty, webtoons, and extended reality (XR). The twelve companies — chosen through a competitive selection process that launched in February — spent roughly a month sharpening their pitches and localizing investor materials before touching down in Japan.

Over the course of the event, the delegation completed private pitch sessions and 24 one-on-one business meetings with six Japanese VC and corporate venture capital firms, including 01Booster, ANA Holdings, BRICKS Fund Tokyo (Mitsubishi Estate's CVC arm), GLOBIS Corporation, New Commerce Ventures, and Ignition Point Venture Partners. Each startup delivered a five-minute pitch followed by a Q&A, with deeper investment discussions and partnership talks conducted in follow-up one-on-one sessions. Multiple investors requested additional materials after the meetings, a sign of genuine deal interest.

Beyond the pitch sessions, Invest Seoul used the Tokyo trip to strengthen its long-term presence in the Japanese market. The agency appointed Hideyuki Ebihara, CEO of PKSHA Algorithm Fund, as an investment advisory member — a step aimed at strengthening Invest Seoul's understanding of Japan's investment landscape on an ongoing basis. The agency also built on its existing MOU with MCP Group, a major Asian alternative asset manager, by discussing concrete follow-on investment strategies.

"This Tokyo IR served as an important platform for Seoul's creative-sector startups to present their technologies and business models to Japanese investors," said Jihyung Lee, CEO of Invest Seoul. "We do not see this as a one-off event. We will continue to use this network to support practical investment opportunities for Seoul companies and reinforce Seoul's position as a competitive destination for foreign capital."

Invest Seoul said it plans to provide tailored follow-up support for all twelve participating companies in the weeks ahead. Invest Seoul is also preparing IR programs targeting investors in the United States and Singapore in the second half of 2026, as Invest Seoul looks to widen its capital-raising pipeline for Seoul-based enterprises.