Sony Innovation Fund
Profile, fund size and portfolio
Sony Innovation Fund is the corporate venture arm of Sony Group Corporation (electronics, entertainment and financial services). It was founded in 2016 and is based in Tokyo, Japan. It invests at Seed in deepTech, entertainment, enterpriseTech.
Every figure links to its source
Snapshot
Data behind this graphic
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Seed to Seed |
| Sectors | DeepTech, Entertainment, EnterpriseTech, Fintech/DLT, ClimateTech, Location-based entertainment |
| Geography | Asia, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (Portfolio companies by region, from the firm's portfolio page) |
| Offices | Tokyo, Japan |
Sources: S8 Sony press release: Sony Establishes Sony Innovation Fund: Environment (10 Sep 2020); S2 Sony Innovation Fund About; S4 Sony Innovation Fund Portfolio.
Data behind this graphic
| Item | Companies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| iot | 41 | 16.7% |
| entertainment | 40 | 16.3% |
| fintech | 32 | 13% |
| medical | 31 | 12.6% |
| ai | 27 | 11% |
| deeptech | 18 | 7.3% |
| climatetech | 11 | 4.5% |
| social | 7 | 2.8% |
| mobility | 7 | 2.8% |
| drone | 6 | 2.4% |
| robotics | 6 | 2.4% |
| foodtech | 6 | 2.4% |
| agritech | 4 | 1.6% |
| edtech | 4 | 1.6% |
| sportstech | 3 | 1.2% |
| lbe | 2 | 0.8% |
| beautytech | 1 | 0.4% |
A company can carry more than one tag
Sources: S4 Sony Innovation Fund Portfolio.
Data behind this graphic
| Measure | Value | Unit | Kind | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headline size | USD 430M+ | Assets under management | Stated by the firm or its parent | S2 |
| Companies backed | 195 | companies | Stated by the firm | S4 |
| Companies on the firm's portfolio page | 195 | companies | Counted from the firm's own list | S4 |
Sources: S2 Sony Innovation Fund About; S4 Sony Innovation Fund Portfolio.
Where it invests and who leads it
Geography
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Offices
- Tokyo, Japan
Portfolio companies by regionS8S2S4
Portfolio companies by region, from the firm's portfolio page
LeadersS3
- Kazuhito HadanoChief Executive Officer, Sony Ventures CorporationFind on LinkedInFirm page
- Antonio AvitabileManaging Director EUFind on LinkedInFirm page
- Atsushi KitagawaManaging Director USFind on LinkedInFirm page
- Yoko FukataHead of IndiaFind on LinkedInFirm page
- Kwame KorantengAfricaFind on LinkedInFirm page
Key facts
| Fact | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent company | Sony Group Corporation | Single source | S2 |
| Parent industry | Electronics, entertainment and financial services | Single source | S2 |
| Founded | 2016 | Single source | S8 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan | Single source | S6 |
| Status | Active | Single source | S1 |
| Capital source | Parent and outside investors | Single source | S2 |
| Headline size | USD 430M+ (Assets under management) | Single source | S2 |
| Companies backed | 195 | Single source | S4 |
| Stages | Seed | Single source | S8 |
Fund vehicles
| Vehicle | Size | Year | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Innovation Fund (SIF) | Not published | wholly funded by Sony Group; early stage | S2 | |
| Innovation Growth Fund (IGF) | Not published | managed by Innovation Growth Ventures; Sony Group and Daiwa Investment Management; mid to late stage | S2 | |
| Sony Innovation Fund: Environment | Not published | wholly funded by Sony Group; early stage; climate, resources, chemicals, biodiversity | S2 | |
| Sony Innovation Fund 3 (SIF3) | Not published | managed by Sony Ventures Corp.; mid to late stage | S2 | |
| Sony Innovation Fund: Africa | Not published | seed to early stage startups in Africa | S2 | |
| Sony Innovation Fund 4 L.P. (SIF4) | JPY 20bn | 2026 | target final size exceeding JPY 20 billion; first closing April 2026 with MUFG Bank, Development Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, Sony Bank and Sony Group as LPs; platform AUM expected to exceed JPY 85 billion | S6 |
| Innovation Growth Fund | Not published | 2019 | launched 2019 | S6 |
| Sony Innovation Fund 3 | Not published | 2022 | launched 2022 | S6 |
| Sony Innovation Fund: Africa | Not published | 2023 | launched 2023 | S6 |
Portfolio
The firm's portfolio page lists 195 companies: 12 exited.S4
| Tag | Companies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| iot | 41 | 21% |
| entertainment | 40 | 20.5% |
| fintech | 32 | 16.4% |
| medical | 31 | 15.9% |
| ai | 27 | 13.8% |
| deeptech | 18 | 9.2% |
| climatetech | 11 | 5.6% |
| social | 7 | 3.6% |
| mobility | 7 | 3.6% |
| drone | 6 | 3.1% |
| robotics | 6 | 3.1% |
| foodtech | 6 | 3.1% |
| agritech | 4 | 2.1% |
| edtech | 4 | 2.1% |
| sportstech | 3 | 1.5% |
| lbe | 2 | 1% |
| beautytech | 1 | 0.5% |
Every company on the Sony Innovation Fund list
195 companies, as listed on the firm's own website: 183 listed, 12 exited.S4 Read the firm's list.
Listed 183
- 2D Photonics
- 3DC
- aba
- Ac-Planta
- Actioneer
- Activ Surgical
- AdHawk Microsystems
- adinte
- Adrich
- Agility Robotics
- AI Medical Service
- ALGO ARTIS
- AmicaTerra
- Analytical Flavor Systems
- Anzu
- Arkose Labs
- Asuene
- Bastion
- Bayes Holding
- Botrista
- CarePal
- Carry1st
- Chompy
- CinemaLeap
- Cinnamon
- Clausematch
- CML
- Community.com
- Congrant
- Connected Robotics
- Covr
- CREW Carbon
- Cruz Foam
- Defined.ai
- Delos
- DigiLends
- Divido
- DSP Concepts
- EDGEMATRIX
- Eigen Technologies
- elleThermo
- Embodied
- Emperia
- EXO IMAGING
- FastLabel
- Filmmakers Mart
- Fivot
- FLASH
- Flower
- FLUX
- Fotokite
- Gemesys
- Genomelink
- GetVantage
- GGWP
- GROUND
- H2L
- Hacobu
- Happy Quality
- Helical Fusion
- hokan
- Huma
- Idein
- Identiq Protocol
- Ieso Digital Health
- Illumix
- Infostellar
- Inspire High
- Iris Automation
- iXs
- Jabali
- Josys
- KAERU
- KAKEHASHI
- KAUCHE
- Kiswe
- Kitman Labs
- Koala Tech
- Kotoba Technologies
- Kyulux
- LANDR
- Leadoptik
- LENZO
- Linc'well
- LiTPLA
- LIV
- Lokal
- Luminopia
- LynQ Technologies
- MagicCube
- MainStreaming
- Mangamo
- Matternet
- Mazrica
- Medfin
- Mediphone
- Medpay
- Metcela
- MFS
- MICIN
- Midnight Labs
- Mightier
- Miles
- Minit Games
- Minma
- Mirairo
- Navya
- New Standard
- Nexus
- NOIN
- Noodle Cat Games
- Nudge
- Oishii
- Oncoustic
- pafin
- Peppy
- Phaidra
- PhotoniCare
- Pictoria
- Plunk
- PreAct
- QNuLabs
- Quantum Motion
- Rad.
- Rapyuta Robotics
- ReadyCode
- Resemble AI
- RevComm
- Ridecell
- RUN.EDGE
- Scandit
- Scriptic
- Sentera
- Shippio
- Sidero Labs
- Sight Machine
- SiLC
- Sinaptica Therapeutics
- slice
- Smart119
- Solidroad
- Sportsvisio
- STAN
- Startale
- STYLE PORT
- Superpedestrian
- SwingVision
- SynecO
- Talespin
- Talos
- Techtouch
- Theta Labs
- Tier IV
- Token
- TOONSUTRA
- TOYOKOH
- Tracklib
- Trax
- Tricog
- Trioscope
- Truepic
- TRUSTDOCK
- TWIVA
- Ubitus
- UltraSense Systems
- Urban Jungle
- UTAITE
- Varinos
- VaultN
- Verity
- Waffle Labs
- WAmazing
- Waqua
- WeRize
- wevnal
- WHAT3WORDS
- Woodstock
- Woovly
- Yellow Card
- Yellowbrick
- YOAKE entertainment
- Yoriso
- Zyla Health
Exited 12
- AirMap
- aroma bit
- Caulis
- EcoNaviSta
- Green Earth Institute
- Mobcrush
- monoAI Technology
- Senseye
- SmartDrive
- Sun Asterisk
- SUSMED
- WealthNavi
Recent rounds
| Date | Company | Round | Amount | Led by the firm | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-09 | QNu Labs | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-08-05 | YellowCard | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-08-05 | FLASH | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-07-01 | Kotoba Technologies | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-05-15 | CREW Carbon | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-04-20 | Solidroad | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-03-16 | Minit Games | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-03-11 | LENZO | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-03-11 | ReadyCode | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-03-02 | YOAKE entertainment | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-02-25 | CinemaLeap | Not stated | S5 | ||
| 2026-01-30 | Talos | Not stated | S5 |
For founders
| Item | What the firm says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stages | Seed | S8 |
| Contact form | www.sonyinnovationfund.com/contact/ | S1 |
History
- July 2016: Sony establishes the Sony Innovation Fund to invest in seed to early-stage startups.S8
- March 2019: Sony and Daiwa Capital Holdings form Innovation Growth Ventures and Innovation Growth Fund I L.P.S8
- September 2020: Sony Innovation Fund: Environment established.S8
- April 2026: Sony Ventures Corporation establishes Sony Innovation Fund 4 L.P.; first closing completed.S6
Where sources disagree
Official pages
Read the firm's own pages for current information.
- Website www.sonyinnovationfund.com
- Portfolio www.sonyinnovationfund.com/portfolio/
- LinkedIn company page www.linkedin.com/company/sonyinnovationfund
Sources
- S1Sony Innovation Fund homeFirm
- S2Sony Innovation Fund AboutFirm
- S3Sony Innovation Fund TeamFirm
- S4Sony Innovation Fund PortfolioFirm
- S5Sony Innovation Fund NewsFirm
- S6Sony Group Portal: Sony Ventures establishes Sony Innovation Fund 4 L.P. (Apr 2026)Parent company
- S8Sony press release: Sony Establishes Sony Innovation Fund: Environment (10 Sep 2020)Parent company
Disclaimer and corrections
Not affiliated. This page is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Sony Innovation Fund or any company named on it. Names and trademarks belong to their owners. Informational only. This is a public-source reference. It is not investment, legal or tax advice and not an offer or solicitation. Sources. Each figure names its source. Figures may have changed. Please read the firm's official pages, linked above. Corrections and takedown. To report an error or ask for a change or removal, use the correction form or email Richard@CorporateVentureCapital.com.
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