Samurai Incubate
Tokyo venture investor that funds seed and early-stage startups through its Samurai Incubate funds, and runs the STARTUP RUNWAY network linking regional startups with investors and banks.
Samurai Incubate at a glance
| Established | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Address | 4F, Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B, 5-9-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
| Programmes | 4 standing programmes |
| Stages supported | Growth |
| Equity | 0 of 3 programmes that state a policy take no equity |
| Official website | samurai-incubate.asia |
Which Samurai Incubate programme fits you
4 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samurai Incubate Fund No. 7 | Seed and early-stage startups, mainly ICT-based businesses with potential in Japan and overseas. | — | — | — | Takes equity |
| Samurai Growth Fund 1 | Middle and late-stage companies, mainly in Japan. | Growth | — | — | Takes equity |
| Samurai Africa Fund 2 | Seed and early-stage startups in African countries. | — | — | — | Takes equity |
| STARTUP RUNWAYWith Regional VCs, Corporate VCs, Banks, Public bodies | Startups in the regions the network covers. | — | — | — | — |
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at Samurai Incubate, separate from the funding calls above.
Venture fund that invests in seed and early-stage startups, mainly ICT-based businesses with potential in Japan, and is currently in operation.
Best for: Seed and early-stage startups, mainly ICT-based businesses with potential in Japan and overseas.
- Takes equity
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Samurai Incubate Fund No. 7 is the company's fund currently in operation. It was set up in March 2022 and invests in seed and early-stage startups, mainly businesses that use ICT and could affect Japanese industry and later expand overseas.
What you get
- Equity investment from the fund
- Follow-on investment in later rounds
Who can apply
- Seed and early-stage startups
- Businesses across a broad range of sectors that use ICT
- Overseas-incorporated startups are also considered, according to the fund page, although the main vehicles are described as Japan-centred
How selection works: The company says decisions take about one to three months. The site does not describe its selection criteria.
How to apply: Send a pitch deck and a document showing your shareholder structure through the fundraising consultation on the contact page. Ideas that are not yet incorporated can send a written business outline instead.
Growth-stage fund for middle and late-stage companies, set up in August 2024 and still forming, with its first close completed.
Best for: Middle and late-stage companies, mainly in Japan.
- Growth
- Takes equity
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Samurai Growth Fund 1 is the company's growth-stage fund. It was set up in August 2024 and is listed as forming, with its first close completed. The fund table describes it as focused on middle and late-stage companies in Japan.
Who can apply
- Middle and late-stage companies, mainly in Japan
How to apply: The site does not say how to apply to this fund. Its general route for fundraising is the fundraising consultation on the contact page.
Seed and early-stage fund for startups in African countries, set up in January 2020 and currently in operation.
Best for: Seed and early-stage startups in African countries.
- Takes equity
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Samurai Africa Fund 2 invests in seed and early-stage startups in African countries. It was set up in January 2020 and is listed as in operation.
Who can apply
- Startups in African countries only
How to apply: Enquiries about Africa go to the company's Africa team, which handles them under Samurai Africa Fund. The Incubate Fund does not handle African deals.
STARTUP RUNWAY
PlatformRegional network that connects startups with regional VCs, corporate VCs, banks and public bodies for investment, loans and business matching.
Best for: Startups in the regions the network covers.
With Regional VCs, Corporate VCs, Banks, Public bodies
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
STARTUP RUNWAY is a regional startup network that Samurai Incubate operates. It began in 2020 in Chugoku-Shikoku and has expanded to Chubu, Tohoku, Ryukyu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Kanto, Kansai and Hokuriku. The company says it now covers nine areas and 240 organisations in Japan and abroad. The Kansai launch began on 21 May 2026, with regional banks and VCs working together.
What you get
- Opportunities for investment, loans and business matching with regional investors, banks and public bodies
Who can apply
The site does not state eligibility for STARTUP RUNWAY.
How to apply: The site does not say how a startup joins the network.
How to apply to Samurai Incubate
Choosing the right route
- Samurai Incubate Fund No. 7 is the fund currently in operation for seed and early-stage startups, mainly ICT-based businesses.
- Samurai Growth Fund 1 is for middle and late-stage companies and is still forming.
- Samurai Africa Fund 2 is only for African startups.
- STARTUP RUNWAY is a regional network rather than an application route. The site does not say how a startup joins it.
Before you write
- The site does not say whether it invests in companies based in India. Ask this before you prepare a full pitch.
- If your company is incorporated outside Japan, check the point with the team. The main vehicles are described as Japan-centred, but the Incubate Fund also invests in overseas-incorporated startups.
How to apply
- Use the fundraising consultation option on the contact page.
- Attach a pitch deck and a document that shows your shareholder structure.
- If you are not yet incorporated, a written outline of the business is enough.
What the company looks for
- The site does not describe its selection criteria. Its stated focus is seed to early-stage businesses that use ICT and could affect Japanese industry.
About Samurai Incubate
Samurai Incubate Inc. (株式会社サムライインキュベート) is a venture capital firm based in Tokyo, founded in 2008. It invests in seed and early-stage startups through a series of funds, and it runs STARTUP RUNWAY, a regional network that connects startups with venture capital firms, corporate venture arms, banks and public bodies.
How its programmes work
Most of its activity is equity investment through funds. Samurai Incubate Fund No. 7 is the fund listed as in operation for seed and early-stage startups. It was set up in March 2022 and invests mainly in businesses that use ICT and could affect Japanese industry and later expand overseas. Samurai Growth Fund 1 was set up in August 2024 for middle and late-stage companies. The company lists it as still forming, with its first close completed. Samurai Africa Fund 2, set up in January 2020, invests in seed and early-stage startups in African countries and is listed as in operation.
The earlier vehicles, Samurai Incubate Fund No. 1 to No. 6 and Samurai Africa Fund 1, have ended or finished their investment periods. The company's own figures show these funds invested in between 9 and 61 startups each.
The company's pages give different totals for the startups it has invested in or supported. The fund page says more than 250, across 10 countries. The portfolio page header shows 258 startups. Both are the company's own figures, and neither has been checked independently.
Its main vehicles are described as Japan-centred. The fund page also says the Incubate Fund invests in startups incorporated outside Japan. Ask the team about this before you assume either reading.
STARTUP RUNWAY began in 2020 in the Chugoku-Shikoku region. It aims to shorten the distance between regional startups and regional VCs, CVCs, banks and public bodies, so that founders can find investment, loans and business matching. The network has since expanded to Chubu, Tohoku, Ryukyu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Kanto, Kansai and Hokuriku. A Kansai launch started on 21 May 2026, with regional banks and VCs working together. The company says the network now covers nine areas and 240 organisations in Japan and abroad. A national website for the network went live in October 2026.
Who can apply
The Incubate Fund mainly invests in seed to early-stage startups, with a focus on businesses that use ICT across a broad range of sectors. Samurai Growth Fund 1 is focused on middle and late-stage companies. Samurai Africa Fund 2 is for startups in African countries only, and African enquiries are handled by the company's Africa team rather than by the Incubate Fund.
The site does not say whether the company invests in companies based in India. It does not state eligibility rules for STARTUP RUNWAY either.
How to apply
Use the fundraising consultation option on the company's contact page. Attach a pitch deck and a document that shows your shareholder structure. If your company is not yet incorporated, a written outline of the business is acceptable.
How selection works
The company says decisions take about one to three months. The site does not describe its selection criteria.
Scale
The company reported 11 employees, including part-time staff, as of April 2024.
Who runs it
Kentaro Sakakibara is the representative director. In May 2026, Kentaro Sakakibara was appointed to the regional revitalisation committee of the Japan Venture Capital Association.
Locations
The head office is on the fourth floor of Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B, 5-9-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo. The company also lists overseas areas in Israel, with Tel Aviv named, and across Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa.
Who they work with
Tags
The team
Kentaro Sakakibara
Representative Director
Frequently asked questions about Samurai Incubate
What is Samurai Incubate?
Samurai Incubate is a venture capital investor based in Tokyo.
What does Samurai Incubate do?
Samurai Incubate Inc. (株式会社サムライインキュベート) is a venture capital firm based in Tokyo, founded in 2008. It invests in seed and early-stage startups through a series of funds, and it runs STARTUP RUNWAY, a regional network that connects startups with venture capital firms, corporate venture arms, banks and public bodies.
Where is Samurai Incubate located?
Samurai Incubate is located at 4F, Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B, 5-9-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
What programs does Samurai Incubate run?
Samurai Incubate runs Samurai Incubate Fund No. 7, Samurai Growth Fund 1, Samurai Africa Fund 2 and STARTUP RUNWAY.
Does Samurai Incubate take equity?
It depends on the programme. and undefined take no equity, while Samurai Incubate Fund No. 7, Samurai Growth Fund 1 and Samurai Africa Fund 2 take equity.
How do I apply to Samurai Incubate?
- Samurai Incubate Fund No. 7 is the fund currently in operation for seed and early-stage startups, mainly ICT-based businesses. - Samurai Growth Fund 1 is for middle and late-stage companies and is still forming. - Samurai Africa Fund 2 is only for African startups. - STARTUP RUNWAY is a regional network rather than an application route. The site does not say how a startup joins it.
Who runs Samurai Incubate?
Kentaro Sakakibara (Representative Director).
When was Samurai Incubate founded?
Samurai Incubate was founded in 2008. It is a venture capital investor.
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