EdgeCortix Completes Initial Close of Series B Financing, Driving Total Funding to Nearly $100 Million USD
EdgeCortix, an edge AI semiconductor startup that our company has invested in, has announced the initial close of its Series B funding round.
Global Hands-On VC (GHOVC) was established by those with extensive entrepreneurial and startup management experience to provide hands-on support for Japanese technology startups to go global.
Our goal is to help create unicorn companies out of Japan by providing hands-on support to startups with unique technologies until they are able to spread their wings on the world stage.
We believe that the potential of Japanese startups has yet to be fully realized. In order for Japanese startups to become unicorns, we believe that they need to expand their businesses not only for domestic demand, but also for the global market.
The international GHOVC team has extensive experience in startup management and is looking to support startups challenging the global markets.
If you have any questions about GHOVC or would like to discuss an investment,
please contact us here.
EdgeCortix, an edge AI semiconductor startup that our company has invested in, has announced the initial close of its Series B funding round.
OEdgeCortix, an edge AI semiconductor startup that our company has invested in, has been selected for a 3 billion yen project by NEDO.
GHOVC relocated to its new base at the 'Tokyo Venture Capital Hub' within Azabudai Hills, effective May 20, 2025.
Our portfolio company philduct inc. a Tokyo Medical and Dental University spin-off operating the digital mouthpiece orthodontic brand 'DPEARL,' has completed a funding round
Our portfolio company Integral AI inc., an AI startup, was featured in Asahi Shimbun.
Our portfolio startup Paronym's next-generation product placement model was featured in the media.
Founder / Managing Partner
Co-founded VC in Silicon Valley
ex-Managing Director of $21B Japanese government fund
Multiple start-up related advisor for Japanese government
Founder / Managing Partner
Serial Entrepreneur with successful IPO and M&A track record
The aggregate corporate value exceeds $3 billion
Specialized in engineering, sales and marketing, at major systems and software companies
Founding Partner
Founding member of Oracle Japan, Salesforce Japan, Marketo Japan, JVCA, etc.
Only Japanese venture investor selected in Midas List
Founder /CEO of Sunbridge
Founding Partner
Global Product Development Experiences at DEC, Microsoft, Google
Help Start-ups and large enterprise companies for product development and organization development
Founder of Tably
Founding Partner
Director, US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University (since 1994)
Senior Fellow, Mitsubishi Research Institute & Mentor, Stanford Angel and Entrepreneur
Advisor and committee member of national S&T funding programs, research institutions and global nonprofits in Japan, Thailand, Canada and France.
Advisor to startups and business accelerators in Canada, U.S., Japan, S. Korea, and China
Founder / Managing Partner
Founder / Managing Partner
Why are people attracted to entrepreneurship?
GHOVC's Founder and Managing Partner, Shri Dodani, has achieved remarkable success, having founded six companies in Silicon Valley. He sold his first company to Intel for $550 million in less than two years and later led another startup to a $1.5 billion IPO as CEO. We asked Shri Dodani, “Why did you decide to start a business?"
Mr. Yasunaga was a lead investor of Series B finance and becomes a board member. Since then, he has worked as a member of the team in management, operations, organization construction (including recruitment), strategic partnership, and finance. He played several important roles in our team. Especially in finance, I am convinced that the success of financing from Nvidia and Google, which is unprecedented in Japan, is impossible without Mr. Yasunaga. He pays a great respect to the management member (entrepreneurs).
He is one of best partners who finds and solves fundamental problems while giving due consideration to each of various stakeholders.
Shri has been one of the few advisors who has been with us from Seed stage to our current C round, helping with operation, product, technology, recruiting, strategic partnership, fundraising and founders led company building. As an entrepreneur, he works with not only founders but many team members without telling them what to do but asking the questions and guiding them to make tough decisions on technology, goto market and investment decisions.
Even when he is running his company he always has time as one of our Go To Advisor when we have to solve problems”
Ken and Shri are prolific investors who have played a key role in bridging silicon valley and Japan. Ken was an early investor in Atonarp and played a key role in building the company. Ken and Shri worked very closely with the management team in crafting the product, go to market, customer acquisition, and financing strategy.
They are always upfront, their opinions or inputs are always unbiased, On a personal note, I learned a lot from Ken and Shri.
Over the past 6 years, Cloudian has grown from a Japanese startup into a global business with 500 enterprise customers, 60% in the US, 30% in EMEA, and 10% in APAC.
Yasunaga-san was a key part of our success as an early investor and board member. Managing a rapidly growing enterprise infrastructure business is both complicated at best and stomach churning at worst. When we had a major customer challenge, Yasunaga-san spoke at our all hands to re-assure our employees. His years of experience in both Japan and Silicon Valley taught him that no one makes perfect decisions every time, so he stays committed and supports the management team regardless of the circumstances. Yasunaga-san knows how to simultaneously provide both advice and support, which is a rare trait among investors. In addition to Cloudian, Yasunaga-san helped several other Japanese startups go global as well, and their CEOs shared similar positive experience as I did. If you are looking to grow a Japanese startup globally, Yasunaga-san is one of the best investors you can get.
