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# Sozo Ventures

Backing pioneers to navigate breakthrough markets

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.sozoventures.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Koichiro “Koh” Nakamura made the Midas List 2024 #45](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/koichiro-koh-nakamura-made-the-midas-list-2024-45/)
- [US Crypto compliance startup Chainalysis raises $6M from Japan MUFG, Sozo Ventures](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/crypto-compliance-startup-chainalysis-raises-funding-from-mufg-sozo-ventures-2/)
- [Eclipse Foods Raises Over $40 Million in Series B to Transform the Dairy Industry](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/eclipse-foods-raises-over-40-million-in-series-b-to-transform-the-dairy-industry/)
- [Koichiro “Koh” Nakamura made the Midas List 2021 #72](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/koichiro-koh-nakamura-made-the-midas-list-2021/)
- [Koichiro “Koh” Nakamura made the Midas List 2023 #55](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/koichiro-koh-nakamura-made-the-midas-list-2023-55/)
- [Koichiro “Koh” Nakamura made the Midas List 2022 #63](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/koichiro-koh-nakamura-made-the-midas-list-2022-63/)
- [Select Star closes $15M round to add context to disparate data](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/select-star-closes-15m-round-to-add-context-to-disparate-data/)
- [Carbon Robotics Raises $30 Million in Funding to Scale AI-Powered LaserWeeder™ Platform.](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/carbon-robotics-raises-30-million-in-funding-to-scale-ai-powered-laserweeder-platform/)
- [Rob Freelen Joins Sozo Ventures as a Managing Director](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/rob-freelen-joins-sozo-ventures-as-a-managing-director/)
- [Kargo receives $25 million capital infusion as investors bet startups can offer solutions to supply-chain snarls](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/kargo-receives-25-million-capital-infusion-as-investors-bet-startups-can-offer-solutions-to-supply-chain-snarls/)
- [Firebolt, a data warehouse startup, raises $100M at a $1.4B valuation for faster, cheaper analytics on large data sets](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/firebolt-a-data-warehouse-startup-raises-100m-at-a-1-4b-valuation-for-faster-cheaper-analytics-on-large-data-sets/)
- [Construction tech startup RenoRun lands $142M in Tiger Global-led Series B](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/construction-tech-startup-renorun-lands-142m-in-tiger-global-led-series-b/)
- [労務管理の米Deel、日本進出](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/労務管理の米deel、日本進出/)
- [project44 Buys Last-Mile Delivery and Customer Experience Leader](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/project44-buys-last-mile-delivery-and-customer-experience-leader/)
- [Zoom Hits First $1bn Quarter](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/zoom-hits-first-1bn-quarter/)
- [Coinbase launches in Japan](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/coinbase-launches-in-japan/)
- [Aromyx Closes $10 Million Oversubscribed Series A](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/aromyx-closes-10-million-oversubscribed-series-a/)
- [Tessian Adds New Strategic Investors to Advance Security at the Human Layer](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/tessian-adds-new-strategic-investors-to-advance-security-at-the-human-layer/)
- [Clearco gets the SoftBank stamp of approval in new $215M round](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/clearco-gets-the-softbank-stamp-of-approval-in-new-215m-round/)
- [How Palantir’s early experience in Japan helped set up its successful IPO](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/how-palantirs-early-experience-in-japan-helped-set-up-its-successful-ipo/)
- [Kargo raises $6M to smarten up loading docks for the coming wave of autonomy](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/kargo-raises-6m-to-smarten-up-loading-docks-for-the-coming-wave-of-autonomy/)
- [Project44 reels in Ocean Insights in ‘largest acquisition in visibility space’](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/project44-reels-in-ocean-insights-in-largest-acquisition-in-visibility-space/)
- [Applied Intuition シリーズC 資金調達](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/applied-intuition-シリーズc-資金調達/)
- [Applied Intuition Raises at $1.25B](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/applied-intuition-raises-at-1-25b/)
- [Spencer Foust named to Forbes 30 Under 30 2021](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/spencer-foust-named-to-forbes-30-under-30-2021/)
- [Chainalysis Raises $100M Series C at $1B+](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/chainalysis-raises-100m-series-c-at-1b/)
- [Text Marketing Startup Attentive Hits $2.2 Billion Valuation With Its Third Funding Announcement Of 2020](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/text-marketing-startup-attentive-hits-2-2-billion-valuation-with-its-third-funding-announcement-of-2020/)
- [With $100M in funding, Playco is already a mobile gaming unicorn](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/with-100m-in-funding-playco-is-already-a-mobile-gaming-unicorn/)
- [経験則に頼らぬ防災テック　AI×即時データで被害予測](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/経験則に頼らぬ防災テック　aix即時データで被害/)
- [Drishti Raises $25 Million To Go Global, led by Sozo - Forbes](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/drishti-raises-25-million-to-go-global-led-by-sozo-forbes/) - AI Manufacturing Startup Drishti Raises $25 Million To Go Global With Its Factory Floor Analytics
- [Origins of Sozo Ventures - Newspicks Feature](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/origins-of-sozo-ventures-newspicks-feature/) - The history of the premier asian expansion venture firm that officially launched in 2012 has foundations built over decades.
- [Clean Our Homes and Fold Our Clothes](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/clean-our-homes-and-fold-our-clothes/)
- [Neurotrack raises $21 million to detect and track dementia](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/neurotrack-raises-21-million-to-detect-and-track-dementia/)
- [Applied Intuition raises $40 million for autonomous vehicle simulation tools](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/applied-intuition-raises-40-million-for-autonomous-vehicle-simulation-tools/)
- [Will Silicon Valley's 'unicorns' gallop off a cliff in 2016?](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/will-silicon-valleys-unicorns-gallop-off-a-cliff-in-2016/)
- [Venture Capital Is Facing an Impending Health-Care ‘Avalanche’](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/venture-capital-is-facing-an-impending-health-care-avalanche/)
- [Start-up Flexport raises $110M as Amazon pushes into its market](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/start-up-flexport-raises-110m-as-amazon-pushes-into-its-market/)
- [Revinate Launches Hotel Industry's First Guest Data Platform For Hotels and Property Groups of All Sizes](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/revinate-launches-hotel-industrys-first-guest-data-platform-for-hotels-and-property-groups-of-all-sizes/)
- [SOMPO AND PALANTIR CO-FOUND PALANTIR JAPAN Bringing World-Class Operational Software Platform to the Japanese Market](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/sompo-and-palantir-co-found-palantir-japan-bringing-world-class-operational-software-platform-to-the-japanese-market/)
- [Palantir picks up more COVID-19 contracts, this time with the VA](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/palantir-picks-up-more-covid-19-contracts-this-time-with-the-va/)
- [How This VC Finds the Next Big Thing](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/how-this-vc-finds-the-next-big-thing/)
- [Will China’s Woes Threaten The Tech Economies In Singapore And Hong Kong?](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/will-chinas-woes-threaten-the-tech-economies-in-singapore-and-hong-kong/)
- [In the Future, Robots Will Unobtrusively Clean Our Homes and Fold Our Clothes](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/in-the-future-robots-will-unobtrusively-clean-our-homes-and-fold-our-clothes/)
- [Why venture in Japan is differnt](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/why-venture-in-japan-is-differnt/)
- [More venture funds are becoming speed merchants. Should every VC adopt that strategy?](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/more-venture-funds-are-becoming-speed-merchants-should-every-vc-adopt-that-strategy-2/)
- [ServiceMax Raises $82M in Series F Funding](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/servicemax-raises-82m-in-series-f-funding/)
- [フィンテック誘致、異業種連合で 三菱UFJ銀やヤマト、200億円ファンド　海外ベンチャーに照準](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/フィンテック誘致、異業種連合で-三菱ufj銀やヤマ/)
- [Mitsubishi UFJ Invests in Bitcoin Startup Coinbase](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/mitsubishi-ufj-invests-in-bitcoin-startup-coinbase/)
- [Anomali secures $40 million Series D led by Lumia Capital to scale threat detection solution](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/anomali-secures-40-million-series-d-led-by-lumia-capital-to-scale-threat-detection-solution/)
- [Fastly raises another $40 million before an IPO](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/fastly-raises-another-40-million-before-an-ipo/)
- [Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Japan’s largest bank, has backed an additional $6 million Series B round for cryptocurrency sleuthing startup Chainalysis.](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group-mufg-japans-largest-bank-has-backed-an-additional-6-million-series-b-round-for-cryptocurrency-sleuthing-startup-chainalysis/)
- [データ分析企業「Palantir」がSOMPOと新会社設立--創業者のピーター・ティール氏来日](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/データ分析企業「palantir」がsompoと新会社設立-創業者の/)
- [MongoDB finishes up 34% in database IPO](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/mongodb-finishes-up-34-in-database-ipo/)
- [Zoom tops Lyft as the most valuable tech IPO of the year so far](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/zoom-tops-lyft-as-the-most-valuable-tech-ipo-of-the-year-so-far/)
- [Thiel Marks Palantir’s Asia Push with $150 Million Japan Venture - Bloomberg](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/thiel-marks-palantirs-asia-push-with-150-million-japan-venture-bloomberg/)
- [Opinion: SoftBank’s problems aren’t so surprising if you understand this one thing about the company](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/opinion-softbanks-problems-arent-so-surprising-if-you-understand-this-one-thing-about-the-company-2/)
- [Grammarly raises $90M at over $1B+ valuation for its AI-based grammar and writing tools](https://www.sozoventures.com/news/grammarly-raises-90m-at-over-1b-valuation-for-its-ai-based-grammar-and-writing-tools/)

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.sozoventures.com/)
- [Careers](https://www.sozoventures.com/careers/) - Associate at Sozo Ventures Location: Tokyo, JapanEmployment type: Full-time position Sozo Ventures was formed 2012 to invest in and support technology-enabled ventures in their global expansion. We focus on helping to accelerate adoption in the Japanese and Asian markets. We invest in category leaders transforming global industries with advanced data technologies, fintech, logistics, retail, enterprise
- [Contact](https://www.sozoventures.com/contact/)
- [About Us](https://www.sozoventures.com/about/) - What we do Sozo Ventures is a leading global acceleration and expansion venture capital firm with deep connections across the venture, startup, and corporate landscapes both in the US and Internationally. Our mission is to create meaningful impact on a global scale. We leverage our deep networks and personal experience to provide market knowledge, deployment

## Portfolio

- [AD Technology](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/ad-technology/) - The leading unstacked data solutions company that helps publishers, marketers and agencies find new customers, increase engagement, and grow revenue.
- [Cyber security](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/cyber-security/) - Threat Intelligence Platform that enables businesses to integrate security products and leverage threat data to defend against cyber threats.
- [Autonomous Driving Simulation Software](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/autonomous-driving
-simulation-software/) - Provides software infrastructure for engineering and product development teams bringing autonomy to market.
- [Blockchain Analysis](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/blockchain-analysis/) - Provide blockchain data and analysis to government agencies, exchanges, and financial institutions.
- [Financial Services](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/financial-service/) - CircleUp is a data insights company that uses a unique combination of data and machine learning technology to discover and accelerate the growth of the world’s best businesses. CircleUp has deployed over $1B capital to date and has supported over 500 successful brands.
- [Digital writing assistant](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/digital-writing-assistant/) - Improves communication among the world's 2+ billion English writers.
- [Customer Relationship Management](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/customer-relationship
management/) - CRM software with native integrations to Gmail, Office 365, MailChimp, and other popular applications.
- [Healthcare Technology](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/healthcare-technology/) - Building the cognitive health platform of the future, giving people direct access to tools and technology to assess, strengthen, and monitor their cognitive health.
- [Artificial Intelligence Platforms for Disasters](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/artificial-intelligence-platforms-for-disasters/) - Resilience-as-a-Service solution that brings disaster science together with machine learning, for better decision-making.
- [Hotel Operations, Marketing & Revenue Software](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/hotel-operations-marketing-revenue-software/) - A software that is built to help hotels know, understand, and earn valuable guests like never before.
- [Manufacturing Automation](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/manufacturing-automation/) - AI Manufacturing and Factory Floor Analytics.
- [Secondary storage](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/secondary-storage/) - Cohesity redefines data management to solve mass data fragmentation.
- [Diversified Financial Services](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/diversified-financial-services/) - Clearbanc invests in entrepreneurs to help them grow their web-enabled businesses.
- [Logistics technology platform](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/logistics-technology-platform/) - project44 is the world’s leading advanced visibility platform for shippers and third-party logistics firms.
- [Text Marketing](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/text-marketing/) - The most comprehensive text message marketing solution built for forward-thinking businesses.
- [Social gaming](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/social-gaming/) - Playco is a developer of instant-play games across a variety of platforms.
- [Supply Chain Management](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/supply-chain-management/) - Kargo offers the loading dock to make operations intuitive and responsive using computer vision.
- [Defense Technology](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/defense-technology/) - Anduril Industries is a defense product company that builds technology for military agencies and border surveillance.
- [Sensing Technology](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/sensing-technology/) - Aromyx has built a platform for the digital capture of scent and taste.
- [Cyber Security](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/cyber-security-3/) - Tessian turns your email data into your biggest defense against email security threats.
- [Ownership Management](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/ownership-management/) - Carta helps thousands of private companies and investors manage their cap tables, valuations, investments, and ESOPs.
- [HR & Workforce Management](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/hr-workforce-management/) - Deel simplifies compliance and payment solutions at scale for companies hiring contractors globally.
- [Live commerce Platform](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/live-commerce-platform/) - ShopShops is a livestream, interactive cross-border shopping marketplace that connects retail stores globally with Chinese consumers.
- [Musculoskeletal therapy provider](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/musculoskeletal-therapy-provider/) - SWORD Health is a digital musculoskeletal therapy provider that pairs its members with a licensed physical therapist.
- [Enterprise data solutions](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/video-streaming-services/) - Harmonic's data engine provides insights into millions of startups & professionals, allowing you to make decisions on fresh company information.
- [Care coordination Services](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/care-coordination-services/) - Viz.ai aims to use artificial intelligence and deep learning to automatically identify suspected LVOs (large vessel occlusion) on CTA imaging with the aim of alerting a patient's physician within minutes.
- [Building material delivery](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/building-material-delivery/) - RenoRun is building a single source platform for general contractors to purchase materials.
- [Cloud Data Warehouse](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/cloud-data-warehouse/) - Firebolt is a cloud data warehousing platform that allows users to streamline their analytics and access to insights.
- [Dispatching Technology](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/dispatching-technology/) - SmartHop is an Artificial Freight Dispatching Tool that helps the Trucking companies make smart decisions when planning & matching loads.
- [Transportation Planning Platform and Marketplace](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/transportation-planning-platform-and-marketplace/) - Leaf Logistics is a logistics marketplace meets financial exchange. It is a digital platform for buying and selling transportation capacity.
- [On-demand injury insurance](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/on-demand-injury-insurance/) - Spot offers short-term life insurance for a suite of activities with immediate policy approval through SPOT's mobile application.
- [Cancer protection systems](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/cancer-protection-systems/) - Need provides cancer protection systems. It helps insurers to create a new category of holistic and end-to-end cancer protection, enabling patients to get cured.
- [Software subscription management](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/software-subscription-management/) - Vendr creates a self-serve process to help companies purchase, renew and manage their software subscriptions.
- [Digital currency exchange](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/digital-currency-exchange/) - Yellow Card offers digital currency exchange for the cash market and focuses on making bitcoin and basic financial services accessible.
- [Provides advanced wound and ostomy care](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/provides-advanced-wound-and-ostomy-care/) - The Wound Company is an all-in-one solution that provides advanced wound and ostomy care. The platform connects providers and patients with certified wound and ostomy care specialists.
- [Data discovery platform](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/data-discovery-platform/) - Select Star builds an automated, and intelligent data discovery platform. It offers a full-text search that allows users to find data and identify which columns of a dataset are most used by applications within a company and are referenced in queries.
- [Genome editing systems](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/genome-editing-systems/) - Metagenomi utilizes metagenomics to identify and characterize naturally-occurring genome editing systems, antibiotics and small molecules, and industrial enzymes for further development.
- [Next generation communities](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/next-generation-communities/) - Callback makes distributing NFTs easy.
- [Skills intelligence platform](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/skills-intelligence-platform/) - Workera operates as a skills intelligence platform to evaluate the skills of data scientists, machine learning engineers, and software engineers.
- [Early detection of cancer](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/early-detection-of-cancer/) - Mercy BioAnalytics develops extracellular vesicle-based liquid biopsies for the early detection of cancer.
- [AI robotic services for agriculture firms](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/ai-robotic-services-for-agriculture-firms/) - Carbon Robotics develops AI robotic services for agriculture firms. The company's use of AI computer vision, robotics, and lasers to enables farmers to reduce their weed control process without damaging plants and soil.
- [Plant-Based Milk Alternatives](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/plant-based-milk-alternatives/) - Eclipse Foods is a food manufacturing company that provides plant-based ice cream and dairy products with taste and texture.
- [Clean Hydrogen & Graphite](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/clean-hydrogen-graphite/) - Molten Industries develops clean technology with the goal of decarbonizing the hydrogen market.
- [Cloud GPU Provider](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/cloud-gpu-provider/) - Cloud GPU provider offering scalable NVIDIA clusters optimized for AI training and inference workloads.
- [Cybersecurity](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/cybersecurity/) - Cybersecurity platform preventing AI-driven impersonation, phishing, and social-engineering threats.
- [Streaming data lake platform](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/streaming-data-lake-platform/) - Streaming data lake enabling fast, large-scale log analytics with real-time query performance.
- [Autonomous Surface Vessels](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/autonomous-surface-vessels/) - Developer of autonomous surface vessels for defense and maritime missions, enhancing situational awareness.
- [Maintenance Management](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/maintenance-management/) - Maintenance management platform streamlining work orders, assets, and preventive maintenance.
- [Acquired by Shopify](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/acquired-by-shopify/) - B2B eCommerce platform that brings manufacturers & distributors closer to their customers.
- [Freight Forwarder](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/fleight-forwarder/) - A freight forwarding platform designed to provide visibility and control over the entire global trade.
- [Acquired by ZoomInfo](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/conversation-intelligence-platform/) - AI conversation intelligence cloud platform for sales team that can transform conversations into data and insights.
- [Acquired by Fidelis Cybersecurity](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/cyber-security-2/) - Provides an automation platform that delivers software as a service to improve security for private, public, and hybrid cloud computing environments.
- [Acquired by GE](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/acquired-by-ge/) - Service Execution Management, a software category that includes both Field Service Management and Asset Service Management.
- [NYSE:OPWR](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/nyseopwr/) - Provides a software-as-a-service customer engagement platform for utilities.
- [NASDQ:COIN](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/bitcoin-wallet/) - A digital currency platform designed to create an open financial system for merchants and consumers.
- [NYSE:PLTR](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/big-data/) - Offers software applications for integrating, visualizing and analyzing the world's information, supporting datasets.
- [NYSE:TWTR](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/nysetwr/) - A free social messaging and micro-blogging utility for staying connected in real-time.
- [NASDAQ:MDB](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/nasdaqmdb/) - A document-based, distributed database built for modern application developers and for the cloud applications.
- [NYSE:FSLY](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/nysefsly/) - A cloud platform that moves data and applications closer to the users to perform faster, safer, and at global scale.
- [NYSE:SQ](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/nysesq/) - A mobile payment company and merchant services aggregator that simplify commerce through technology.
- [NASDQ:ZM](https://www.sozoventures.com/portfolio/nasdqzm/) - A communications platform that connects people through video, voice, chat, and content sharing.

## Members

- [Edwin Ong](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/edwin-ong/) - Edwin Ong joined Sozo Ventures in January 2025 as an Associate and Chief of Staff to Phil Wickham. Edwin assists Phil in his various initiatives spanning investments, education, operations and more. Before joining Sozo Ventures, Edwin worked at JAZZ Venture Partners as an investment intern. After that, he worked for a year and a half
- [Aantorik Ganguly](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/aantorik-ganguly/) - Aantorik joined Sozo in March 2024 as an analyst on the investment team, after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Middlebury College, majoring in Economics. He also studied philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Oxford. While still an undergrad, he worked with Sozo during the deployment of our third fund, evaluating companies across seed
- [Lauren MacDonald](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/lauren-gomez/) - Lauren MacDonald joined Sozo Ventures in February 2022. Lauren leads the investment operations, focusing on scaling Sozo's pipeline to ensure the firm has the right information, with the right people, at the right time. She optimizes the deal flow to ensure seamless experiences for our LPs, entrepreneurs and executives. Before joining Sozo Ventures, Lauren interned
- [Rob Freelen](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/rob-freelen/) - Rob Freelen joined Sozo Ventures in September 2022. Rob Freelen is currently Managing Director and investing partner at Sozo Ventures. He is also a co-founder of LA-based FinTech company, Turbine Finance, a former SVB executive, and a Kauffman Fellow (Class 29). Currently Rob serves on the boards of Carbon Robotics, Haus Labs by Lady Gaga,
- [Phil Wickham](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/phil-wickham/) - Phil Wickham is a Founder and General Partner of Sozo Ventures. In addition to Sozo, Mr. Wickham is the emeritus Executive Chairman of the Kauffman Fellows in Palo Alto, California. Mr. Wickham is a veteran venture investor and startup entrepreneur. Early in his career he co-founded Reference Media in Tokyo, Japan, grew it to scale
- [Spencer Foust](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/spencer-foust/) - Spencer Foust joined Sozo in June of 2016. Spencer leads investments for the firm, from seed to pre-IPO. In 2020, just four years after joining the firm, he made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Before Sozo, Mr. Foust worked at Apple, and before that, he worked on the B61 Nuclear Weapon program at Sandia
- [Clay Gary](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/clay-gary/) - Clay Gary joined Sozo Ventures in June 2024. Clay is a Venture Partner of Sozo Ventures, and a Principal at Market Sense International, a Tokyo-based market entry and distribution consultancy. Clay has been involved in general management, sales and marketing, and business development in Japan and Asia-Pacific since 1988. He spent the 1990s at Dentsu,
- [Paul T. Masuda](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/paul-t-masuda/) - Paul T. Masada joined Sozo Ventures in June 2022. He has over 30 years of experience in new business and innovation development, spanning logistics, transportation, and e-commerce. At Sozo, Paul helps entrepreneurs with global ambitions extend their business developments in the U.S. and Japan. He leverages his extensive network and expertise to create strategic partnerships
- [Yuki Kanematsu](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/yuki-kanematsu/) - Yuki Kanematsu joined Sozo Ventures in January 2022. Her focus is on keeping the business development team working at maximum efficiency, and the office running smoothly. She also provides operational support for global startups expanding into Japan. After university, she worked as an IT infrastructure engineer at IT Frontier, a joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation
- [Kaori Onguchi](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/kaori-onguchi/) - Kaori Onguchi joined Sozo Ventures in March 2022. She helps our portfolio companies develop business opportunities in Japan by tapping into her genius at integrating cross-functional and cross-cultural teams. That skill-set has no doubt been enhanced by her extensive exposure to multiple cultures–she has lived in Tokyo, Dusseldorf, Toronto, Semarang and London. After college, Kaori
- [Kenichi Saito](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/kenichi-saito/) - Kenichi "Ken" Saito joined Sozo Ventures in August 2022. As a Senior Director, Ken focuses on strategy, investment initiatives, business development and educational activities. He spent over 21 years at MUFG Bank, Japan’s top financial group where, as Managing Director of the DX Office, he led corporate innovation activities globally. In 2009, he was stationed
- [Yoshitaka Kadoya](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/yoshitaka-kadoya/) - Yoshitaka Kadoya joined Sozo Ventures in March 2022. Yoshitaka is a Principal at Sozo Ventures, where he helps global startups develop business opportunities in Japan. By conducting in-depth market research and drawing on his expertise in finance, he helps startups understand the market better, design a strategy and find clients and the right business partners.
- [Yoshihiro Kohara](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/yoshihiro-kohara/) - Yoshihiro Kohara joined Sozo Ventures in February 2017. His main focus is on startup investment and business development. He spent his first three years at Sozo working with the business development team in Tokyo, where he led business development and partnerships in the Japanese market for leading startups such as Zoom and Revolut. In 2020,
- [Ray Hatoyama](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/ray-hatoyama/) - Ray Hatoyama joined Sozo Ventures in August 2016. He is a Venture Partner of Sozo Venture. Mr. Hatoyama is highly experienced in corporate strategy for globalization and corporate governance. Until recently, Mr. Hatoyama was the Managing Director of Sanrio Co., Ltd (owner of the wildly popular Hello Kitty brand), and he had executed Sanrio’s global expansion
- [Mitch Underseth](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/mitch-underseth/) - Mitch Underseth joined Sozo Ventures in April 2018. His responsibilities include financial analysis and assessments with respect to investment opportunities, as well as providing financial and operational support to portfolio companies. Mr. Underseth’s professional experience includes over 30 years of executive financial management roles ranging from early-stage venture-backed companies to Fortune 500 companies. In addition
- [Samira Daswani](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/samira-daswani/) - Samira Daswani joined Sozo Ventures in October 2021. She is a Venture Partner of Sozo Ventures. Samira is a healthcare strategy & design leader who has incubated and operated numerous healthcare startups. As a Venture Partner for Sozo Ventures, she supports the team on healthcare deals, including sourcing and doing diligence. She is also VP
- [Alaina N. Watts](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/alaina-n-watts/) - Alaina N. Watts joined Sozo Ventures in 2021. She supports the accounting and operational functions. Alaina previously worked as an assistant controller at Shasta Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm. Before that, she worked as a tax accountant specializing in alternative investments, partnerships and corporate entities in hedge funds, technology and real estate. Alaina received
- [Jessica Eschen](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/jessica-eschen/) - Jessica Eschen joined Sozo Ventures in March 2022. Jessica’s responsibilities include the management of daily office operations as well as the often complicated (and often impossible) task of coordinating meetings for members of our team. She also provides general support to ensure the office is running smoothly and efficiently. Jessica graduated cum laude with a
- [Kazuhiro Kobayashi](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/kazuhiro-kobayashi/) - Kazuhiro "Kazu" Kobayashi joined Sozo Ventures in April 2017. As Sozo's Head of Japan, he is responsible for helping portfolio companies create business development opportunities in Japan and other global markets. After graduating from a computer college majoring in Electronic Computing and Computer Science, Kazu worked as a teacher. Then, while studying electronics engineering technology at
- [Nettie Reyes](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/nettie-reyes/) - Nettie Reyes joined Sozo Ventures in July 2019. As VP of Operations at Sozo Ventures, Nettie keeps the investment team working at maximum efficiency, and the office running smoothly. She also leads the team in designing, producing and executing high-impact experiences, including global summits, intimate gatherings, educational workshops, industry events and team offsites. Her zone
- [Koichiro Nakamura](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/koichiro-nakamura/) - Koichiro “Koh” Nakamura is a Founder and General Partner of Sozo Ventures. He made the 2021 Forbes Midas List for investments in Coinbase and Palantir (2020 IPO), and for leading Sozo’s investment in Square. Prior to co-founding Sozo, he spent over 20 years building technology companies and was a member of the founding team of
- [Noah Jones](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/noah-jones/) - A West Coast native, Noah joined Sozo Ventures in January 2016. Having a technical background, he supplies IT and backend support for the US team and assists in upgrading and maintaining the team’s technological infrastructure. He built Sozo’s first website from the ground up and continues to utilize his programming skills whenever projects call for
- [Masayuki Fujii](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/masayuki-fujii/) - Masayuki Fujii joined Sozo Ventures in July 2016. His main role is Sozo’s Investors Relationship Management in Japan, including various client services with financial investors. Before joining Sozo Ventures, Mr. Fujii spent more than 37 years at Nomura Securities. In the Asset Management Division of Nomura Holdings, he was responsible for client services with Japanese
- [Elena Winefeld](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/elena-winefeld/) - Elena Winefeld joined Sozo Ventures in January 2017. Prior to joining Sozo, Elena was the VP of Finance at Acero Capital, a Menlo Park-based venture capital firm with $150M AUM, and served as a Controller at Nokia Growth Partners (NGP), a global venture capital firm with $700M AUM across 4 funds. She also served as
- [Neha Atreya](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/neha-atreya/) - Neha Atreya joined Sozo Ventures in November 2018. She is involved in the firm’s fund operations and administration. She has over six years of experience in the venture capital industry. Previously, she was at 5AM Ventures, a leading life sciences venture capital firm, where she was responsible for the firm’s fund management, operations, and reporting.
- [Tetsu Nomura](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/tetsu-nomura/) - Tetsu Nomura joined Sozo Ventures in September 2014. His main role is to assist Sozo's portfolio companies in creating business development opportunities in Japan market. Mr. Nomura brings over 12 years of international IT experience to the team. He has worked in some of the largest Japanese IT companies such as Japan Telecom, Fuji Xerox
- [Monica Hauer](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/monica-hauer/) - Monica Hauer joined Sozo Ventures in February 2020. As Accounting Manager, she works closely with the Director of Finance to manage the day-to-day operations of the management company and the related entities. Monica has twenty years of experience in the venture capital industry, performing accounting and tax functions for S-corporations and partnerships. Monica is a licensed CPA and
- [Bob Roe](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/bob-roe/) - Bob Roe joined Sozo Ventures in October 2021. As our VP of Narrative Development, Bob helps everyone at Sozo unearth the stories that matter, and tell them in a compelling fashion on every platform and in every form of communication, ranging from emails to pitch decks to books. Bob is an experienced journalist and editor
- [Janhavi Sawant](https://www.sozoventures.com/team/janhavi-sawant/) - Janhavi Sawant started at Sozo Ventures in September 2021. She oversees the operations and accounting for Sozo’s management company and works closely with the Controller and CFO on fund reporting and administration. She plays an integral role in analyzing and reporting the financials of portfolio companies for internal review. Janhavi started her career in finance

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