Speeda思必达：2024年日本初创企业融资报告

Group 1 - The total financing amount for Japanese startups in 2024 reached 779.3 billion yen (approximately 40 billion RMB), a slight increase of 3% year-on-year, with the number of funded companies rising to 2,869 [1][10][15] - The average financing amount per transaction increased to 310 million yen (approximately 15.9 million RMB), up 24% from 2023 [1][10][15] - Significant growth in large transactions was observed in the second half of the year, particularly in the 5 billion to 9.9 billion yen range, which saw a 57.8% increase in transaction amounts [1][10][22] Group 2 - Foreign venture capital (VC) became a key highlight in 2024, with investments over 1 billion yen increasing by 31.5% to 40.9 billion yen [2][35] - Major US firms such as Khosla Ventures and NEA have intensified their investments in the Japanese market, indicating a recognition of the potential for technological innovation and globalization among Japanese startups [2][41][42] Group 3 - The top 20 funded companies in 2024 prominently featured AI firms, with Sakana AI raising 30.1 billion yen and achieving a valuation exceeding 200 billion yen [3][26] - Newmo, a transportation company, raised 18.7 billion yen and became the fifth largest taxi operator in Osaka through strategic acquisitions [3][32] Group 4 - The IPO market for Japanese startups remained sluggish, with only 47 companies going public and a median market capitalization of 8.9 billion yen, down 27.6% from 2023 [4][10] - M&A activity reached its highest level since 2014, with a median time from founding to acquisition of 7.8 years, indicating a trend towards resource consolidation through mergers [4][10] Group 5 - The establishment of new startup funds decreased, with 112 new funds totaling 387 billion yen, marking a 14.5% drop in the number of funds and a 43% decline in total capital [5][10] - Corporate venture capital (CVC) has gained traction, with collaborative CVCs accounting for 27% of total fundraising, reflecting a shift towards joint investments to mitigate risks [5][10] Group 6 - The future outlook suggests a contradiction between active foreign investment and a contraction in local fund establishment, with the key to growth lying in the number of new funds and foreign capital inflow [6][10] - Government initiatives and events like the Osaka Expo are expected to further attract global capital, supporting the growth of deep tech and globalized enterprises [6][10]