The first PropTech focused venture fund in Japan, “Digital Base Capital Fund 1” raised capital from Ehime Bank.
With the participation of Ehime Bank, Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd. will further strengthen the promotion of PropTech and Fintech in the region.
Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd. (Head Quarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, General Partner: Shun Sakurai) announces that Ehime Bank, Ltd. has decided to invest in “Digital Base Capital No.1 Investment Limited Partnership”, the first PropTech focused fund in Japan to invest in startups in the real estate, construction and financial sectors.
Ehime Bank, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015, is a regional financial institution with 105 branches mainly in Ehime Prefecture. While accumulating a long track record and trust with the region, to meet diversifying customer needs, they are also actively utilizing advanced technologies such as the promotion of digitalization by cooperating with startup companies.
PropTech (Property x Technology: Real Estate Tech), which is showing excitement in the world, is closely related to the local economy by providing services that enrich people’s lives and work styles.
By collaborating with Ehime Bank, Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd. will encourage innovation by supporting the regional development of venture companies, creating new services originating from the region, and contributing to local customers.
Overview of the fund
Name: Digital Base Capital №1 Investment Limited Partnership
Establishment: June 2019
Fund size: 1 billion yen (approx.USD9.3M, maximum amount)
Operation period: 10 years
Main investment target: With the theme of Life as a Service (LaaS), which enriches people’s lives and work styles, Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd. will invest in a startup in the real estate and financial sectors.
About Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd.
The first PropTech focused venture capital firm in Japan founded in 2019. Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd is committed to innovation in the PropTech sectors with the mission of digitalizing regulated industries. The General Partner Shun Sakurai has been establishing and operating a community “ PropTech JAPAN” aiming to build and develop a real estate startup ecosystem since 2017, and in September 2019, the community exceeded 1,100 people and continues to expand
Comment from Yoshinori Nishikawa, President of Ehime Bank, Ltd.
I met General Partner, Mr. Sakurai as a lecturer at a co-sponsored workshop between the Ehime Bank, Ltd. and the Second Regional Bank Association, “SARB LAB”. While talking directly with Mr. Sakurai, I was impressed by his passion to “make the financial industry better by practicing open innovation.” When we were seeking for the possibility of collaboration, I was told about the investment to the fund by him.
The PropTech service market is not only expected to grow in the future, but we decided to invest, empathizing with the desire to work together to boost the region by creating new services originating from the region. We hope that they will be a detonator which solves problems in regional areas such as population reduction and measures against vacant houses.
Comment from Shun Sakurai, General Partner of Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd.
We are honored to have Ehime Bank, the first Japanese financial institution, participate in the first PropTech focused fund. We believe that the PropTech sectors such as real estate, finance, and construction are important in the regional economy. Also, there will be great synergies in regional cooperation.
Ehime Bank is actively promoting open innovation and digital transformation through collaboration with startup companies. By working with Ehime Bank, we will strive to create and nurture next-generation companies.
Ehime Bank Company Profile
Company name: Ehime Bank, Ltd.
Representative: Yoshinori Nishikawa
Company URL: https://www.himegin.co.jp/
Headquarters: 2–1 Katsuyama Town, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Founded: 1915
Capital: 21,363 million yen
Digital Base Capital Company Profile
Company name: Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd.
Representative: General Partner Shun Sakurai
Company URL: http://www.digitalbase.co.jp/
Headquarters: 2nd floor, FinGATETERRACE, 8–1, Nihonbashi Kabutocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business: Operation of PropTech specialized venture capital, Incubation and consulting business in the PropTech area.
Inquiries regarding this matter
Digital Base Capital Co., Ltd.
info@digitalbase.co.jp
http://www.digitalbase.co.jp
