JIC and Vertex co-hold event on growth opportunities for Japanese startups in Southeast Asia and India markets

Tokyo, November 10, 2025 – Japan Investment Corporation (“JIC”)co-hosted an event titled “Unlocking and Capitalizing Opportunities inSoutheast Asia and India” with Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India(“Vertex”) on October 30, 2025. The event highlights emerging opportunities inthe Southeast Asian and Indian markets.

About the event

In recent years, Southeast Asia and Indiahave attracted increasing attention as promising markets for startups,supported by rapid economic growth and accelerating digitalization. As part ofits “Go Global” strategy—an initiative aimed at strengthening collaborationamong domestic VCs, Japanese startups, and overseas VCs—JIC held this event inpartnership with Vertex.

The Vertex Group, with offices in 14locations worldwide, has played a key role in fostering unicorn companiesacross the region and has established a strong presence in both Southeast Asiaand India. At the event, participants explored the vast potential of thesedynamic markets. The event featured overviews of local markets, case studies ofmarket entry, and insights from global investors. Presentations providedconcrete guidance on supporting the growth of Japanese startups, cultivatingfuture unicorns, and enhancing global competitiveness.

Vertex Holdings CEO Chua Kee Lock advisedJapanese startup stakeholders that, “When expanding into Southeast Asian andIndian markets, it is essential to select the right markets, secure reliablelocal partners and teams, and localize your products and services. Neglectinglocalization, in particular, leads to failure.” He also highlighted the growinginterest in Japanese startups and encouraged them to pursue overseas expansionproactively. Through case studies of Japanese startups already taking on globalmarkets, Vertex’s message that beyond concerns such as language barriers, whatmatters most is the ambition to take the first step with a focus on long-termgrowth was underscored.

JIC’s “Go Global” strategy

To strengthen Japan's startup ecosystem,JIC has positioned “Go Global” as one of its core pillars and is advancing thefollowing initiatives:

・Investingin overseas VCs to enhance collaboration between domestic VCs/startups andglobal VCs

・Promotingpartnerships between domestic and overseas VCs through investments in leadingglobal VCs

・Contributinginternational insights and expertise to support the growth of Japan’s startupcommunity

JIC is actively leveraging the expertiseof leading VCs from Europe, the United States, and Asia to support thedevelopment of entrepreneurs and fund professionals. In collaboration with itsportfolio VCs, JIC organizes networking events and learning opportunities toshare global best practices with domestic VCs and startup founders.

Looking ahead, JIC will continue toadvance not only LP investments and direct investments through the funds underits umbrella, but also efforts to build platforms for sharing cutting-edgeglobal insights and fostering meaningful networking across the startupecosystem.

【Event Overview】

*JIC makes LPinvestment in Vertex Ventures (SG) SEA V LPF

About Japan Investment Corporation (JIC)

Japan InvestmentCorporation (“JIC”) was established in September 2018 under the IndustrialCompetitiveness Enhancement Act. JIC’s investment focus areas are creating avirtuous cycle of domestic investment and innovation; creating and fosteringstartups; leveraging promising untapped management resources lying dormant inlocal areas, including startups from academia and medium-sized companies; andpromoting business restructuring in response to changes in market and businessenvironments. JIC provides risk capital to these areas through fundsindependently established by JIC and LP investment in private funds to promoteopen innovation in Japan, strengthen the competitiveness of Japanese industries,and contribute to expansion of Japan’s investment ecosystem.