More Japan-India love: new $52m VC fund set up, former PIMCO chief on board

BFFs in the startup world. Photo credit: Paris.

Japan and India are truly feeling each other.

On Thursday, India’s Green House Ventures Accelerator said it partnered with Makoto Takano, ex-president of PIMCO Japan, and World Innovation Labs (WiL), a VC based in Japan and Silicon valley, to launch a shiny new US$52 million fund for early stage consumer tech companies in India.

See: Japan and India are BFFs

“India is a bullish economy and I am excited to be a part of many success stories from India, that we intend to create,” Makato, who is also the editor-in-chief for Forbes Japan, said.

L-R: Masataka Matsumoto (WiL), Vikram Upadhyaya (GHV), Makoto Takano (MT Partners.

Vikram Upadhyaya is a an Indian VC veteran. His portfolio includes names like Druva and Stayzilla.

WiL is a Japan and Silicon Valley VC fund, which typically invests US$5-US$30 million in early as well as growth-stage technology and internet startups.

“India today looks like what China was 10 years ago and growth here will be much stronger
in the next few years. We would like to fund a couple of companies from GHV if there is a strong connection to Silicon Valley or Japan,” Gen Isayama, co-founder and CEO of WiL said.