Gobi Partners, a leading venture capital firm in Asia, has expanded into Japan by joining JR East’s TAKANAWA GATEWAY Link Scholars’ Hub (LiSH) as a Global Network Partner. This move aims to connect Japan’s strong technology and industrial expertise with the fast-growing startup markets in Southeast Asia.
LiSH, located in the new TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY near Tokyo International Airport, is part of JR East’s smart-city project. The hub, which opened in May 2025, acts as a global meeting point where startups, companies, and researchers can work together on new technologies and future urban solutions.
“Japan’s innovation ecosystem is hungry for new growth models, while Southeast Asia’s startups are now proving their scalability beyond home markets,
“That convergence is where the next wave of cross-border venture activity will come from — and we want to be right in the middle of it,” said Thomas G. Tsao, Co-Founder and Chair of Gobi Partners.
Gobi has already been active in building Japan–Southeast Asia ties. The firm co-hosted the Malaysia–Japan Innovation & Capital Forum with the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and JETRO, bringing together policymakers, investors, and founders to discuss IPO and M&A opportunities, access to high-quality data, and ways to collaborate.
Gobi also teamed up with Cross Capital to help direct Japanese investment into Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing digital economy.
The firm’s portfolio shows strong links with Japan as well. Many of Gobi’s Southeast Asian portfolio companies have received strategic investments from major Japanese corporations. These include JULO (backed by Saison Group), CompAsia (OSK SBI), iStore iSend (Yamato Transport), Glints (Persol Group), Funding Societies (Cool Japan Fund), Animoca Brands (Sumitomo Corporation and Kodansha), and Carsome (MUFG and Daiwa).
In 2024, venture funding in Japan grew by 35 percent, and Southeast Asia attracted over $5 billion in early-stage investment — a sign that innovation and capital across Asia are coming together more quickly than ever.
As Japan expands its global presence and Southeast Asia strengthens its position as the region’s growth engine, Gobi is positioned right in the middle — helping turn Japan’s strong industrial base into real opportunities for fast-growing entrepreneurs.
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