TOKYO - April 27, 2026 - KDDI, one of Japan’s leading telecommunications companies, today announced a strategic partnership with Alumni Ventures, one of TIME Magazine’s Top 20 VC Firms in America. Through this alliance, KDDI will invest in the newly formed "Alumni Ventures Japan＋US Bridge Fund,” aiming to accelerate the cross-border growth of startups in Japan and the United States. This partnership aims to invigorate the startup ecosystem and contribute to business growth by implementing innovative technologies and services from startups on a global scale.
Alumni Ventures is a world-class venture capital firm that invests in and supports the growth of promising startups worldwide from an early stage. Leveraging a powerful network of over 11,000 alumni from top U.S. universities such as Stanford, Harvard, and MIT, the firm has invested in over 1,600 companies, produced 36 unicorn companies, and reached ＄1.4 billion in total assets under management since its establishment in 2014. To further accelerate its presence in the Japanese market, Alumni Ventures established a Japanese office in 2025.
 
Background
While Japan harbors a massive reservoir of excellent technological seeds, particularly in universities and research institutions, the primary challenge has been building the networks and growth-acceleration mechanisms required to expand these technologies into the global market. Conversely, the United States possesses a powerful ecosystem that continues to drive innovation at unprecedented speeds.
To address this gap, KDDI has been actively working in alignment with the Japanese government's "Five-Year Startup Development Plan." Since 2025, KDDI has launched the "KDDI Open Innovation Fund V" and has been supporting U.S. and Japanese startups through partnerships with U.S. venture capital firms.
 
Bridge Strategy for Startup Support
・Scaling Japanese Startups for the Global Stage
For promising Japanese startups jointly sourced by both companies, KDDI will drive business growth through collaboration. Simultaneously, Alumni Ventures will fuel their global expansion by the proven support capabilities that have generated numerous unicorns, such as entrepreneurship training, and its vast human network rooted in top-tier U.S. universities, alongside capital provision.
・Fast-Tracking U.S. Startups into Japan
For high-potential, unicorn-candidate U.S. startups backed by Alumni Ventures, KDDI will serve as a launchpad into the Japanese market. By offering access to KDDI’s vast telecommunications infrastructure, customer base, and collaboration opportunities, the alliance aims to integrate world-class technologies to build new businesses in Japan.
 
Commenting on the partnership, Tomohiko Katsuki, Managing Executive Officer, CSO & CDO, Executive Director of Corporate Strategy & Open Innovation at KDDI, stated:
" Through our partnership with Alumni Ventures, KDDI aims to build an environment that seamlessly enables Japanese startups to expand overseas and U.S. startups to enter Japan, while simultaneously elevating the investment and business development skills of KDDI employees to a global standard. We expect this partnership to be a massive catalyst for the development of the U.S. and Japanese startup ecosystems and the cultivation of human resources. "
 
Michael Collins, CEO of Alumni Ventures, commented:
"We are thrilled to partner with KDDI, a leader in Japanese industry and technology. Japan holds tremendous Deep Tech assets and brilliant talent ready to make a massive impact on the global stage. This partnership builds a true 'two-way bridge', bringing world-class U.S. innovation into Japan while simultaneously giving Japanese entrepreneurs the launchpad they need to scale globally. We are excited to co-create this vibrant future together."
 
Alumni Ventures
Founded in 2014, Alumni Ventures is one of the world’s most active venture capital firms. With more than ＄1.4 billion in committed capital from over 11,000 accredited investors, Alumni Ventures is democratizing venture capital by expanding access to professional, high-quality venture investment opportunities. Alumni Ventures' extensive portfolio spans over 1,600 current and historical companies across diverse sectors and stages.
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Company Name: Alumni Ventures, LLC 
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Headquarters: Manchester, New Hampshire, USA 
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Established: 2014 
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CEO: Michael Collins 
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Investment Focus: Startups in Japan and the U.S. focusing on     AI, Deep Tech, and Life Sciences.
 
KDDI’s Open Innovation Initiatives
KDDI drives open innovation through two core pillars: the "KDDI Open Innovation Fund," a corporate venture fund making strategic investments in promising startups, and "KDDI ∞ Labo," a business co-creation platform that connects startups with over 100 enterprise partners. By integrating these two engines, KDDI accelerates the creation of new business value and the growth of the startups that will shape the future.
Backed by its 30 billion yen investment commitment announced in April 2025 to revitalize the startup ecosystem, KDDI is actively exploring new businesses that will become the next pillars of growth. The company remains highly focused on both facilitating the entry of overseas startups into the Japanese market and supporting the global expansion of Japanese founders.
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 KDDI Open Innovation Program: https://www.kddi.com/english/open-innovation-program/