Granite Asia, Integral Launch $100M Fund for Startups Eyeing Japan

Granite Asia, an investment platform concentrating on technology across multiple assets, and Integral Corporation, a publicly traded private equity firm in Japan, have revealed the establishment of Granite-Integral, a joint venture aimed at investing in high-growth firms that have a significant connection to Japan.

Granite Asia announced last Friday that Granite-Integral is launching with an initial capital commitment of $100 million, equally provided by both partners, and the fund intends to support technology scale-ups entering Japan as well as Japanese firms looking for global growth opportunities.

Integral Corporation will engage in the joint venture via Integral GlobalTech Partners Corporation, the technology growth investment division of Integral.

The partnership will merge Granite Asia's profound understanding and network integration within the global technology arena with Integral Corporation's distinguished ability to create operational value and robust access to the Japanese market.

Nevertheless, entering the market entails maneuvering through Japan’s regulatory, cultural, and business intricacies—a challenge Granite-Integral is specifically equipped to handle.

Granite Asia’s technological proficiency and investor connections, along with Integral Corporation’s extensive market insight, establish a strong foundation to leverage cross-border synergies, expedite market entry, and promote sustained growth within the Asia-Japan corridor.

“Japan is often seen as an appealing but difficult market for international businesses because of its distinct cultural and regulatory environment,” stated Reijiro Yamamoto, founding Partner and Representative Director of Integral Corporation.

"By collaborating with Granite Asia to form Granite-Integral, we merge our profound operational knowledge and insight into the Japanese market with Granite Asia’s vast experience in technology investments throughout the Asia-Pacific region."

Joe Yan is likewise an experienced investment and business executive. He was formerly the Chief Executive Officer and board member of Wish, where he drove the company's recovery.

He additionally held the position of Managing Director and Head of Greater China at Stripe, leading its growth in the market.

With leadership roles at Google, Alibaba, Amazon, and Fosun, he has deep expertise in scaling global technology businesses and private equity investments.