Panasonic Corporation(President & CEO: Masahiro Shinada; Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "Panasonic") and SBI Investment Co., Ltd. (Representative Director, Chairman & President: Yoshitaka Kitao; Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "SBI Investment"), a wholly owned subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc. (Representative Director, President & CEO: Yoshitaka Kitao; Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo), hereby announces that Panasonic and SBI Investment have jointly established PC-SBI Investment Limited Partnership (common name: Panasonic Kurashi Visionary Fund; hereinafter "the Fund"), a corporate venture capital (CVC) fund investing primarily in promising startups in Japan and overseas that are particularly competitive in the area related to Panasonic's lifestyle updates business.
Panasonic, with the mission of achieving the well-being of people, society, and the planet, endeavors to be the best partner of people's lives with human centric technology and innovation. In order to accomplish its mission, Panasonic has decided to establish the Fund, which would help combine the strengths it has built up with external expertise and technologies from the periphery of its business, and consequently create business opportunities that best match increasingly complex and integrated technology.
With a view to achieving well-being for each and every person, the Fund will invest a total of JPY 8 billion over the coming decade in promising startups in Japan and overseas that are competitive in business areas closely related to living, such as energy, food infrastructure, spatial infrastructure, and lifestyle.
SBI Investment operates the core business in the SBI Group's investment business. As a "New Industry Creator", SBI Investment stays focused on investing in start-ups in growth sectors featuring next-generation growth areas such as AI, blockchain, Fintech, IT, biotechnology & healthcare, and environment & energy. The CVC fund it manages has a cumulative capital commitment of more than JPY 110 billion as of July 2022, which is one of the largest in Japan. By taking advantage of the extensive network and expertise of SBI Investment, which has discovered and developed the technologies and businesses of promising startups, Panasonic will strive to be even more responsive and resilient to changes in the external environment and customer value. With the Fund, Panasonic will strive to help startups achieve their visions, and at the same time, create the future that Panasonic envisions.
[Reference: Overview of the Fund]
Official Name PC-SBI Investment Limited Partnership Fund Size JPY 8 Billion
Operation period 10 years
Investment Areas
1. Well-being
2. Decarbonization, resource-saving and energy
3. Food infrastructure
4. Spatial infrastructure
5. New lifestyle
Management companySBI Investment Co., Ltd.ăčăŻăăŒă«ă§ăăŸă Corporate Venture Capital Office https://www.panasonic.com/global/about/cvc/
About Panasonic Corporation Panasonic Corporation offers products and services for a variety of living environments, ranging from homes to stores to offices and cities. There are five businesses at the core of Panasonic Corporation: Living Appliances and Solutions Company, Heating & Ventilation A/C Company, Cold Chain Solutions Company, Electric Works Company and China and Northeast Asia Company. The operating company reported consolidated net sales of 3,647.6 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2022. Panasonic Corporation is committed to fulfilling the mission of Life Tech & Ideas: For the well-being of people, society and the planet, and embraces the vision of becoming the best partner of your life with human-centric technology and innovation. Learn more about Panasonic: https://www.panasonic.com/global/about/
About SBI Holdings, Inc SBI Holdings was established in 1999 as a pioneer of Internet-based financial services in Japan. Since then, SBI Holdings has formed the world's first Internet-based financial conglomerate, providing financial services in a broad range of fields including securities, banking and insurance. In addition, SBI Holdings operates an investment business through its wholly owned subsidiary; SBI Investment, Co. Ltd., with a prime focus on investment in venture companies - an activity undertaken since before the founding of the Company. Learn more about SBI Holdings: https://www.sbigroup.co.jp/english/
About SBI Investment Co., Ltd. SBI Investment is one of Japan's leading venture capital firms, focusing on the creation and cultivation of key industries for the 21st century. Currently, the development of new technologies is accelerating within the Fintech, IoT, AI, Big Data and related fields, thus attracting global attention. SBI Investment's investment portfolio has expanded to include these core technologies, and with now focusing on areas such as Metaverse and Web 3.0, the Company will strive for public contribution through a mutual growth with promising startups. Learn more about SBI Investment: https://www.sbinvestment.co.jp/en/