Latest fund size
$42.4M
Announced
October 17, 2026
Global HQ
Japan
Members only
Check size
$200K-$600K
Members only
Stage focus
Pre-Seed, Seed
Members only
Regions of investment
Japan
Members only
HIRAC Fund is a Tokyo-based venture capital fund operated by Money Forward Venture Partners, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan's Money Forward. The fund invests in seed and early-stage startups using technology to address social problems and revitalize local economies, acting as a hub linking its financial-institution and corporate limited partners with portfolio companies for business partnerships and regional expansion.
Naoya Kanesaka, Co-Founder and Managing Partner
kanesaka.naoya@moneyforward.co.jp
Satoshi Furuhashi, Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Kohji Okada, Partner
Hiroyuki Jinno, Partner and Board Director
jinno.hiroyuki@moneyforward.co.jp
Takumi Sato, Partner
Members only
Names, roles, emails and LinkedIn profiles for the team, plus the fund's website.
HIRAC Fund invests in seed and early-stage companies across seven themes: business-facing AX and DX, industry-specific DX, platforms, Japanese soft power (entertainment, food, and tourism), brand businesses, healthcare and welfare, and emerging technology including AI, robotics, deep tech, and space.
The fund focuses primarily on Japan, with some investment abroad, and positions itself as a connector between its regional-bank and corporate limited partners and its portfolio companies for business partnerships and regional expansion.
Members only
What the fund looks for in founders and which sectors it backs.
HIRAC Fund announced an interim close of roughly $42.4 million on its third fund, toward a target final size of more than $63 million.
New limited partners in this close include Aomori Michinoku Bank and Mizuho Securities, alongside returning LPs Iwate Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Kiyo Bank, Chugoku Bank, and Yamanashi Chuo Bank.
The fund's first Fund III investment, announced in July 2026, was in Mofuku Rescue, which operates 24-hour unmanned stores renting mourning attire and plans to scale nationwide through regional bank partnerships.
HIRAC Fund's first fund closed in December 2020 at roughly $19 million, and its second fund held a final close in December 2023 at roughly $57 million.
Members only
Fund size, LPs and track record.
Leadership
HIRAC Fund is led by Co-Founders and Managing Partners Naoya Kanesaka, who also serves as CFO of Money Forward Synca, and Satoshi Furuhashi, who also serves as CEO of Smartcamp, a Money Forward enterprise software subsidiary.
The broader team includes Partners Kohji Okada, Hiroyuki Jinno, and Takumi Sato, who also serves as a Consulting Sales Director at Money Forward.
Investment Strategy
The fund says it tailors investment terms to each startup rather than publishing a standard check size, and manages a combined portfolio of roughly 50 companies across its funds.
Notable Investments
Notable Exits
Members only
Leadership, investment strategy, notable investments and exits.
