Logistics Innovation Fund

Established in 2019, the Logistics Innovation Fund is a corporate venture capital fund managed by Spiral Innovation Partners, with Seino Holdings as the anchor investor. The fund focuses on investing in startups that aim to address challenges in logistics-adjacent domains and drive innovation across the logistics industry. It targets early- to later-stage startups, with typical investment sizes of approximately JPY 150 million per deal for early-stage startups and JPY 250 million per deal for middle to later-stage startups. The fund has a total size of JPY 7 billion and has made investments in 20 companies.

The fund's investment areas include new platforms in logistics-related areas, business process improvements, and the expansion of operational areas. Notable portfolio companies include VALT JAPAN, which operates the DX platform 'NEXT HERO' focused on employment support for people with disabilities; Domuz, which operates the e-commerce platform 'AND PLANTS' for ornamental plants and flowers, and a wholesale marketplace 'Hanaichi' for the floral industry; and Emulsion Flow Technologies, which focuses on rare metal recycling business, particularly lithium-ion batteries. The fund aims to promote the upgrading and problem-solving of the logistics industry by collaborating with startups that have cutting-edge technologies and business models.

In April 2024, the fund reached a total size of JPY 8.5 billion, with new investors joining, including Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd. This expansion reflects the fund's commitment to driving innovation and creating new value in the logistics industry through partnerships with startups possessing advanced technologies and expertise. The fund continues to seek opportunities to invest in and collaborate with startups that can contribute to the evolution and modernization of the logistics sector in Japan.