Yamaha Motor Establishes Second Fund for Corporate Venturing

Rhea-AI Summary

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has established a new 10-year investment fund, Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II, with a total amount of US$100 million.

This fund aims to explore innovative technologies and business opportunities to secure competitive advantages and expand into new domains. It follows the first fund set up in 2018 and will be managed by Yamaha Motor Ventures in Silicon Valley. The company’s Medium-Term Management Plan highlights the focus on strategic business fields and co-creation partnerships for sustainable growth in areas like transportation, robotics, fintech, and digital health.

Positive

• Establishment of a new fund with a total investment of US$100 million.
• Focus on innovative technologies and potential high-growth sectors.
• Strengthening corporate venturing through experience gained from the first fund.

Negative

• None.

- Exploring technologies and opportunities aimed at new business domain expansion and securing competitive advantages -

IWATA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 7272) announced today the establishment of the U.S.-based Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II, a company-financed 10-year fund with a total investment purse of US$100 million for exploring technologies and opportunities aimed at new business domain expansion and securing competitive advantages.

Yamaha Motor Headquarters, Shizuoka, Japan (Photo: Business Wire)

This fund will be the second of its kind following the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. established in 2018 and will strengthen the Company’s corporate venturing while utilizing the knowledge accrued from the first fund. The search for companies to invest in will be carried out by Yamaha Motor Ventures (YMV).

In 2015, the Company established YMV in Silicon Valley, USA as its corporate venture capital arm, starting the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. as its own investment fund in 2018 before setting up the Yamaha Motor Sustainability Fund in 2022 to invest in companies working to address problems concerning the environment.

In the new Medium-Term Management Plan (2022–2024) announced in February 2022, Yamaha Motor designated several “New Businesses” and “Growth Businesses” as “Strategic Business Fields.” As part of managing its business portfolio, the Company will actively allocate management resources to these businesses in order to develop them into future core businesses. For these new businesses, the Company will promote new value creation unique to Yamaha Motor through co-creation partnerships and with the technologies and expertise it has garnered to date.

Fund Overview
Name	Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II
Established	February 2023
Total fund amount	US$100 million
Fund period	10 years
Investment target	Startups with innovative technologies and ample business growth potential in the fields of transportation, robotics, data/AI, fintech/insurtech, and digital health and wellness

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230313005325/en/

Ayuko Kobayashi

Corporate Communication Division

Global PR Team

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

TEL: +81(0)538-32-1145

ymc_pr@yamaha-motor.co.jp

Source: Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

FAQ

What is the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II?

It is a new 10-year investment fund established by Yamaha Motor with a total amount of US$100 million, aimed at exploring innovative technologies and business opportunities.

When was the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II established?

The fund was established in February 2023.

What is the investment focus of the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II?

The fund targets startups with innovative technologies in fields such as transportation, robotics, data/AI, fintech/insurtech, and digital health.

How does the new fund relate to previous funds by Yamaha Motor?

This fund is the second of its kind, following the first Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund established in 2018.

Who manages the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II?

The fund will be managed by Yamaha Motor Ventures, the company's corporate venture capital arm.