World Innovation Lab

WiL is a US‑ and Japan‑based venture firm purpose‑built to bridge high‑growth technology companies with Japan’s largest corporations and public institutions. Its core belief is that value creation accelerates when startups access “lighthouse” customers and distribution via WiL’s corporate LP network while those corporates accelerate their digital transformation. The firm primarily backs growth and late‑stage companies in the US and Europe—especially in B2B SaaS and infrastructure—and helps them commercialize and scale in Japan by acting as a hands‑on “tour guide” for market entry, talent hiring, partnerships, and early customer acquisition. In parallel, WiL invests multi‑stage in Japan when founders pursue global ambitions, and it also partners with corporates to incubate new businesses and run CVC programs. Sectorally, WiL concentrates on AI, B2B SaaS, fintech/insurtech, automation and productivity, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, developer tools, health tech, sustainability and related “digital transformation” themes. More recently, its mandate has expanded to include climate/sustainability and Web3 where strategically relevant to LPs. Beyond direct investments, WiL also commits to top‑tier venture funds to form alliances and co‑invest in breakout companies it can help internationalize. Geographically, WiL operates bi‑directionally: helping US/EU startups land and scale in Japan/APAC, and helping Japanese startups globalize. The firm emphasizes later‑stage (Series B+) risk in Western markets and is more flexible (including earlier stages) domestically in Japan. WiL optimizes for strategic impact, industry transformation, and ecosystem development alongside financial returns, explicitly leveraging its corporate LP base to create win‑win outcomes for founders and enterprises. No explicit sector exclusions are published; the focus is technology categories where WiL’s LP network and cross‑border playbook confer an advantage.

WiL prioritizes cross‑border fit and enterprise utility. In the US/Europe, they concentrate on later‑stage B2B software and infrastructure where product‑market fit is established and Japan expansion is a realistic growth lever. In Japan, the emphasis is less about the round label and more about ambition and the path to globalization; WiL looks for founders who explicitly aim to win abroad (e.g., Mercari), and whose products can create strong synergies with large corporates. A consistent theme is “strategic usefulness” to WiL’s LP network—especially B2B SaaS that LPs can adopt as lighthouse customers—so traction with enterprise buyers and readiness for regulated, large‑account environments matter. Team and vision still dominate: WiL’s public commentary highlights founders with clear, long‑term vision and urgency to execute, and WiL actively evaluates whether it can be the “tour guide to Japan” that materially changes a company’s trajectory. Market size and timing are filtered through this cross‑border lens: WiL weighs whether a category is scaling globally (cloud, AI, cybersecurity, fintech) and whether Japan is a high‑potential market for it. Likely deal‑breakers include weak alignment with Japan/Asia expansion, poor enterprise readiness (security/compliance, sales motion), or limited synergy with corporate LPs’ transformation priorities. WiL’s dual mandate—to generate returns while solving LP pain points—means it tends to avoid opportunities where it cannot add differentiated Japan/APAC value or where corporate adoption pathways are unclear.

• CrestaLead
  US enterprise AI platform with Fortune 500 adoption; WiL co‑led the $125M Series D and took a board seat, aligning with WiL’s growth‑stage AI/SaaS thesis and global scaling agenda.
• TiveLead
  Global supply‑chain visibility leader with 900+ customers; WiL co‑led the $40M Series C and can help expand the business in APAC/Japan via its corporate LP network.
• HeralbonyLead
  Japan‑origin brand building a global art/licensing platform; WiL was named lead investor, matching its strategy to back Japanese innovators scaling globally.
• SmartHR
  Leading Japanese HR SaaS; WiL is an existing investor in the Series E round, reflecting its focus on B2B SaaS and deep Japan market expertise.
• Auth0
  US identity‑management leader with strong Japan traction; WiL invested in multiple late‑stage rounds, supporting WiL’s thesis of enterprise‑focused SaaS and cross‑border growth.
• Mercari
  Japan’s marketplace unicorn expanding globally; WiL is cited by the CEO for support on US go‑to‑market, exemplifying WiL’s cross‑border enablement focus.
• Raksul
  Japan‑origin B2B platform modernising legacy industries; WiL is described as an indispensable partner for global scaling.
• SORACOM
  Japan‑origin IoT connectivity platform that globalised and exited to KDDI; WiL’s telecom connections helped launch the business worldwide.

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  Bessemer Venture Partners

  Auth0