We provide hands-on support for business launches and growth, primarily for seed to mid-stage startups and corporate ventures. Our support team, led by our CEO Tanaka, is a select group of professionals who all have experience in both entrepreneurship and corporate management. We offer one-stop solutions for everything needed to launch a business, including executive retreats, strategy development, organizational building, investor relations, and diverse fundraising options.
Our mission is to stand alongside passionate entrepreneurs and help bring innovation to society.
Our logo embodies this vision through three design elements. The base is the letter "H," representing "Hongo," our founding location. The lower half of the logo is inspired by an arch bridge, symbolizing our desire to be a bridge connecting people with people and companies with investors. The upper half represents the "J-curve" characteristic of startup growth trajectories.
The logo's color scheme transitions from purple (symbolizing innovation, combining the red of passion with the blue of logic) to navy (representing trust), expressing the social implementation of new businesses.
We provide ongoing strategic support to major publishing groups, major financial institutions, and companies listed on the Tokyo Pro Market. Particularly in corporate transformation through next-generation management strategies, we have achieved an average 70% efficiency improvement with implementation at over 10 companies.
We have made angel investments in over 20 startups and provide growth support as advisors. We have supported fundraising totaling billions of yen from seed and early stages through later stages, driving business growth across a wide range of company phases.
We have extensive experience giving lectures at economic organizations including the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, training sessions for corporate directors and executives, and serving as evaluation committee members for various business plan contests. We also contribute to developing innovative talent.
CEO
Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Economics, and completed the MBA program at Keio Business School (selected for exchange at ESSEC Business School in France during his studies). After supporting IPOs at MUFG Bank and overseeing new business initiatives at Recruit, he founded Cozre Inc. As CEO, he led the company's pivot from media to data solutions, achieving 700 million yen in cumulative fundraising and profitability. The company was subsequently acquired 100% by a listed company.
Currently at Hongo Startups, he promotes the development of management strategies through collaboration between large enterprises and startups, while also serving as an investor. Simultaneously, he established Fruition Ltd. to operate a roll-up business consolidating small and medium-sized brands in the care sector. Drawing on his understanding of corporate logic and startup agility, he promotes industrial collaboration with expertise in data-driven management and venture finance.
Executive Partner
CEO of Dyzo Consulting Inc. After graduating from Michigan State University in the United States, he founded a music distribution startup and worked in web consulting before completing his MBA at Keio Business School. As a certified Case Method Instructor at the graduate school, he bridges academic frameworks with practical business. He provides consulting services using his original thinking tool, the "Business Model Circuit Diagram®," to visualize and redesign the causal structures of businesses.
After obtaining his MBA, he also served in the examination of management innovation plan projects at the Okayama Prefecture Industrial Promotion Foundation, visiting approximately 100 small and medium-sized enterprises over two years to engage with their executives. He provides concrete and practical support from building business models at the founding stage to revitalizing regional companies.
Executive Advisor
CEO of Paripass Inc. After launching businesses at startups, preparing for IPOs, and developing new businesses at Dwango, he joined Monex Group. In 2014, he led the establishment of Monex Ventures and transformed it from a synergy-focused CVC of the parent company into an independent VC pursuing pure financial returns. Over 11 years, he invested in over 100 companies in fintech and social issue-solving businesses, achieving numerous exits.
He has also served as manager of the Tokyo Impact Investment Fund and guest mentor at the Tokyo Contents Incubation Center, contributing to ecosystem development. After becoming independent in 2025, he provides hands-on support for capital strategy and growth strategies as a capitalist with perspectives from both operating companies and financial investors.
Executive Advisor
Representative Director of the Think Pearl Association. After working in financial institutions and starting businesses, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2009, which she overcame. This experience led her to establish Think Pearl, an organization promoting women's health education and preventive healthcare awareness. She has created the "Women's Body Conference®" and developed international campaigns, working to create markets in the women's healthcare sector.
She has served as a committee member on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Cancer Control Promotion Council" and as an external expert for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's femtech promotion projects, contributing to government policy recommendations. Working across public, private, and civil society sectors, she promotes initiatives to solve social issues through corporate health management consulting and educational outreach.
Company Name
CEO
Established
Hongo Startups, Inc.
Jojiro Tanaka
July 2022
Motomachi Wellness Park East Building 3F, 1-1-19 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033
Business Location
Place α 3F (within KERNEL HONGO), 4-1-4 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033
Affiliated Organizations
Startup Ecosystem Tokyo Consortium (Full Member)
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024/2025 Global Startup Ambassador
Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Bunkyo Branch)
Legal Counsel