D4V

Design as a basis for investment

D4V, short for Design for Ventures, is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Tokyo. It invests in consumer and enterprise technology startups in Japan, typically from seed through to Series A. The firm's starting point is that design shapes not only a product but the business model and the whole customer experience, and that design is what separates companies that reach product-market fit from those that stall. Its name reflects a commitment to designing for ventures at every stage of their life.

Help that goes beyond the investment

D4V works alongside the global design company IDEO to give startups hands-on assistance and coaching. Its team runs design sprints with startup teams to speed up progress, strengthens research into how users behave, and helps companies recruit their first designer. It also coaches founding teams on building a design-driven culture, so that design decisions are made across the company rather than handed off to one department.

Portfolio examples and published research

The firm points to examples from its portfolio. airCloset is a fashion rental service in which user experience sits at the core of the offer. Halu designs a portable chair for children of all abilities. D4V has also published research drawn from interviews with 153 Japanese startup managers about how they work with design. The firm says it has invested in more than 40 companies, and it holds two funds that have closed.

Focus on people and society

The firm supports startups that want to better the lives of individuals and to advance the interests of society. Its own description says it looks for companies that focus on the user, and it works with founders to identify what end users actually need. Its global network, the firm says, shapes its view of market trends and technology, including for startups that launch first in Japan.