Empowering Women in Venture Capital

The Tokyo Women in VC Annual Summit recently brought together a vibrant group of professionals committed to enhancing women’s representation in the venture capital (VC) industry. Our founder, Peter, and our member, Sara, participated in this pivotal event. A special thanks to our incredible community members, Sophie Meralli and Misuzu Matsumoto, for hosting this gathering. It was also inspiring to see Kathy Matsui and other former speakers take the stage. We were thrilled to witness women from various age groups and career stages coming together to drive societal impact.

Event Highlights

• Diverse Perspectives: The summit featured discussions with VC professionals from firms of all sizes, providing insights into supporting startups from seed funding through growth stages.

• Focus on Sustainable Growth: Emphasis was placed on fostering sustainable development for startups in Japan’s unique market landscape, going beyond just financial investments.

• Women in Leadership: With the number of female leaders in Japan still being relatively low, it was inspiring to see a growing network of women actively working to create change and ensure their voices are heard.

The Imperative of Women’s Participation in Venture Capital

Japan’s venture capital sector has historically seen limited female participation, but progress is being made.

• Increasing Female Representation: In 2023, women made up 15.6% of the VC industry in Japan, a 5.4 percentage point increase since 2020. Notably, the proportion of women in decision-making roles rose to 7.4%, marking a significant 5.0 percentage point gain over the same period. (PR Times)

• Global Context: Despite these advances, women-founded startups globally received only 2% or less of VC funding in regions like Europe and the United States in 2023, highlighting the persistent gender disparity in venture capital funding. (World Economic Forum)

Tokyo Women in VC: Catalyzing Change

Tokyo Women in VC is actively addressing these disparities by creating a supportive platform for women across the venture capital ecosystem, including angel investors, limited partners, and corporate investors.

• Networking and Community Building: The organization facilitates connections among women in VC, enabling them to share insights and opportunities.

• Deal Flow and Knowledge Sharing: By organizing theme-based webinars and leveraging networks, Tokyo Women in VC helps disseminate critical industry insights. (PR Times)

• Career Development: Through mentorship programs and hands-on workshops, the organization equips women at all career stages with practical skills and support to thrive in VC.

Looking Ahead

The summit exemplified the progress and potential of women in Japan’s VC industry. For aspiring women in VC—whether entry-level professionals, mid-career, or executives—Tokyo Women in VC provides a welcoming community focused on empowerment and growth.

At TeamFirst, we remain committed to fostering a more inclusive and dynamic workforce ecosystem. With over 50% of our members being women, we encourage anyone interested in venture capital or other industries in Japan to join our community. Together, we can drive meaningful change and innovation.