Hitachi has launched its fourth corporate venture capital (CVC) fund, the “HV Fund,” to find startups that can create or change large and attractive markets. This new fund will be worth 400 million USD, making it the largest CVC fund Hitachi has ever managed.
This CVC fund will focus on investment in startups that are working with advanced digital technologies. This includes areas like data centers, energy systems, future work trends, and industrial artificial intelligence. It will also invest in new fields, such as biotechnology, quantum technology, nuclear fusion, life sciences, space, and related technologies. With this fourth fund, Hitachi’s total investment in venture capital will reach 1 billion USD, which is a significant amount to help promote new ideas and support startups around the world.
Under the leadership of Toshiaki Tokunaga, who will be appointed as Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO in April, Hitachi aims to realize “True One Hitachi” with digital at its core and accelerate sustainable growth of Social Innovation Business.
Keiji Kojima, President and CEO of Hitachi, Ltd. said: “Hitachi’s efforts in CVC, which began in 2019 with 150 million USD, have expanded to 1 billion USD in 5 years, driven in part by the disruptive innovation brought about by Generative AI. With technology trends shifting at an unprecedented speed, it is important to identify the next global change point while leveraging the external ecosystem in addition to developing cutting-edge technologies through R&D, for further growth of the Social Innovation Business. We hope that the establishment of the fourth fund will accelerate our quest for new growth opportunities.”
Toshiaki Tokunaga, Representative Executive Officer and Executive Vice President at Hitachi, Ltd. (to be appointed as Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO on April 1, 2025) said: “Under the next Mid-term Management Plan currently being formulated, Hitachi will accelerate its progress toward becoming a global leader in Social Innovation Business by achieving “True One Hitachi” with digital at its core. Against this backdrop, strengthening our ability to anticipate global change and adding this new CVC fund to search for the next technological trend beyond Gen AI are significant steps toward achieving sustainable growth. Through our CVC, we will continue to embody the “pioneering spirit” inherited from our founder, Namihei Odaira, and create new growth opportunities jointly with startups worldwide.”
Also Read: Hitachi and Microsoft join forces to ignite a new era of social innovation with generative AIStefan Gabriel, CEO & Managing Director at Hitachi Ventures said: “We are very grateful for the trust and support from Hitachi’s Executives committing a fourth Hitachi Ventures fund. While topping up our AUM to 1 billion USD, Hitachi Ventures will be able to keep the speed of venture investing in future Unicorns of fast-changing growth markets in upcoming regions that create strategic and technical relevance for Hitachi’s businesses. With our minority investments, we help to combine the agility, entrepreneurial spirit, and speed of startups with the global industry reach, trusted expertise, and financial strength of Hitachi. This will greatly accelerate the transition of Hitachi and its customers in their transformation journey and help build and grow businesses, collaborate and innovate with selected Unicorns of tomorrow.”
