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World Innovation Lab

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Overview

World Innovation Lab (WiL) is a venture capital firm headquartered in Palo Alto, US, and Tokyo, Japan, that invests in growth-stage companies across sectors like AI, B2B SaaS, fintech, insurtech, cybersecurity, health tech, and sustainability, with a focus on facilitating expansion into Japan and Asia.12 It leverages capital from Japanese and Asian corporations and governments, acting as a bridge between startups and corporates to provide strategic support for global scaling.23

History

World Innovation Lab was co-founded in 2014 by Gen Isayama, a Stanford GSB alumnus with prior experience at DCM Ventures.13 The firm raised over $1 billion in 2022 across multiple funds including WiL Ventures III and corporate VC funds, bringing total committed capital to more than $1.9 billion.1 It has developed a novel approach to LP relationships with Japanese corporations, aiding their transformation and supporting joint ventures.3

Reputation

WiL is recognized by professionals for its cross-cultural expertise in bridging US startups with Japanese corporates and accelerating market entry in Asia.123 Employee reviews on platforms like Glassdoor indicate positive perceptions of the work environment among team members.5 It is noted in academic cases for its innovative VC model targeting Japanese entrepreneurship challenges.3

Sources (7)
  1. https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/14/world-innovation-lab-wants-to-connect-the-innovation-gap-between-startups-and-corporates-in-the-us-and-asia-with-1b/
  2. https://wilab.com
  3. https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/case-studies/world-innovation-lab-wil-transforming-japanese-corporations
  4. https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Innovation-Lab/reviews
  5. https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-World-Innovation-Lab-EI_IE1891031.11,31.htm
  6. https://wilab.com/team
  7. https://wilab.com/team/andy-cohen