Nozomi Isshiki, senior manager at KDDI America, is one of our top 50 Emerging Leaders in corporate venturing for 2025.
Nozomi Isshiki joined KDDI Corporation, the telecommunications operator, in 2011. Originally in a business development role, her focus shifted to investment in 2018 and expanded in 2021, when she transferred to KDDI America. Her remit now includes looking for new investment opportunities and business collaboration with startups based mainly in the US and Europe, especially those looking to expand into the Japanese market. She also supports Japanese startups’ expansion into the US.
Isshiki is struck by the difference between investing in Japan and in the US. “In Japan, KDDI is famous as a startup-friendly company, but in the US market we have to explain what we do, what KDDI is and the benefits we can offer.”
“It is important,” Isshiki says, “to prioritise the business correlation of the partnership compared with the investment return or capital gain.” KDDI has broad assets that include not just telecoms, but also entertainment services, financial services and convenience stores.
“In Japan, KDDI is famous as a startup-friendly company, but in the US market we have to explain what we do”
Isshiki keeps an eye on trends in the generative AI and robotics space. Many of these technologies can make use of the 5G network that KDDI can provide.
Last year, KDDI acquired a 50% stake in the Japanese convenience store operator Lawson. KDDI aims to integrate various digital technologies into the 20,000 locations to upgrade the shopping experience and automate store operations.
A recent investment in which Isshiki participated was the luggage storage service Bounce. The company is expanding globally and KDDI can assist its entry into the Japanese market, leveraging real-estate assets such as its stores, as well as its knowledge of store management methods.
KDDI’s Open Innovation Fund III, established in 2018, is stage and sector agnostic, but typically invests in series A, with cheque sizes of around $1m. The team currently manages 160 portfolio companies.
See the full list of Emerging Leaders 2025 here.
