RiSiN

Rising Sun Innovators From Japan to the World: Expanding Startup Potential and Building Bridges to Success

Make Japan Strong Again

A future where startups originating
from Japan naturally achieve success worldwide

About RiSiN

RiSiN is a company specializing in investments in U.S.-focused micro funds and startups.

Investment in U.S. funds and startups
Support for U.S. companies
entering the Japanese market

Revitalizing the domestic venture market.

Driving further growth of leading U.S. companies.

RiSiN serves as a strong bridge
between the Japanese and U.S. markets.

Origin of RiSiN

The name RiSiN stands for Rising Sun Innovators.
Our vision is to bring groundbreaking Japanese innovation to the world and create a new wave of unicorn startups from Japan.
The name RiSiN embodies our commitment to reclaiming the "Lost 30 Years" and driving a new era of growth for our generation.

  • Vision

    To reclaim the lost 30 years, we leverage our U.S. network to cultivate a new wave of unicorn startups from Japan and create role models for future generations.

  • Mission

    By leveraging our U.S. network, we aim to become a strong bridge that enables Japanese startups to expand their businesses and raise capital in the U.S. as a natural part of their growth journey.

Why RiSiN

  • 01

    Strong access and networks within the U.S. startup ecosystem.

  • 02

    We have established relationships with over 50 micro funds and fund managers in the U.S.

  • 03

    We have a strong track record of investing in U.S. startups and funds, including through angel investments.

Investment Strategy

Why We Focus on the U.S. market

  • 01The number of unicorn startups in the U.S. is overwhelmingly higher than in Japan

    In recent years, the Japanese government has promoted the creation of so-called “unicorn” startups—privately held companies valued at over $1 billion—as a way to drive next-generation industrial innovation and job creation.

    However, compared to countries like the United States, China, and India, the number of unicorn startups in Japan remains low, and the gap continues to widen year by year.

    At RiSiN, our vision is to produce a new wave of unicorn startups from Japan. That is why our focus on the U.S. market—where the ecosystem to achieve this already exists—is both strategic and essential.

  • 02Abundant Talent

    Silicon Valley attracts top talent and major companies from around the world, creating an ecosystem that draws entrepreneurs globally to launch their ventures there.

    This environment makes it possible to build diverse, multinational teams capable of addressing both U.S. and international markets—leading to greater growth potential.

    To build a unicorn startup, having a globally competitive team is essential. That’s why the U.S. remains a critically important market.

  • 03A High Number of Serial Entrepreneurs

    In Silicon Valley, startup exits are more commonly achieved through M&A rather than IPOs.
    Many founders who sell their companies go on to become serial entrepreneurs, launching new ventures—often larger in scale—leveraging their prior experience and management know-how to increase the chances of success.

    Some of these exited founders also become angel investors, supporting the next generation of startups through funding and mentorship.

    By drawing inspiration from this U.S. ecosystem and creating more globally-minded startups from Japan, we can cultivate a new wave of successful Japanese entrepreneurs—and eventually build an ecosystem where experienced founders support the next generation.

Why U.S. Micro Funds

  • Smaller funds often outperform larger funds in terms of overall returns and investment performance

  • Smaller funds tend to generate higher returns on investment compared to larger funds

Main Objective

Why We Invest in U.S. Micro Funds

By investing in independent funds managed by top-tier venture capitalists, we aim to fully leverage their extensive networks, valuable information, and access to promising startups. This strategy enables us to integrate into the inner network of the U.S. startup ecosystem, facilitating more effective support and growth opportunities for Japanese startups.む

Criteria

  • 01.

    Funding Stage

    Invest in startups at very early stages, specifically from pre-seed to pre-Series A.

  • 02.

    Investment Conditions

    Provide initial investment to startups that have progressed beyond the MVP stage, and support their growth through follow-on investments and ongoing strategic support

  • 03.

    Sector

    Evaluate whether the fund’s investment sectors align with the fund manager’s expertise and professional background

  • 04.

    Annual Investment Volume

    Assess whether the fund has the sourcing capability and operational capacity to make 50 to 100 investments per year

  • 05.

    Investment Size

    Target investments ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, with fund sizes between $10 million and $50 million.

  • 06.

    Track Record

    Avoid investing in initial funds; ensure a minimum internal rate of return (IRR) of 30% in previous funds.

Benefits Provided to Supporters

In addition to regular updates on our investment activities,
we are committed to providing our supporters with value that goes beyond their initial support
—through meaningful insights, access, and ongoing opportunities

  • For Individual Supporters

    • Investor Networking Events
    • Access to the Latest U.S. Startup Insights
    • Opportunities to Invest in Promising Startups
    • U.S. Startup Tours
      (Silicon Valley or New York etc)

  • For Corporate Supporters

    • Access to Curated Information & Deal Sourcing Support
    • Investment Opportunities in Selected U.S. Startups
    • Talent Development & Exchange Opportunities
    • Cross-Border Business Matching
    • Market Research & Local Insights

Portfolio

View More
U.S. Funds Syndicate Startups Investment

Representative

Patrick Yuji Wakabayashi

Graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University, Faculty of Business Administration

Career as a Capitalist:

Began his career as a founding member of an independent venture capital firm, where he led sourcing and investments primarily in early-stage startups and funds in the United States.

Leveraging his hands-on experience, global network, and deep understanding of the U.S. ecosystem, he went on to establish RiSiN LLC, focusing on investments in U.S.-based micro funds and startups.

As an individual angel investor, he has also backed nearly 20 Japanese entrepreneurs taking on global challenges, particularly in the U.S. and international markets.

Message from the Representative

At RiSiN LLC, our mission is to serve as a bridge between Japan and the U.S., opening new opportunities for Japanese startups to succeed on the global stage.

Through my experience as a venture capitalist in the U.S., I’ve come to deeply understand the importance of early-stage support and strong networks in building successful companies.

With that in mind, I founded RiSiN to help Japanese innovators access the capital, talent, and resources available in the U.S. startup ecosystem.

Our vision goes beyond simply supporting startups—we aim to help shape the next generation of unicorns and role models, driving a new era of innovation for Japan. We are committed to creating real value for both investors and entrepreneurs, and to bringing bold ideas to life.

We invite you to be part of this exciting journey—help us shape a global community where Japanese entrepreneurship thrives.

Company

  • Company Name
    RiSiN LLC
  • Address
    Toranomon 40MT Building 7th Floor, 5-13-1
    Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
    105-0001
  • Established
    July 2024
  • Representative
    Patrick Yuji Wakabayashi
  • Business Activities
    • ・Investment in U.S. microfunds
    • ・Investment in startups
    • ・Support for market entry into Japan and the U.S.
    • ・Consulting on fundraising, business strategy, and exit strategies
    • ・Back office support
    • ・Various Consulting Services
  • Phone Number
    03-4530-9890

    ※For inquiries, please use the contact form on our website.

・Directly connected to Kamiyacho Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line) Exit 3
・10-minute walk from Toranomon Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line) Exit 2a
・8-minute walk from Roppongi-itchome Station (Tokyo Metro Namboku Line) Exit 1
・8-minute walk from Onarimon Station (Toei Mita Line) Exit A5

Contact