Exploring technologies and opportunities aimed at new business domain expansion and securing competitive advantages
Yamaha Motor announced today the establishment of the second Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II - a company-financed 10-year fund based in the U.S. With the total investment purse of US$100 million, this fund is dedicated for exploring technologies and opportunities, aimed at new business domain expansion and securing competitive advantages.
This fund is following the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P., which was established in 2018, and will strengthen the Company’s corporate venturing while utilizing the knowledge accrued from the first fund. The search for companies to invest in will be carried out by Yamaha Motor Ventures (YMV).
In 2015, Yamaha Motor has established YMV in Silicon Valley, USA as its corporate venture capital arm, starting the first Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. as its own investment fund in 2018, before setting up the Yamaha Motor Sustainability Fund in 2022 to invest in companies working to address problems concerning the environment.
In the new Medium-Term Management Plan (2022–2024) announced in February 2022, Yamaha Motor designated several “New Businesses” and “Growth Businesses” as “Strategic Business Fields.” As part of managing its business portfolio, the Company will actively allocate management resources to these businesses in order to develop them into future core businesses. For these new businesses, the Company will promote new value creation unique to Yamaha Motor through co-creation partnerships and with the technologies and expertise it has garnered to date.
Fund Overview
Name: Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, L.P. II
Established: February 2023
Total fund amount: US$100 million
Fund period: 10 years
Investment target: Startups with innovative technologies and ample business growth potential in the fields of transportation, robotics, data/AI, fintech/insurtech, and digital health and wellness