Yamaha Motor establishes company fund for new business creation

Yamaha Motor Co Ltd has established a new company fund to further strengthen its global corporate venture activities. The US-based Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund LP has a total investment of US$100m and an operation period of 10 years.

“The establishment of the fund shows the company’s long-term commitment to our corporate venturing activities,” says Yamaha in a statement.

Yamaha Motor says it has been exploring venture companies through Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley Inc (YMVSV), established in 2015. As a result of these activities, a total of nine venture companies have been invested in. These include Veniam (USA) and Robotics Plus (New Zealand).

Veniam provides mesh-type WiFi communication services for mobile units, and develops and sells communication hardware etc. Robotics Plus works in the development of automated solutions in agriculture fields based on robot engineering and automation and analysis technology.

Through the establishment of the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund LP, Yamaha Motor says it hopes to help accelerate investment in early stage venture companies worldwide.

“Through this fund, we will encourage investment in venture companies with innovative technologies and business models, and further help realise our long-term vision,” says the statement.”