Domain-Focused Micro VCs: Building Market Presence Through Deal Access Deal

Thu Mar 05 2026 at 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm UTC-08:00

214 Homer Ave | Palo Alto

JCCNC(Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California)
Publisher/HostJCCNC(Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California)
Domain-Focused Micro VCs: Building Market Presence Through Deal Access Deal
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特化型マイクロVCが台頭する中、クリプト・AI・ヘルスケア等の専門領域で存在感を示すGPが、アーリーステージ投資の最新動向と日本企業との協業機会を議論します。
About this Event

「Deal Accessで存在感を増す領域特化型マイクロVCの現状」

シリコンバレーの投資の実行側は、昨年Q3時点で100件超のメガ・ディールが年全体の取引額の70%を占めるなど、案件の大型化、および上位集中の強い傾向が見られます。このように、少数の大型案件が価値の大半を占めるという傾向のなか、結果的に領域特化・小型のロングテールが増える構造となっており、$10M~$50M前後のマイクロVCが急増し、従来の大手VCが手を出しづらいプレシード・シードの資金ギャップを埋める形で増えています。なかでも、一部のマイクロVCは専門領域で存在感を発揮しており、クリプト、AI、ヘルスケア、Climateテック等、明確なドメインフォーカスを持ち、該当のVerticalに深い知見とネットワークを売りにしています。


本イベントでは、複数の特化型マイクロVCのGPを迎え、「アーリーステージ投資の現状」について具体的に掘り下げ、このような特化型マイクロVCと日本企業(スタートアップ、CVC含む)がどのように協業し得るのかについて、実践的な議論を行います。

日時:2026年3月5日(木) 4-6PM

場所:Japan Innovation Campus

住所: 214 Homer Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

参加費:JCCNC会員 無料 非会員 $15


式次第:

午後3時半~4時(30分):受付開始

午後4時~午後4時5分(5分):

セミナー紹介: Roy Kimura JCCNC セミナー委員長、 ITOCHU International Inc.

開会挨拶: 石原首席領事 (日本語)

午後4時5分~4時20分(15分):

ファイヤーサイドチャット、Emi Yoshikawa, Across Venture x Tomoko Saeki, Kicker Ventures (日本語)

午後4時20分~午後5時10分(50分):パネルディスカッション (英語)

モデレーター:Seokjun Ko SBI Holdings USA

パネリスト① Emi Yoshikawa, Across Ventures

パネリスト➁ Simon Lancaster, Omni Ventures

パネリスト③ Yigit Ihlamur, Vela Partners

午後5時10分~午後5時30分:質疑応答 (英語)

午後5時30分~午後6時:ネットワーキング



“Domain-Focused Micro VCs: Building Market Presence Through Deal Access”

In Silicon Valley, investment activity has increasingly concentrated around large transactions. As of Q3 last year, more than 100 mega‑deals accounted for approximately 70% of total annual deal value, demonstrating a strong trend toward larger, top‑heavy transactions. In this environment—where a small number of large deals capture the majority of deployed capital—the market is simultaneously seeing a structural expansion in the long tail of smaller, domain‑specific funds.

As a result, $10M–$50M micro VCs have rapidly increased in number. These funds are emerging to fill the financing gap in the pre‑seed and seed stages, an area where traditional large VCs tend to be less active. Among them, certain micro VCs have built a strong presence through deep specialization. These domain‑focused funds concentrate on clearly defined verticals—crypto, AI, healthcare, climate tech, and others—leveraging sector‑specific expertise and networks as their core value proposition.

In this event, we will welcome several GPs from leading specialized micro VCs to discuss the current landscape of early‑stage investing in practical detail. Together, we will explore how domain‑focused micro VCs can collaborate with Japanese companies—including startups and CVCs—through co‑investment, strategic support, and sector‑driven partnership models.


Event Details
Date & Time: Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00PM
Venue: Japan Innovation Campus
Participation Fee:
Members: FREE
Non-Members: $15


Program

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (30 min)Registration

4:00 PM – 4:05 PM (5 min)Introduction and Opening Remarks by the MC, Roy KimuraRemarks by the Deputy Consul General Takeshi Ishihara (in Japanese)

4:05 PM – 4:20 PM (15 min)Fireside Chat (in Japanese)

  • Emi Yoshikawa (Across Venture) × Tomoko Saeki (Kicker Ventures)

4:20 PM – 5:10 PM (50 min)Panel Discussion (in English)

  • Moderator: Seokjun Ko, SBI Holdings USA
  • Panelists:
    1. Emi Yoshikawa, Across Ventures
    2. Simon Lancaster, Omni Ventures
    3. Yigit Ihlamur, Vela Partners

5:10 PM – 5:30 PM (20 min)Q&A Session (in English)

5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (30 min)Networking



Agenda

🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Registration
🕑: 04:00 PM - 04:05 PM
Opening
Host: Roy Kimura, JCCNC Seminar Committee Chair
🕑: 04:05 PM - 04:20 PM
Fireside Chat ( in Japanese)
Host: Emi Yoshikawa, Across Venture
🕑: 04:20 PM - 05:10 PM
Panel Discussion (in English)
Host: Seokjun Ko, SBI Holdings USA
🕑: 05:10 PM - 05:30 PM
Q&A Session (in English)
🕑: 05:30 PM - 06:00 PM
Networking
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

214 Homer Ave, 214 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00 to USD 15.00

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