Startups

SoftBank Group Corp.’s massive Vision Fund is making its first-ever energy storage bet — and it’s on a rather unconventional type of battery.

A Japanese incubator owned by SoftBank Group, is accelerating its investment into the country's artificial intelligence startups despite the verdict of its parent group's founder that Japan is "underdeveloped" in the cutting edge technology.

A venture capital fund set up by Japanese soccer player Keisuke Honda and American actor Will Smith has invested in two of Tesla founder Elon Musk's other ventures, including a company working on a way to connect brains with computers.

Fifty years after man first walked on the moon, Japan is exploring the profitable side of space with efforts to build up an ecosystem for space-related startups.

Daiwa Securities Group will set up a venture capital fund in Myanmar, in a first for a major Japanese financial institution.

With many areas experiencing a severe lack of pediatricians, local governments are increasingly relying on mobile apps that provide their residents with timely medical advice.

A Hokkaido-based aerospace startup said Thursday it will launch its fourth privately developed small rocket next week, following the success of its predecessor in May.

Sony Corp. said Wednesday it will set up a venture fund of around ¥20 billion ($185 million) with a Daiwa Securities Group Inc. unit to invest in prospective startups.

An increasing number of newly retired people are starting up businesses, using their wealth of experience and knowledge while taking advantage of government loan programs.

Chubu Electric Power Co. said Wednesday that it has invested in Groove X Inc., a robotics start-up based in Tokyo.