Ex-Goldman Sachs exec launches $150m VC fund for Japanese startups

“Kathy Matsui, an early Japanese proponent of empowering women in the workplace, has established a US$150 million venture capital fund focusing on environmental, social and governance investing,” reported Nikkei Asia.nDetails:nnMPower Fund launched on Monday and has an all-female leadership helmed by general partner Kathy Matsui, a “womenomics” advocate and former Goldman Sachs Japan executive.nThe fund plans to invest in growth-stage and established startups in Japan, as well as early-stage startups overseas. The ticket size of investment will be US$4.55 million to US$13.7 million per startup.nnContext:nnMatsui was the vice chair and chief Japan equity strategist for Goldman Sachs Japan. MPower has two other general partners: Yumiko Murakami, who was the head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Tokyo Center, and Miwa Seki, an ex-Morgan Stanley executive.nThe fund will also focus on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles in its process when investing in startups.n