Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)
| Summary | A Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) group was established in April 2025. Invest in startups with the mindset that could be a strategic breakthrough for “SHIONOGI’s 2030~2040” to identify uncover next-generation growth opportunities in emerging markets and cutting-edge technology fields. |
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| Policy | We support startups and lead them to success with SHIONOGI. |
| Investment Stage | Our main focus is on seed, early, and mid-stage investments. Given the inherent uncertainties of these stages, we aim to maintain a balanced portfolio. We will also establish a network that enables swift investments in promising pre-seed startups. |
| Investment Size | We plan to begin with an annual investment budget of approx. $14 million. However, in FY2025, we will start with $7 million to include the setup of CVC resources and organizational infrastructure. Investment ticket sizes will be set according to the stage of each startup. |
| Target regions | Japan, the U.S., Europe, and Asia. |
Focus Areas
Portfolio
Restore Vision
Restore Vision Inc. is a biotechnology company aiming to realize a visual restoration gene therapy using its unique functional gene coding “Chimeric Rhodopsin,” which is a protein-based optical sensor.
Dioseve
Dioseve is a reproductive medicine startup developing innovative solutions for individuals who wish to have children, leveraging its proprietary technology to efficiently induce oocytes and ovarian somatic cells from iPS cells.
Team
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Keisuke Kusumoto, MBA General Manager, CVC Group, Corporate Planning Dept., Corporate Strategy Div., Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Extensive experience from R&D to business strategy, new business, and CVC launch. Currently leads strategic healthcare investments and CVC operations to drive synergy with startups. Career Highlights 2020–2025: New Product Planning Department – Managed portfolio strategy and asset evaluation. 2008–2020: Drug Discovery Research Division – Conducted pharmacology research; led development of anti-obesity drug. |
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Li Jiang CVC Group, Corporate Planning Dept., Corporate Strategy Div., Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Broad experience from sales to business development and overseas JV operations. Aims to support startup growth through global insight and healthcare commercialization. Career Highlights 2019–2025: Overseas Business Division – Led business development and JV management in Asia. 2013–2019: Pharmaceutical Commercial Division – Handled sales at major hospitals in Japan. |
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Kensuke Matsumura, Ph.D. CVC Group, Corporate Planning Dept., Corporate Strategy Div., Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Led research on neurodevelopmental disorders during Ph.D. Extensive experience in AI-driven drug discovery, end-to-end R&D, and global clinical development at Shionogi. Currently leads science-driven CVC investments. Career Highlights 2020–2025: Drug Discovery Research Division – Led neuroscience drug research, including dementia and rare diseases. 2016–2020: Osaka University – Completed Ph.D. in Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology. |
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Emi Kato, MBA CVC Group, Corporate Planning Dept., Corporate Strategy Div., Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Experience in pharmaceutical sales and pain management marketing. Career Highlights 2012–2025: Pharmaceutical Commercial Division – Engaged in pharmaceutical sales in Japan and led regional sales strategies. |
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Kazuyuki Saito CVC Group, Corporate Planning Dept., Corporate Strategy Div., Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Extensive experience in global supply chain strategy and business collaboration. Currently drives startup partnerships and CVC initiatives to accelerate healthcare innovation. Career Highlights 2024–2026: Supply Management Office – Led global business expansion initiatives. 2017–2024: Supply Chain Strategy Dept. – Led the design and launch of commercial supply chains for multiple products. |
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Haruyo Konishi CVC Group, Corporate Planning Dept., Corporate Strategy Div., Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Established research foundations and conducted pharmacology research across multiple disease areas. Focuses on identifying promising technologies and driving science-based investment decisions. Career Highlights 2012–2026: Drug Discovery Research Division – Conducted pharmacology research in fibrosis and hearing loss. |