Japanese venture capital firm Unleash Capital Partners has completed the final close of its maiden fund at Rs 300 crore, marking a focused bet on India’s booming fintech sector.
Backed by 35 Japanese limited partners (LPs), the fund is co-managed by founder Natsuki Sugai alongside financial services firm Gojo & Company. It aims to support 12–15 startups through investments ranging between Rs 5 crore and Rs 18 crore, primarily at the seed and Series A stages.
So far, Unleash Capital has invested in seven Indian fintechs, including Pelocal, an AI-driven payments orchestration platform integrated with WhatsApp; Zype, a digital lending platform; and Neurofin AI, which develops enterprise technology for the BFSI ecosystem.
Sugai emphasized that the fund is sector-specialized, unlike generalist investors. “We are a fintech-focused investor covering any possible opportunities within the fintech space. Our priority is working with founders who have a strong intent to comply with RBI norms and understand both the rules and their purpose,” he said.
Beyond capital, Unleash Capital plans to act as a bridge between Indian startups and Japanese stakeholders, offering access to equity and debt markets, business collaborations, and potential M&A opportunities.
India’s fintech market is expected to surpass $150 billion by 2028, driven by UPI adoption, digital lending, AI-enabled risk models, and the rapid penetration of embedded finance. For Japanese LPs, the fund represents a chance to tap into one of the fastest-growing financial services ecosystems globally.
Final Take
Unleash Capital’s India-first fund signals growing cross-border investor confidence in the country’s fintech future, where regulatory clarity and innovation will determine the winners.
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