MSIVC is the corporate venture capital arm of Japan's MS&AD Insurance Group, wholly owned by MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings. It states that it invests in startups at every stage from seed to later stage, selecting them through three stated lenses: uniqueness (独自性), innovation (革新性) and foresight (先見性). Its stated investment scope is broad by industry, covering internet-related businesses, services and manufacturing. The firm's president states that its historical focus was on driving digital transformation across industries through IT, and that it has more recently extended into AI, space technology and Climate Tech. It invests in both Japanese and overseas startups, and runs a five-step process of deal sourcing, evaluation and screening, a founder presentation, an investment committee and execution. It has also raised a series of university-origin venture funds, a buyout fund and an Asia fund alongside its main MSIVC vintage funds.
Money Forward (株式会社マネーフォワード) - IPO, September 2017, listed on the firm's own IPO results page
1990
Founded on 6 December 1990 as 株式会社大正海上キャピタル (Taisho Marine Capital Co., Ltd.) with capital of 500 million yen, described by the firm as the first venture capital firm established by the Japanese non-life insurance industry.
1991
Renamed 株式会社三井海上キャピタル (Mitsui Marine Capital) in April 1991; its first fund, 三井海上キャピタル1号投資事業組合, of 10億円 (1.0 billion yen) is formed in June 1991.
1999
Becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of 三井海上火災保険株式会社 (Mitsui Marine and Fire Insurance, now Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance) in December 1999.
2001
Renamed 三井住友海上キャピタル株式会社 (MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE Venture Capital Co., Ltd.) in October 2001, the name it still uses.
2004
Forms its first university-origin venture fund, 三井住友海上Cキャンパス1号投資事業有限責任組合, of 7億円 (700 million yen) in July 2004 with backing from the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation.
2005
Capital increased from 500 million yen to 1.0 billion yen in May 2005; a buyout fund, MSIVCバイアウト投資事業有限責任組合, of 30億円 (3.0 billion yen) is formed in September 2005.
2010
Forms MSIVCアジアファンド投資事業組合 of 20億円 (2.0 billion yen) in August 2010 to invest in ventures and SMEs expanding across Asia.
2011
Enters business alliances with Aureos Capital of the UK in January 2011 and with Industrial Technology Investment Corporation of Taiwan in December 2011 to share deal information.
2016
Moves its head office to Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo in November 2016.
2017
Portfolio company 株式会社マネーフォワード (Money Forward) lists in September 2017, per the firm's IPO results page.
2020
Forms MSIVC2020V投資事業有限責任組合 of 100億円 (10 billion yen) in March 2020; portfolio company 株式会社プレイド (PLAID) lists in December 2020.
2021
Forms MSIVC2021V投資事業有限責任組合 of 100億円 (10 billion yen) in November 2021.
2023
Forms MSIVC2023V投資事業有限責任組合 of 100億円 (10 billion yen) and MSイノベーション投資事業有限責任組合2号 of 10億円 (1.0 billion yen) in June 2023; portfolio company 株式会社QPS研究所 lists in December 2023.
2025
Forms MSIVC2025V投資事業有限責任組合 of 100億円 (10 billion yen) on 6 June 2025, and marks its 35th anniversary on 6 December 2025.