ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keita Ishii, President & COO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it has established a new company, ITC Venture Partners, Inc. (hereinafter “IVP”), in Silicon Valley in the United States. IVP will promote investments in venture capital (VC) funds and startups and the development of new businesses, thereby strengthening ITOCHU’s business development capabilities in the region.

Since entering the Silicon Valley in the 1980s, ITOCHU has supported U.S. startups, primarily in the IT sector, in their expansions into the Japanese market. Through investments in over 100 VC funds and direct investments and new business development initiatives with more than 200 technology startups, ITOCHU has built strong relationships with impactful entrepreneurs and startups and accumulated extensive knowledge regarding innovative technologies and business models.

In 2024, global investment in AI-related companies reached a record-high USD 100.4 billion, driven primarily by the United States. This was a significant increase from USD 55.9 billion in the previous year.^*1 This surge was driven by companies developing generative AI models and infrastructure. AI is no longer just a tool for improving operational efficiency. It is transforming entire industrial structures, signaling a new industrial revolution.

At this pivotal moment—described as the most transformative since the advent of the internet—ITOCHU is launching IVP to further strengthen its business development platform, leveraging the insights and networks it has cultivated over 40 years in the U.S. By combining the innovative technologies and business models of startups with the diverse assets of the ITOCHU Group, the company aims to create new businesses and contribute to the resolution of challenges faced by society.