Wahl & Case Backs Incubation/Acceleration Startup Red Brick Ventures K.K. to Spur Innovation

Nov. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- TOKYO, Japan (November 1, 2012) - Wahl & Case has announced the firm has established Red Brick Ventures K.K., an incubation and acceleration platform dedicated to unleashing the entrepreneurial potential of Japan. Wahl & Case is the main investor in the startup firm, providing both initial seed capital and office space and administrative support. Red Brick Ventures will be co-located in the Tokyo offices of Wahl & Case, with reach into San Francisco.

Red Brick Ventures brings together ideas, capital, and would-be entrepreneurs in Japan. The partners of the firm invent and source original consumer tech ideas from all over the world, and fund development of them for the Japan market through initial iterations, go to market, and post-launch. In risk-averse Japanese corporate culture, the firm breaks down the barriers to innovation and makes it easier for talented Japanese would-be entrepreneurs to take the plunge into a startup by taking steps to reduce personal, legal and reputation risk. These include financial support and hands-on mentoring by Red Brick Ventures partners and executives of the firm’s venture capital co-investors, as well as access to a world-class network.

Once a Red Brick Ventures portfolio project is up and running as an established business, with significant revenue and/or user base targets achieved, the firm helps the entrepreneur-CEO transition to further growth through additional seed rounds or Series A funding. Current projects and companies invested, incubated, and hosted by Red Brick Ventures include an e-commerce site set to launch within the year called Sharebu Kids (www.sharebukids.jp), an intimate social network called MakaMaka in beta testing stage (www.makamaka.ne.jp) and a mobile social game venture (currently in stealth mode and VC fundraising). Further projects are expected in 2013.

“Our team has spent decades in executive search observing management practices and macroeconomic trends in Japan and we know Japan’s greatest asset is its highly developed managers,” said Wahl & Case CEO Casey Wahl. “The Japan market has given Wahl & Case great opportunities, and we want to help make it possible for more entrepreneurial CEOs to emerge and build businesses and compete globally. We know it’s possible given the proper platform and we’re excited to be able to play a part in creating that entrepreneurial ecosystem in Japan.”

About Red Brick Ventures
Red Brick Ventures is an incubation and acceleration platform dedicated to unleashing the entrepreneurial potential of Japan. Red Brick Ventures brings together ideas, capital, and would-be entrepreneurs behind the safety of our red brick walls.  We invent and source original consumer tech ideas from all over the world, and fund development of them for the Japan market through initial iterations, go to market, and post-launch. For more information: www.redbrickventures.co.jp

About Wahl & Case
Wahl & Case helps the world’s most innovative firms attract people who want to change the world.  We have disrupted the recruitment industry in Japan by setting a new standard for service, and we’re continuing to innovate as we expand together with our clients worldwide. Our award-winning team helps companies hire in Tokyo, San Francisco, and beyond. To find out more, please visit www.wahlandcase.com.

Contact:
Sayuri Tanioka, Marketing
sayuri@wahlandcase.com
+81-3-4550-2350