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Nao Murakami

Founder & General Partner - Incubate Fund India

Nao Murakami is the Founder and General Partner at Incubate Fund Asia, formerly known as Incubate Fund India.12 He has a diverse background in finance, entrepreneurship, and venture capital:

  1. Education: Murakami earned a B.A. in Political Science with a Minor in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.34

  2. Career Path:

    • Started as an investment banker at Nomura Securities in Tokyo and New York, specializing in IT/Internet startups and leading many companies to IPO.34
    • Moved to India in 2014 to launch his own startup, which unfortunately closed within eight months.15
    • Founded Incubate Fund India in 2016, which was later rebranded as Incubate Fund Asia in September 2023.13
  3. Venture Capital Experience:

    • Under Murakami's leadership, Incubate Fund Asia has raised three funds, with the latest Fund III closing at $30 million in June 2024.1
    • The fund has invested in 29 startups between 2015 and 2024 through Funds I ($3 million) and II ($15 million).1
    • Murakami focuses on early-stage investments, with a shift from B2B to B2C and B2B2C ventures targeting Tier II and III regions.1
  4. Investment Philosophy:

    • Emphasizes the importance of founder quality, believing that strong founders who can pivot quickly are crucial for success in the Indian market.5
    • Focuses on four key areas: consumer brands, greentech, cross-border B2B e-commerce, and fintech.1
  5. Global Perspective:

    • Murakami's experience spans Japan, the US, and India, giving him a unique cross-cultural perspective in the venture capital world.3
    • He is noted as the only Japanese general partner of venture capital funds living full-time in India.3

Murakami's journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship and finally to venture capital showcases his adaptability and deep understanding of the startup ecosystem, particularly in the Indian market.5

Highlights

Dec 23 · incubatefund.in
About Us - incubatefund
Nov 26 · founderthesis.com
A VC's Insights | Nao Murakami @ Incubate Fund Asia
A VC's Insights | Nao Murakami @ Incubate Fund Asia
Jul 4 · inc42.com
Why Incubate Fund Is Bullish On India's Consumer Economy - Inc42
Why Incubate Fund Is Bullish On India's Consumer Economy - Inc42
Proactive Venture Capital Strategies – Nao Murakami – Incubate ...
May 31 · incubatefund.com
Nao Murakami - Incubate Fund

Related Questions

What inspired Nao Murakami to transition from investment banking to venture capital?
How did Nao Murakami's experience with Gamma India influence his approach at Incubate Fund India?
What are some notable startups in Incubate Fund India's portfolio?
How has the rebranding of Incubate Fund India to Incubate Fund Asia impacted its investment strategy?
What challenges did Nao Murakami face when establishing Incubate Fund India?
Nao Murakami
Nao Murakami, photo 1
Nao Murakami, photo 2
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Location

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India