Temasek's venture capital arm to launch first Japan-focused fund

SINGAPORE -- Vertex Holdings, the venture capital arm of Singaporean state investor Temasek Holdings, is expanding its startup investment in Japan through a new dedicated fund, according to its CEO, in a rare move by a leading global investor to tap into the nascent cluster.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Vertex CEO Chua Kee Lock said the latest fund is targeting to raise 10 billion yen ($65 million) over the next year or so. The holding company will fund about a third of the target as the anchor investor, while the rest will be mainly raised from Japanese institutional investors and large corporations.