US venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz announced its expansion into Japan. It said that, following the opening of its Tokyo office, it would focus on growth opportunities in the Japanese market, particularly in defence and robotics.
We interviewed representatives of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a major US venture capital firm that opened a new office in Tokyo on the 7th, about its expansion into Japan. Its growth strategy for the Japanese market and stronger investment in defence and robotics were emphasised locally, while closer cooperation with Japanese companies and stronger ties with political circles were also suggested.
Investment opportunities cited included drone technology, including drones, anti-drone technology, the development of robotics and cyber defence capabilities, and strengthening supply chains for precision machinery. The firm was reported to see substantial potential for creating opportunities in the Japanese market. Representatives, including co-founders, indicated that public-private cooperation was important in responding to Japan's higher defence spending and changes in the security environment.
Regarding expectations for Japan, the firm said it should support the development of Japanese companies in defence-related fields while capturing the significant growth opportunities in the Japanese market itself. A meeting with Prime Minister Takaichi was highlighted at the outset, and a scene in which the parties shared a policy of strengthening defence was also emphasised, underscoring the growing proximity between politics and technology.
It was also said that defence issues, which had received little attention several years ago, were becoming more tangible in the context of AI and cyber defence, and that the tech industry's idyllic era was coming to an end. Cooperation between technology companies and the government in Japan was positioned as a key to future growth.