Designing
New Context

Designing
New Context

Digital Garage Invests in Mind Fund, a Hong Kong Based Startup Studio and Investor

Working to build, invest and incubate the next wave of global companies from Asia

2017.01.12

Digital Garage, Inc. (TSE first section: 4819, HQ: Tokyo, Representative Director, President Executive Officer and Group CEO: Kaoru Hayashi, DG) has invested in the Mind Fund Group Ltd (HQ: Hong Kong, Founder and CEO, Adam Lindemann, Mind Fund) through its wholly owned investment and incubation subsidiary DG Incubation, Inc. (HQ: Tokyo, President and CEO: Yasuyuki Rokuyata, DGI). With DG’s backing, Mind Fund will build, incubate, and invest in the next wave of global companies.

With this investment, Mind Fund and DGI hopes to expand Digital Garage’s global reach and support from Tokyo and San Francisco to Hong Kong and Asia, to help early stage companies to rapidly become global companies. Mind Fund also plans to support the global expansion plans of the graduates of DGI’s Open Network Lab, Japan’s first seed accelerator program. Furthermore, Mind Fund Studio, Mind Fund’s startup studio, plans to collaborate with the DG group to deploy new Blockchain and AI/Bot technologies in FinTech and Payment businesses to build and rapidly scale across Asia.

“In the past, companies have expanded globally after gaining traction in its home market; however, companies should look ahead towards globalization from an earlier stage. Currently in Mind Fund’s investment portfolio, we have companies which are enthusiastic about expanding to Japan. That is why Mind Fund will work with DGI and DG to build a “Global Incubation Bridge” where startups can go global from day one” (Adam Lindemann, Mind Fund Founder and CEO).

“Hong Kong is an ideal testing ground for FinTech and Payment businesses in Asia due to its safe but relatively tolerant regulations. It is the regional hub for the largest banks in the world and the Hong Kong government has created a “Sandbox Innovation” initiative, which makes it possible for banks and other large regulated financial institutions to cooperate with innovative startups. With this ideal environment, startups can rapidly experiment with new ideas in an agile lean start-up style.” (Mark Cheng, Mind Fund Studio CEO).

“In addition to supporting startups that are looking to succeed around the world, DG has furthered its business development in payment services in Asia through its base in Hong Kong. Through our partnership with Mind Fund, we will be able to better assist startups globally to complete an incubation stream with presence in Tokyo, San Francisco, New York, and now Hong Kong.” (Kaoru Hayashi, Digital Garage Representative Director, President Executive Officer and Group CEO).

【About Mind Fund】
Company Name: Mind Fund Group Ltd
Established: August 2015
Representative: Adam Lindemann, Founder & CEO
Headquarter: Hong Kong
Incorporation: Cayman Islands
URL: http://mindfund.com/

【About Digital Garage】
Company name: Digital Garage, Inc. (TSE 1st Section: 4819)
Date established: August 1995
Representative: Kaoru Hayashi, Representative Director, President Executive Officer and Group CEO
Headquarter: DG Bldg., 3-5-7 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Stock capitalization: 7,435 million yen