OurCrowd announces $60 million strategic investment from Japan’s ORIX

Jerusalem-based equity crowdfunding company OurCrowd Ltd. has raised $60 million from the ORIX Corporation as part of a strategic investment by the Japanese company. This is the first collaboration between ORIX and an Israeli venture capital fund, in which OurCrowd is planning to provide the financial services giant with access to a wide variety of innovative technologies and companies.

Under the terms of the agreement, ORIX and OurCrowd will collaborate in agreed focus areas and will establish financial products and investment opportunities suited for the Japanese and global markets. This will include curated access to both venture capital funds and individual portfolio companies on a deal-by-deal basis.

“We are excited about investing in OurCrowd, Israel’s most active venture investor and one of the world’s most innovative venture capital platforms,” CEO of ORIX UK, Kiyoshi Habiro said in a statement. “We intend to be active partners with OurCrowd and help them accelerate their already impressive growth while bringing the best of Israeli tech to Japan’s large industrial and financial sectors.”

Over the past several years, Japan-Israel trade has increased significantly with Japan becoming one of the largest investors in Israeli tech and with over 90 Japanese companies now active in Israel. ORIX and OurCrowd will work to further increase cooperation between the two countries and enhance opportunities for Israeli startups throughout Asia.

“ORIX is a global leader in diversified business and financial services who will strengthen OurCrowd in many ways. We are enthusiastic about the potential to further transform the venture capital asset class together and provide a strong bridge for our innovative companies to the important Asian markets,” OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved said.

Established in 1964 from its start in the leasing business, ORIX has advanced into neighboring fields and is presently undertaking a wide range of businesses such as corporate finance, industrial/ICT equipment, environment and energy, automobile-related, real estate-related, private equity investment and concession, banking and life insurance businesses. Since entering Hong Kong in 1971, ORIX has been operating its businesses globally by establishing locations in 37 countries and regions across the world.

OurCrowd has so far raised $1.5 billion in committed funding for investments in more than 220 portfolio companies and 23 venture funds. The Jerusalem based fund has participated in 40 exits to date. OurCrowd’s platform features 60,000 individual accredited and institutional investors, family offices, and venture capital partners from over 183 countries.