The Mitsui Kinzoku SBI Material Innovation Fund is a corporate venture capital fund based in Yokohama, Japan, created through a partnership between Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd. (Mitsui Kinzoku) and SBI Investment. Originally launched in 2017 and refreshed in 2025 with a capitalization of 5 billion yen, the fund operates as a limited partnership, with Mitsui Kinzoku providing primary capital and SBI Investment managing daily operations and deal sourcing. Its core objective is to foster new businesses by uniting Mitsui Kinzoku’s expertise in materials science with external technologies and market insights.
The fund targets early- and growth-stage companies worldwide developing advanced materials, surface treatments and processing technologies. Investments span new alloys, metal-resin composites, nano-coatings for catalysis and insulation, and ultra-thin electrodeposited copper foils vital for next-generation electronics and battery applications. Environmental and clean energy ventures feature prominently alongside projects in life science and high-performance electronics. Through its limited partnership structure, it seeks to generate synergies between Mitsui Kinzoku’s in-house teams and external innovators to bring material innovations to market.
Notable portfolio companies reflect the fund’s emphasis on sustainable energy and battery technology. Summit Nanotech in Canada advances greener lithium extraction through its direct lithium extraction system, while U.S.-based Forge Nano applies atomic-level nano-coatings to boost the performance and durability of battery materials. In Japan, the fund supports Helical Fusion, a startup pursuing practical nuclear fusion power generation. By combining financial support with technology insights, it helps startups scale production and navigate regulatory processes. These investments illustrate a commitment to long-term technologies that strengthen battery supply chains and foster cleaner energy solutions.
