Toyota Motor Corporation has recently announced the launch of a new strategic investment subsidiary called Toyota Invention Partners Co., Ltd. (TIP). This subsidiary is equipped with ¥100 billion, approximately equivalent to $670 million, to facilitate its operations. In addition to TIP, Woven Capital, which serves as Toyota’s growth-stage venture investment arm, has announced the establishment of Fund II. This new fund boasts financial backing of $800 million, equivalent to approximately ¥120 billion, matching the initial Fund I that was launched in 2021.
The primary objective of TIP is to enhance collaboration between various entities, including Toyota itself, Woven by Toyota (often referred to as WbyT), different companies within the Toyota Group, their affiliates, and external partners. This initiative is part of Toyota’s broader plan to transition into a mobility company, reflecting its commitment to innovation and modernization in the automotive industry.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota, TIP aims to forge business collaborations by primarily investing in early-stage startups based in Japan, along with other companies and inventors who share Toyota’s vision of “Inventing our path forward, together.”
What sets TIP apart from traditional investment funds is its long-term approach. Unlike funds that operate within fixed timeframes, TIP is designed to provide sustained support, focusing on helping these startups and partners succeed over time. The overarching goal is to contribute to Toyota’s mission of “Producing Happiness for All,” which emphasizes creating new value through partnerships and engagement with stakeholders.
Beyond simply providing financial investment, TIP will also grant its partners access to valuable resources that Toyota possesses. This includes not only financial backing but also access to Toyota’s talent pool and manufacturing expertise. This support is intended to help partner companies grow and establish enduring collaborative frameworks. A diverse array of partners will be involved with TIP, ranging from startups to well-established enterprises and even early-stage inventors who are part of initiatives like Toyota Woven City.
Woven Capital is also actively engaging in the investment landscape with its newly launched Fund II. This fund is specifically targeting 20 to 25 investments in Series B to late-stage companies that are making strides in areas such as artificial intelligence, automation, climate technology, energy, sustainability, and other related fields.
Since its launch in 2021, Woven Capital has already invested in 18 different companies, guided by a team of global investment professionals. These investments have generated numerous new business opportunities within the Toyota Group and have significantly contributed to the company’s innovation ecosystem.
To further strengthen its strategic partnerships, ownership of Woven Capital was transferred from WbyT to Toyota on July 1, 2025. This transition has officially made Woven Capital a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota, enhancing the company’s capacity to drive meaningful collaborations.
Looking ahead, Toyota Invention Partners, Toyota Ventures, and Woven Capital plan to collaborate on advancing the strategic investments crucial to Toyota’s future. By leveraging and sharing their individual strengths, experiences, and areas of expertise, these entities aim to foster innovation and ensure the long-term success of their collaborative efforts in the evolving mobility landscape.
KEY QUOTES:
“To ensure that mobility continues to bring smiles to people and remains vital to society, the Toyota Group has embraced the vision of ‘Inventing our path forward, together’. This vision places a particular emphasis on ‘Invention’, which has always been the foundation of the Group. As Toyota advances its transformation, it is crucial for us to go beyond the Toyota Group itself and work with external partners who bring new businesses and technologies not yet part of Toyota. One important way to enable this collaboration is through partnerships formed through investment. What we value most, however, is to stand with companies who share our aspirations, taking on the challenge of inventing the future together as true partners. By establishing TIP, alongside Toyota Ventures and Woven Capital, which have led our strategic investments to date, we will accelerate collaboration even further, leveraging the strengths of all three to connect with an even broader community of innovators.”
Kenta Kon, Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Toyota and CFO and Director of WbyT – who was appointed as CEO of Toyota Invention Partners
“Fund II marks a major milestone in our mission to back global innovators advancing mobility and beyond. As innovation accelerates and technological leaps transform how people, goods, information, and energy move, Toyota’s global platform gives these breakthrough companies the ability to scale to billions and improve lives everywhere.”
George Kellerman, Managing Director of Woven Capital
