Today represents a significant milestone for Japan’s investment world. Eurazeo, France’s largest asset manager specializing in private equity, private debt, and venture capital, has announced the establishment of its presence in Japan.

This represents an endorsement of Japan from a global fund with 13 offices around the world. Eurazeo holds a special place in my heart, as we used to explore co-investments together during my tenure in France, and I even briefly worked for a predecessor of Eurazeo (a private equity shop call IDI) two decades ago.

Eurazeo now represents the largest European fund to open an office in Japan. Their arrival here serves as testament to what we like to preach: Japan is earning recognition for its compelling investment potential, and the French success story can provide a roadmap for Japan’s innovation renaissance.

As part of tonight’s ceremony I had the honour to meet France’s former Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin. Minister Raffarin spoke about the challenges confronting France twenty years ago, to which his antidote was the three Is: Internationalisation, Innovation, and Investment. Minister Raffarin’s term in office catalyzed France’s innovation transformation. Today, France counts 40 tech unicorns, represents arguably the world’s 3rd largest startup ecosystem, serves as a global center of excellence for innovation in AI and cryptography, and operates the world’s largest startup campus, Station F.

Here’s to the Franco Japanese collaboration and its continued convergence !

[Note: big thanks to Julien and the Eurazeo team for involving me in this momentous occasion 🙏]