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Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM, 7203T) today announced the establishment of Toyota Invention Partners Company, Ltd. (TIP), a new strategic investment subsidiary with ¥100 billion yen (~$670 million) in capital. TIP will focus on accelerating collaborations between Toyota, Woven by Toyota (WbyT), Toyota Group companies, their affiliates, and external partners as part of Toyota’s ongoing transformation into a mobility company. Woven Capital, Toyota’s venture investment arm, has established Fund II with $800 million (~¥120 billion), matching the size of Fund I launched in 2021.*
“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” said Kenta Kon, Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Toyota and CFO and Director of WbyT.
“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,” said Kenta Kon.
“As a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota, TIP will build business collaborations by primarily investing in early stage startups in Japan and other companies and inventors who share Toyota’s vision of ‘Inventing our path forward, together.’ Unlike conventional funds with fixed periods, TIP will take a long-term view, aiming to contribute to Toyota’s mission of ‘Producing Happiness for All’ by creating new value with partners and stakeholders. Beyond financial investment, TIP will offer partners access to Toyota’s assets―including talent and manufacturing expertise―helping them scale and build enduring frameworks for synergistic collaboration. Together, a broad spectrum of partners will join TIP to shape the future of mobility. This includes startups to established enterprises, as well as early-stage Inventors participating in Toyota Woven City,” Toyota said.
In parallel, Woven Capital has launched Fund II, targeting 20-25 new investments in Series B to late-stage companies advancing AI, automation, climate technology, energy, sustainability and more. Since 2021, Woven Capital has invested in 18 companies, led by global investment professionals, and has created new business opportunities within the Toyota Group. To further accelerate strategic partnerships, ownership of Woven Capital was transferred from WbyT to Toyota on 1 July 2025, making Woven Capital a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota.*
“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,” said George Kellerman, Managing Director of Woven Capital.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Toyota Starts a Strategic Investment Subsidiary
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Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM, 7203T) today announced the establishment of Toyota Invention Partners Company, Ltd. (TIP), a new strategic investment subsidiary with ¥100 billion yen (~$670 million) in capital. TIP will focus on accelerating collaborations between Toyota, Woven by Toyota (WbyT), Toyota Group companies, their affiliates, and external partners as part of Toyota’s ongoing transformation into a mobility company. Woven Capital, Toyota’s venture investment arm, has established Fund II with $800 million (~¥120 billion), matching the size of Fund I launched in 2021.*
“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” said Kenta Kon, Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Toyota and CFO and Director of WbyT.
“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,” said Kenta Kon.
“As a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota, TIP will build business collaborations by primarily investing in early stage startups in Japan and other companies and inventors who share Toyota’s vision of ‘Inventing our path forward, together.’ Unlike conventional funds with fixed periods, TIP will take a long-term view, aiming to contribute to Toyota’s mission of ‘Producing Happiness for All’ by creating new value with partners and stakeholders. Beyond financial investment, TIP will offer partners access to Toyota’s assets―including talent and manufacturing expertise―helping them scale and build enduring frameworks for synergistic collaboration. Together, a broad spectrum of partners will join TIP to shape the future of mobility. This includes startups to established enterprises, as well as early-stage Inventors participating in Toyota Woven City,” Toyota said.
In parallel, Woven Capital has launched Fund II, targeting 20-25 new investments in Series B to late-stage companies advancing AI, automation, climate technology, energy, sustainability and more. Since 2021, Woven Capital has invested in 18 companies, led by global investment professionals, and has created new business opportunities within the Toyota Group. To further accelerate strategic partnerships, ownership of Woven Capital was transferred from WbyT to Toyota on 1 July 2025, making Woven Capital a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota.*
“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,” said George Kellerman, Managing Director of Woven Capital.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.