Invests in Forgepoint Cybersecurity Fund III Managed by Forgepoint, a US VC Focusing on Cybersecurity

ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Tatsushi Shingu, President and CEO; hereinafter “CTC”) has invested as a limited partner^*1 in the fund established and managed by Forgepoint Capital, LLC (headquartered in California, United States; led by Alberto Yépez/Don Dixon, Co-Founders and Managing Directors, hereinafter “Forgepoint”), a US venture capital (VC) firm, for the purpose of expanding advanced solutions in the cybersecurity field globally.

Cyberattacks have become more sophisticated and elevated with the rise of digital transformation, automation and artificial intelligence, and CTC has been working on the expansion of its security solution lineup to ensure the stable operation of customers’ systems while protecting and preventing against damages from such attacks.

Forgepoint is a leading venture capital firm that invests in transformative companies protecting the digital future. With a focus on cybersecurity, AI and related-sectors, Forgepoint’s team of investors, operators and company-builders leverage decades of expertise in the field and foresight into industry trends to identify and back its portfolio of innovative startups, accelerating their growth with strategic guidance and introductions for product development, go-to-market planning and execution, channel partnerships and more. The firm also engages a large network of industry and government leaders as advisors to assist companies with their product development, market entry, and the creation of collaborative opportunities.

CTC has been working to discover the latest technologies and strengthen partnerships in the cybersecurity field since the 1990s. In order to meet the growing need for cybersecurity, CTC will promote collaboration with innovative startups to further enhance and expand our services in this field.

In FY2023, CTC built the “Cyber Security Lab”, an environment enabling verification of and research on combinations of multiple security products and services. We will use the environment to verify the advanced technologies of the start-ups, which we will collaborate with through the fund, for their diffusion in Japan. We will offer solutions utilizing such verified technologies that contribute to the protection and stable operation of our customers' systems.