Tokyo-based iiba, a childcare infrastructure startup, has raised approximately ¥300 million (around $2 million) in a Series A round, bringing total funding to ¥295 million. The company has also appointed Tatsufumi Asayama as COO and Yuta Hiroto as CTO. Founded in 2023, iiba operates a platform listing over 100,000 childcare-related locations including playgrounds, restaurants and activity centres across Japan. The company has seen 556% growth in registered locations and 700% revenue growth over the past year. The funding will support a major product overhaul, transforming iiba from a location discovery app into a comprehensive platform supporting daily life for families with children. The company plans to expand partnerships with local governments and businesses, aiming to bridge Japan's ¥12 trillion childcare support budget with families who need it.

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Global Brain has invested in trifa Inc., operator of an eSIM app for international travellers, through the SMBC-GB Growth Fund as lead investor. Global Brain Flagship Fund IX and ANA Future Frontier Fund participated as follow-on investors, though the funding amount was not disclosed. Trifa's app provides internet access in over 200 countries without physical SIM cards or Wi-Fi routers. The service has surpassed two million downloads as of April 2026, with international sales comprising approximately 10% of total revenue. The company plans to accelerate global expansion in East Asia and develop new travel-related services including payment and transportation booking. Global Brain cited trifa's management team, strong Japanese market position and scalability potential as reasons for the investment.