JT

Joseph Tou

Managing Director, Sony Ventures at Sony Innovation Fund

San Diego, California

Overview 

Joseph Tou is the Managing Director at Sony Ventures, specializing in tech and entertainment/gaming investments. With a background in corporate development and venture capital, he has led investments in companies like Jabali and Noodle Cat Games, focusing on sectors such as AudioTech and FinTech. Tou's career highlights include serving as Vice President of Corporate Development at Sony Corporation of America and managing director at Mavent Partners, showcasing his expertise in strategic partnerships and mergers & acquisitions.

Work Experience 

  • Venture Partner

    2025 - Current

    Structural Capital is a unique and differentiated financing platform focused on providing flexible capital investments to high growth venture and private equity sponsor backed companies. Target check sizes $10M+, primarily for companies experiencing rapid growth and scale. Expanding further into consumer, digital entertainment & games technology companies

  • Board Director

    2025

    We work for musicians. We give music makers the freedom to create and be heard. Creative platform offering AI-powered music mastering, distribution, plugins, collaboration, promotion and sample packs.

  • Interim Chief Strategy Officer

    2025

    Clinical Research and Clinical Trial optimization through training and content. Where can healthcare x tech/AI go from here?

  • Investment Committee

    2025

    Early stage (Pre-A) venture capital, including lead investor positions, focused on the tech powering the leading edge of digital entertainment and interactive media experiences.

  • Board Director

    2023

    Venture studio shaping and building San Diego's tech ecosystem

  • Board & Affiliations

    2006

    Over the years, I have been involved in evolving companies at various stages of maturity. Sidero Labs (Investor, 2024) Jabali (Investor, 2024) Runway (Investor, 2023-2024) Genpop (Investor, 2023-2024) Noodle Cat Games (Investor, 2023-2024) Forge (Investor, 2023-2024) Nexus (Board Observer/Investor, 2022-2024) Illumix (Investor, 2022-2024) LIV (Investor, 2022-2024) Trioscope (Investor, 2021-2024) Kiswe (Board Observer/Investor, 2021 - 2024) GGWP (Investor, 2021-2024) DSP Concepts (Board Observer/Investor, 2020-2024) LANDR (Board Observer/Investor, 2019-Present) Embodied (Board Observer/Investor, 2018-2024) Defined.ai (Board Director/Observer/Investor, 2016-2024) Community (Board Observer/Investor, 2017-2024) Techstars Music (Sponsor and Mentor, 2019 - 2023) Airmap (Board Observer/Investor, 2018 - 2021) - Acquired Mobcrush (Board Observer/Investor, 2020) - Acquired Streem (Board Advisor, 2017 - 2019) - Acquired Power Distribution Inc. (Board Director/Investor, 2006 - 2007) - Acquired

  • Managing Director - Entertainment & Gaming, Co-Head US / North America, Co-Founder, Sony Ventures

    2016 - 2024

    It all started with less than a handful of people, an idea, and some inspiration. We were fortunate enough to have good timing too. Over an 8+ year period, what we called Sony Innovation Fund turned into a family of 3 core and 2 smaller special-purpose funds built on internal and external capital. We established Sony Ventures to become the platform that managed all of it. Throughout my tenure we took this from inception, pulling double duty for years to our "day" jobs, to a team of 30+ people with offices in 7 geographies and a global portfolio of nearly 200 early stage and growth companies. I stand proud with my co-founders and team on everything Sony Ventures has become as the journey was not easy nor standard, even with corporate parents with innovation in mind.

  • Vice President, Corporate Development, Sony Corporation of America

    2010 - 2022

    As a lifetime gadget and technology geek, I proudly worked alongside the incredible people behind Sony products and services, especially Sony Corp. and Sony Interactive Entertainment (Playstation) as well as Sony's electronics, semiconductor, and imaging businesses. We focused on building solutions that deliver top shelf consumer experiences. My focus was on driving North America-based technology M&A, venture and growth investments, partnerships, and strategic & financial advisory.

  • Managing Director

    2008 - 2010

    Middle market advisory focused on operations-based companies in the industrial, technology and services sectors.

  • Vice President

    2006 - 2008

    Founding member and investment professional of inaugural $350 million private equity fund (the firm has currently raised over $4B in capital commitments). Identified and led investments in operations-based industrial/technology companies. Active due diligence with strong strategic and operational involvement with portfolio companies. Strong portfolio returns upon exit.

Bertram Capital is an equity firm that provides targeting investment services.

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