HOW WE OPERATE
Approach
HOW WE OPERATE
The Edge
Most funds that want to play this game need to hire AI capability after they acquire. Ekohe Fund IS the AI capability.
The GP and the operating partner are the same entity — zero integration lag between acquisition and transformation. 19 years building digital products and AI systems, from Shanghai to Tokyo.
Ekohe × Fund
Ekohe continues to serve its long-term clients while deploying its team into portfolio companies as the transformation engine. Ekohe is compensated at cost — the fund's margin comes only from the success of each transformation, fully aligning GP and LP incentives.
The goal is not permanent dependency. Once AI foundations are in place, Ekohe supports each portfolio company in building its own in-house technology team — creating standalone value that persists beyond the fund's involvement.
A team of 10 based in Japan provides local presence and deal execution, with engineering depth in Shanghai that allows the fund to scale resources rapidly across multiple portfolio companies.
Where a transformation requires expertise outside Ekohe's core — robotics, specialized hardware, industry-specific systems — the fund engages external specialists directly.
How We Deploy Capital
Acquire & Transform
90% of capital
Target: 5–10 profitable businesses, $3–10M each. Sectors where AI compresses costs dramatically but cannot fully replace the business — services with physical, relational, or regulatory moats. Staffing, facilities management, construction PM, healthcare-adjacent services, logistics brokerage.
AI injection from day one — automate operations, compress costs, expand margins.
Operating Reserve
10%
Working capital, integration spend, and follow-on needs across the portfolio. Keeps the operating team fully resourced between closes so transformation velocity does not stall.
The Acquisition Filter
Remote Work Ratio
We target businesses where 40–75% of employees could theoretically work remotely. Remote-eligibility correlates strongly with knowledge-work density — the tasks most amenable to AI automation. At the same time, the remaining non-remote roles signal physical delivery, relationships, or regulation that keep the business defensible. One metric, two signals.
Too physical. Limited AI transformation upside — most value is in hands-on delivery that AI cannot replace.
Sweet spot. Enough knowledge work to transform with AI, anchored by physical delivery, relationships, or regulation that keeps the business defensible.
Too exposed. Vulnerable to full disruption by a platform product — both cost structure and revenue at risk.
Target sectors
Staffing & recruitment with on-site placement · Facilities & property management · Construction & engineering PM · Healthcare-adjacent professional services · Logistics brokerage · Specialized B2B with licensed delivery
We avoid
Pure digital agencies, fully remote tech consulting, and any business where near-100% of value delivery can be replicated by software.
The Flywheel
The Operating Bench
Global team across Tokyo (fund HQ + deal execution), Shanghai (AI engineering), Vancouver (product engineering + Americas coverage), Paris/Lisbon/New York (European coverage + LP access).