D4V is a Japan-focused venture fund built directly on IDEO's design expertise, running much of its operations in English and sending IDEO designers into portfolio companies for structured design sprints, hands-on help with branding and naming, and even temporary staff placements. It aims to help Japanese startups improve their products, expand distribution abroad, and connect with overseas investors, filling a gap where design thinking is still less common in Japanese startups than in the U.S.