Japanese companies including Mitsubishi, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking and Toyota Ventures invested in a $147 million Africa-focused venture capital fund, in a sign of growing interest from the Asian nation in the continent’s startups.

The Novastar Ventures fund also drew investors including SBI Holdings, Mitsui OSK Lines and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, according to partner Steve Beck.

The Japanese investors “want access to knowledge and deal flow on the continent,” Beck said in an interview. “We are also giving them co-investment rights into the companies.”