Keio Innovation Initiative
Venture capitalTokyo · Seed–Late Stage · 9 people tracked
Also known as 株式会社慶應イノベーション・イニシアティブ
Investment thesis
KII focuses on backing research-and-development-oriented ventures, helping translate technologies, inventions, and innovations from academic labs into products with social impact. While originally tied to Keio University, from its second fund onward the firm expanded support beyond Keio to a wide range of R&D-focused startups. KII invests across stages from seed through post-IPO, drawing on a team with diverse backgrounds to refine each business. The firm describes itself as an impact-oriented VC aiming to change society through deeptech, actively pursuing impact-driven activities to fulfill its mission.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 9 people
from public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 16 of 72 portfolio companiesDeep Tech ×8Cleantech ×4Energy ×4Medical Devices ×4Biotech ×3Climate Tech ×3Healthtech ×3Advanced Manufacturing ×2
HQs:Japan×16
Investments · 72 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathCuebus builds CUEBUS, an urban three-dimensional robotic warehouse system that stores goods vertically and retrieves them on demand from any chosen point.
HardwareLogistics & Supply ChainRoboticsTokyo, JP
Katsuhiro Okubo(代表取締役社長兼CEO (President & CEO))Ryota Fujinami(取締役副社長兼CTO (Vice President & CTO))
Luxonus develops photoacoustic (optical ultrasound) 3D imaging devices and services for visualizing blood and lymphatic vessels, building on technology from Japan's Cabinet Office ImPACT program.
Deep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesKawasaki, JP
Sadakazu Aiso(代表取締役 (Representative Director))Liu Bingxian(Director)Taro Terashi(COO)Yoshiharu Takahashi(Executive Officer, Sales & Marketing)Mitsuhiro Akada(Auditor)
BoardOsami Kono(Director)
Commercializing Keio University technology for cardiac regenerative medicine, with a lead allogeneic iPS-cell-derived cardiomyocyte spheroid product (TSE Growth 219A).
Development of treatments for intractable brain diseases using genome-edited iPS cells.
JCCL develops carbon dioxide capture and resource recovery technology for achieving carbon neutrality.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechClimate TechTokyo, JP
Miresso develops beryllium materials and supply chain solutions for fusion energy applications.
Deep TechEnergyNew MaterialsMisawa, JP
Masaru Nakamichi(CEO)Yu Nakano(Technical Development Director)
Neusignal Therapeutics develops novel drugs for central nervous system disorders, including dementia and psychiatric conditions, with research focused on calcium signaling in neurons and target discovery for brain diseases.
BiotechDeep TechDigital HealthMedical DevicesTokyo, JP
有本 達(代表取締役 (Representative Director/CEO))
Starlight Engine develops fusion energy technology and aims to demonstrate commercial fusion power generation using advanced superconducting tokamak (FAST) technology.
CleantechClimate TechDeep TechEnergyTokyo, JP
菊地 清貴 (Kiyotaka Kikuchi)(代表取締役社長CEO (CEO))
BONX WORK is a workplace communication platform designed for frontline and deskless workers, offering hands-free voice calling, push-to-talk, team chat, and real-time transcription features.
Enterprise SoftwareFuture of Work
Eco-Pork builds data-driven technology for the pork production industry, including Porker, a cloud-based pig farming management system, an AI camera for automated weight measurement, and sensors that monitor rearing environments, connected via its Porker Connect in-barn networking service.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningIoT
EXORPHIA develops extracellular vesicle (EV) technology for assisted reproductive medicine, focusing on cell-free IVF culture medium additives to improve embryo development and fertilization success rates.
BiotechFemTechHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP
口石 幸治 (Kohji Kuchiishi)
Helical Fusion is a fusion energy company developing helical-type fusion reactors to provide sustained and stable power generation.
CleantechDeep TechEnergy
LINEA Innovations is a fusion energy company developing commercial reactors based on advanced-fuel fusion reactions and related technologies.
CleantechDeep TechEnergyTokyo, JP
Yuta Nojiri(Representative Director & CEO)Tomohiko Asai(Co-founder & Director, CSO)Mizuki Sakamoto(Co-founder & Director, CTO)Ryo Tamaki(Director, CFO)
Mazin develops industrial equipment and provides staffing services in manufacturing sectors.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHR TechTokyo, JP
Orbital Lasers develops space optical technology centered on satellite lasers, including systems aimed at addressing space debris, satellite bus, and mission instrument development.
Deep TechHardwareSpace TechTokyo, JP
Tadanori Fukushima(Representative Director & CEO)Yoshiyuki Muramatsu(Director & CFO)Teppei Kato(Executive Officer, CBO (Chief Business Officer))Masayuki Maruyama(CLTO (Chief Laser Technology Officer))
PURMX Therapeutics develops nucleic acid medicines as anti-cancer drugs based on microRNA research and the concept of an "ageing switch" to induce ageing in cancer cells.
BiotechHealthtechLongevityMedical DevicesHiroshima, JP
Hidetoshi Tahara(CEO/Representative Director and President)
Synspective develops SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite solutions and geospatial data services for government and commercial clients, with applications in disaster management, environmental monitoring, and national security.
Climate TechData & InfrastructureDeep TechGovTechSpace Tech
Dr. Motoyuki Arai(Founder & CEO)
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesStarlight Engine · finsmes.com · Jul 16, 2026
MiRESSO · thebridge.jp · Mar 5, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Keio Innovation Initiative invest at?
- Keio Innovation Initiative invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage stages.
- What is Keio Innovation Initiative's typical check size?
- Keio Innovation Initiative typically writes checks of $1.5M – $64M.
- What sectors does Keio Innovation Initiative focus on?
- Keio Innovation Initiative focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Deep Tech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good.
- Where is Keio Innovation Initiative located?
- Keio Innovation Initiative is headquartered in Tokyo, JP.
- Does Keio Innovation Initiative lead rounds?
- Keio Innovation Initiative typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
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