Kobe University Capital
Corporate VCKobe · Pre-Seed–Growth · 10 people tracked
Also known as 株式会社神戸大学キャピタル
Investment thesis
KUC invests in ventures that create new value by leveraging research results from Kobe University and other universities and research institutions in the Kobe and broader Kansai region. It also backs ventures whose management includes Kobe University alumni. The firm focuses on deep-tech startups built on outstanding research seeds from Kobe and the wider Kansai/domestic ecosystem, aiming to translate university intellectual assets into economic value, jobs, and industrial transformation.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 10 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 12 of 35 portfolio companiesBiotech ×8Deep Tech ×8Medical Devices ×7Healthtech ×5AI & Machine Learning ×3Advanced Manufacturing ×1AgTech ×1Cleantech ×1
HQs:Japan×12
Investments · 35 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathTimers Inc. runs the "Famm" brand of services for families raising children, including a family photo and video sharing app, free photo sessions paired with childcare-cost consultations, and an online skills school for mothers and women.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerEdTech
Ahmad Shiina(Founder)in
Co-investorsDBJ CapitalGlobis Capital PartnersNTT DOCOMO Ventures
Co-investorsDBJ Capital
Celaid Therapeutics develops hematopoietic stem cell expansion technology, including a method to replace albumin with polyvinyl alcohol and to expand human hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo in large quantities.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical Devices
Nobuyuki Arakawa(Co-founder & Representative Director, President & CEO)Motoo Watanabe(Co-founder / Advisor (former Chairman & CSO))Hiromitsu Nakauchi(Co-founder)Masatoshi Sakurai(Co-founder)Yusuke Inoue(Director, COO & CFO)Asako Uchiyama(Director, CDO (Chief Development Officer))
Co-investorsOSAKA University Venture Capital
Co-investorsMPower
Co-investorsOSAKA University Venture Capital
Co-investorsKyoto University Innovation Capital
MiCAN Technologies produces immortalized blood cells (erythroid and myeloid-lineage cells) using regenerative medicine technology, supplying research-use blood-like cells, evaluation kits, and contract testing services.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesKyoto, JP
Kazuo Miyazaki(代表取締役CEO (Representative Director & CEO))Kazuhisa Fushihara(取締役CFO (Director & CFO))
BoardYasuhiro Natsume(取締役 (Director))
Co-investorsOSAKA University Venture CapitalUntroD Capital
A company KUC newly invested in through its KUC No.1 fund (Kobe University Fund).
Co-investorsDnx VenturesMobile Internet Capital, Inc.Nippon Venture CapitalSeiho Investment Works
Sinumy develops hands-free authentication technology, described as a first-of-its-kind in Japan and globally.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareHardwareMobility & TransportationOsaka, JP
Ryoya Kurauchi(代表取締役CEO (Representative Director & CEO))Tomoya Yonaga(取締役COO (Director & COO))
Co-investorsMIRAIDOOR Co. Ltd.Seibu Shinkin CapitalUTEC
Synplogen is a synthetic biology startup spun out of Kobe University that offers custom artificial gene synthesis and DNA library construction services using its proprietary OGAB and Combinatorial-OGAB (Combi-OGAB) DNA assembly methods.
BiotechDeep TechMedical DevicesKobe, JP
柘植謙爾(取締役 / Founder (Executive Research Fellow))山本一彦(代表取締役社長 兼 CEO)山田尚之(常務取締役 CTO)岩田清和(取締役 COO)齋藤俊介(取締役 医療ビジネスユニット長)
Co-investorsi-nest capital
TCN Prime develops medical devices for cardiovascular applications, including innovative catheter systems for treating aortic stenosis and ECMO support.
Deep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP
小西明英(CEO / Representative Director)岩崎正道(Director / CMO)八木隆浩(Director / CTO)三池信也(Director / CFO)
Co-investorsOSAKA University Venture Capital
VC Gene Therapy develops gene therapies, with a first pipeline using genome editing to treat autosomal dominant inherited retinal degenerative diseases and aiming to begin clinical trials.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesKobe, JP
Masashiro TakahashiMasayo Takahashi(President & CEO (代表取締役社長 CEO))Takuma Fukuda(Director & CFO (取締役 CFO))
BoardYuji Inomata(Director (取締役))Tsuyoshi Chiwata(Outside Director (社外取締役))
Alpha Fusion is a Japanese biotechnology company developing targeted alpha therapy drugs based on Astatine-211 (211At) to treat cancer with reduced side effects to healthy tissue.
BiotechDigital Health
Co-investorsGlobal BrainOSAKA University Venture Capital
Works on targeted alpha-particle radionuclide therapy for cancer using astatine.
eSep Inc. develops and provides nanoceramics membrane separation technology and related equipment and systems for chemical processes and energy applications.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechNew MaterialsKyoto, JP
Kenichi SawamuraKen-ichi SAWAMURA(Founder)in
Co-investorsGlobal BrainHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Kyoto University Innovation Capital
Develops carbon-neutral processes using nano-ceramic separation membranes.
Optieum develops next-generation CAR-T cell therapies using a proprietary CAR discovery platform to optimize immune cell activation for treating solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
BiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
Co-investorsHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.Iyogin CapitalUntroD CapitalVision Incubate
Develops regenerative medicine products for blood and hereditary diseases via ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell expansion.
PtBio develops genome editing technology and bio-DX tools for analyzing the genomes of industrially used organisms, positioning itself as a platform provider.
AgTechBiotechDeep Tech東広島市, JP
Keisuke Okuhara(Representative Director & CEO)奥原 啓輔(代表取締役 (Representative Director))Takashi Yamamoto(Director & CTO)Atsuhiro Ishii(COO)Hidemasa Bono(CSO (Chief Scientific Officer))Yumiko Kusakabe(Chief Strategy Officer)
Co-investorsHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.
Provides research blood cells using proprietary immortalized blood cell production technology to support drug and vaccine development.
Develops safe and effective nucleic acid medicines based on nucleic acid chemistry from Osaka University.
Visualizes skin and muscle condition by analyzing amino acids in sweat using proprietary trace biomolecule analysis.
Kobe University spinout developing innovative ECMO and BAV catheters.
Co-investorsOSAKA University Venture Capital
TearExo develops a cancer detection method that analyzes exosomes in tears, aiming for a painless, non-invasive test to assess breast cancer risk and support early detection.
BiotechFemTechHealthtechMedical DevicesKobe, JP
Research and development of gene therapy technologies.
Develops oral cancer treatment vaccines and COVID-19 preventive vaccines using a novel oral vaccine platform.
Develops AI smart air-conditioning systems to reduce energy costs and promote carbon neutrality.
Runs a CMO/CDMO business specialized in gene and cell therapy products.
Offers contract long-chain DNA synthesis and gene therapy biofoundry services.
Research on AI ethics and sustainable operation, and development of AI services.
Integrated foundry business offering contract services and products for microbial production of useful substances.
Medical startup developing apps aiming for medical device approval, including a migraine treatment app.
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Kobe University Capital made?
- Kobe University Capital has 35 tracked investments.
- What stage does Kobe University Capital invest at?
- Kobe University Capital invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What sectors does Kobe University Capital focus on?
- Kobe University Capital focuses on Biotech, Deep Tech, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Kobe University Capital located?
- Kobe University Capital is headquartered in Kobe, JP.
- Who does Kobe University Capital co-invest with?
- Kobe University Capital most often shares deals with OSAKA University Venture Capital, Hiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd., DBJ Capital, among 20 tracked co-investors.
Images
Similar investors
8VC is a venture capital firm investing across logistics, life sciences, healthcare, IT infrastructure, and government/defense, guided by its Smart Enterprise thesis focused on data integration and platform network effects.
.jpeg){kind=logo}
B Capital is a global investment firm backing early to late-stage technology innovators across technology, healthcare, and energy & resilience sectors.
DCVC (Data Collective) is a deep tech venture capital firm that backs entrepreneurs using computational approaches to solve large-scale real-world problems across many industries.
Innovestor is a Finnish investment manager active in venture capital, real estate, and energy storage, and also provides corporate venturing services.
Inveready is a Spanish alternative investment firm founded in 2008, offering investment solutions and wealth management services across the small and mid-market segment in Spain.