Kyoto University Innovation Capital
Venture capitalKyoto · Pre-Seed–Growth · 20 people tracked
Also known as 京都大学イノベーションキャピタル株式会社
Investment thesis
Kyoto iCAP invests in and supports companies formed to commercialize the knowledge, research outcomes, and technologies of Kyoto University researchers. Wholly funded by Kyoto University, it aims to turn academic 'seeds' into businesses. It runs entrepreneurship-support initiatives including the EIR-iCAP visiting entrepreneur program and ECC-iCAP, which connects research seeds with business professionals interested in launching university-derived startups.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 20 people
from the firm's websiteWhat they invest in
from 54 of 84 portfolio companiesMedical Devices ×26Biotech ×24Healthtech ×21Deep Tech ×15Cleantech ×11New Materials ×10Digital Health ×9AgTech ×8
HQs:Japan×45United States×3Taiwan×1
Investments · 84 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathLisata develops drug delivery platform technology and therapies for solid tumors, enabling targeted anti-cancer drug delivery and immune system activation against cancer.
BiotechMedical Devices
Kolagen Pharma develops and sells pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research reagents, and manufactures cosmetics, focusing on collagen-based biomaterials for regenerative medicine.
BiotechHealthtechLongevityMedical DevicesKyoto, JP
Hiroshi Nose(代表取締役 (Representative Director))
ACT Genomics is a cancer genomics company that provides genomic testing solutions to support personalized cancer care and precision medicine for patients and clinicians.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
AlphaNavi Pharma is a pharmaceutical company developing new drugs (Nav channel inhibitors) for patients suffering from chronic pain and neurological disorders.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtech京都市, JP
小山田義博Yoshihiro Oyamada(Representative Director)
The Audio Metaverse creates a bridge between physical and virtual spaces through audio, allowing users to own audio spaces as unique digital assets with exclusive access features.
Creator Economy
BTB Therapeutics develops a non-opioid analgesic aimed at addressing the opioid crisis, along with a pipeline of RNA-modifying compounds for rare genetic diseases and to enhance cancer immunotherapy.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesEscondido, US
Takashi Kiyoizumi(CEO, Director of the Board)Masatoshi Hagiwara(Chief Scientific Officer, Director of the Board (founder of BTB Therapeutics Co., Ltd.))Kenneth W. Locke(Chief Development Officer)
Cleanhearing develops Sono, a patented technology aimed at treating tinnitus.
Digital HealthHardwareHealthtechMedical Devices
Hidero NiiokaGerald Neuwirth(Founder / Technical Lead)Lydia Mitchell(Head of Product & Operations)
CONNEXX SYSTEMS is a Japanese startup developing energy-storage batteries and a networked storage system ("Power Net") that links distributed batteries and renewable sources like solar and wind into a unified energy network.
CleantechEnergyHardware
Development of novel gene-related therapies.
Kanjin Therapeutics is a biotechnology startup developing treatments to restore kidney function and address chronic kidney diseases, using a strategy of targeting the liver.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
Kyoto Fusioneering develops fusion energy technology and related engineering solutions to enable carbon-neutral power generation and advanced chemical processes such as hydrogen production and carbon capture.
Climate TechDeep TechEnergyKyoto, JP
Myoridge develops serum-free cell culture media and optimization services for cell cultivation and regenerative medicine applications.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesJapan, JP
Platform for high-throughput material property simulation based on quantum mechanics.
Cambridge, US
Guanhua Chen(Director)Toru Shiozaki(Executive Officer, Director)Garnet Chan(Director)
RegCell Biosciences is a biotechnology company developing regenerative cell therapies, leveraging expertise in cell and gene therapy, manufacturing, and immunology to advance therapeutic treatments.
BiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
Michael McCullar, PhD(Chief Executive Officer)James Ahlers(Chief Financial Officer)Marty Giedlin, PhD(Chief Technology Officer)Tony Hurley(Chief Technical Operations Officer)Steve Kanner, PhD(Chief Scientific Officer)
Restore Vis is a life sciences company founded by a vitreoretinal surgeon and clinician scientist focused on addressing inflammation, aging, neurodegeneration and angiogenesis through translational research from drug discovery to clinical trials.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP
Dr. Rajendra S. Apte(Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor; Vice Chair of Innovation and Translation; Founder)
Shinobi develops next-generation cell therapies using iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) research, genetic engineering, and clinical infrastructure.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Advance Composite develops and manufactures advanced composite materials aimed at supporting industrial development while reducing environmental impact through energy and resource efficiency.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechNew Materials
Junichi Hattori(代表取締役社長 (President & Representative Director))
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 Sawamura
EneCoat Technologies develops and manufactures perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and related materials.
CleantechEnergyNew MaterialsKyoto, JP
加藤尚哉 (Naoya Kato)(Representative Director / Executive Officer / CEO)堀内保 (Tamotsu Horiuchi)(Director / Executive Officer / CTO)
Biotech
Cuorips develops regenerative medicine products based on human iPS cell technology, including its heart muscle cell sheet "Heart®" (Rehart) for treating severe heart failure caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy, along with catheter-based therapies and compound drugs (YS series).
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesOsaka, JP
Takayuki Kusanagi(Representative Director, President & CEO)Tadayuki Tanimura(Director, Executive Vice President)Kazuyoshi Hirao(Director, Executive Vice President & Chief Business Officer)Yoshiki Sawa(Director, Chief Medical Science Officer)
Sunlit Seedlings Co., Ltd. describes its SDGs initiatives and its fraud-prevention policy for managing public research funds, stating it operates and manages competitive research funding in line with guidelines for the administration and auditing of public research expenses at research institutions.
AgTechCircular EconomyClimate TechDeep TechImpact & Social Good
tiem factory Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells functional materials, specifically an aerogel called SUFA (Super Functional Air), a porous material over 90% air engineered for high flexibility and elasticity in transparent plate form.
CleantechDeep TechNew MaterialsIbaraki, JP
橘弘一郎(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))川瀬昇(取締役 (Director))倉田真弥(取締役 / 代表取締役 (Director / Representative Director))
Tokiwa Bio develops the Stealth-type RNA vector (SRV™), a non-integrating gene delivery vector that can introduce multiple or large genes into cells at high efficiency for gene therapy.
BiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
Toregem Biopharma is a Kyoto University spin-off developing a tooth-regeneration drug based on a humanized anti-USAG-1 antibody that aims to regrow teeth with a single injection.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical Devices京都 (Kyoto), JP
喜早 ほのか (Honoka Kihayashi)(代表取締役社長 (Representative Director and President))髙橋 克 (Katsu Takahashi)(取締役CTO (Director and CTO))髙谷 宗男 (Muneo Takaya)(取締役CBO (Director and CBO))喜早 ほのか(Co-founder & CEO (代表取締役社長))髙橋 克(Co-founder & CTO)髙谷 宗男(Co-founder & CBO)
FIMECS, Inc. is a Japanese drug discovery company researching and developing new pharmaceuticals based on targeted protein degradation mechanisms.
BiotechMedical DevicesFujisawa, JP
Kanae Kamo(代表取締役 CEO (Representative Director & CEO))
Physiologas develops technology to innovate healthcare and improve patient and family wellbeing.
Digital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
HoloBio is a Japanese molecular biology research company that studies the unique functions of region-specific plants, animals, and symbiotic microorganisms across Japan.
AgTechBiotechDeep TechFoodTechKyoto, JP
Masato Umeda(Representative Director & President (Founder))Toshihide Kobayashi(Director & Head of Research)Kinya Nakaoka(Director & Head of Corporate Planning)
Melody International develops mobile fetal and maternal monitoring medical devices, including the "iCTG" cardiotocograph and the "Central i" central monitoring system for perinatal care.
Digital HealthFemTechHealthtechMedical DevicesTakamatsu, JP
Ichiro Matsubara(Representative Director / CEO)Yuko Ogata
Rege Nephro develops regenerative medicine therapies for kidney disease, focusing on nephron progenitor cell research and differentiation from iPS cells.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesKyoto, JP
aceRNA Technologies develops therapies based on RNA technology, focusing on the discovery of new functions of miRNA to contribute to regenerative medicine and the creation of new drugs for diseases that currently lack treatments.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP
須川史啓(代表取締役 (Representative Director / CEO))
AFI manufactures rapid microbial detection systems using flow cytometry and solid-phase cytometry technologies for quality control in pharmaceuticals, clinical diagnostics, cosmetics, food and beverage, and environmental testing.
HardwareHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP
FLOSFIA develops power semiconductor devices based on corundum-structure gallium oxide (α-Ga₂O₃), a material originating from Kyoto University in Japan, using its proprietary water-based "MISTEPITAXY" mist deposition process to achieve lower loss than SiC at silicon-level cost.
CleantechDeep TechNew MaterialsSemiconductorsKyoto, JP
四戸孝(代表取締役社長 (President & CEO))人羅俊実(創業者・取締役会長 (Founder & Chairman))
KOALA Tech Inc. is a Kyushu University spinout commercializing organic semiconductor laser diode (OSLD) technology as laser light sources compatible with organic electronic device platforms, including OLED displays.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductorsFukuoka, JP
Fatima Bencheikh(Representative Director, CEO & CTO)安達千波矢(Founder (Kyushu University Professor))Chihaya Adachi(Co-founder (Kyushu University Professor))
LegalOn Technologies develops AI-based products for corporate legal and other corporate functions, including contract review and management tools such as LegalForce and the LegalOn Cloud platform.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLegalTechSaaSTokyo, JP
角田 望(代表取締役)
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioLisata Therapeutics, Inc.NASDAQ: LSTA
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesKyoto Fusioneering · forbes.com · Jul 15, 2026
Restore Vision · shionogi.com · Apr 15, 2026
RegCell · us.fasttrackinitiative.com · Mar 22, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Kyoto University Innovation Capital invest at?
- Kyoto University Innovation Capital invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What sectors does Kyoto University Innovation Capital focus on?
- Kyoto University Innovation Capital focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Deep Tech, FoodTech, Healthtech, New Materials, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Kyoto University Innovation Capital located?
- Kyoto University Innovation Capital is headquartered in Kyoto, JP.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
from their channel【ECC-iCAP】2nd alumni event on February 24th, 2026
京都iCAP
【Q&A】#11 京都iCAPにはEIR活動を支援してくれるメンターは居ますか?どの粒度感?【EIR編】
京都iCAP
【Q&A】#9 大学の先生とあまり話した事がないのですが、EIR活動はできますか?先生との接し方について教えて【EIR編】
京都iCAP
【Q&A】#8 EIRや起業家としてふさわしいと考える人物像を教えて下さい【EIR編】
京都iCAP
【Q&A】#7 EIR(客員起業家)とはなんでしょうか?【EIR編】
京都iCAP
【経営者インタビュー・高元丈治氏(前編)】株式会社LEP|光る植物で世界進出【京都iCAP】
京都iCAP
Images
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