TOHOKU University Venture Partners

AWL develops edge AI solutions that turn physical spaces into data, running inference on on-site devices for applications across retail, manufacturing, logistics, and public infrastructure.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareIoTRetail TechTokyo, JP

北宗北出 宗治(Founder, Representative Director & CEO)澤田 靖仁(Senior Executive Officer, CFO)土田 美那(Senior Executive Officer, CHRO)

Board土田 安紘(Director & CTO)

Co-investorsDGDG IncubationRARakuten CapitalS S Ventures

Azul provides cloud application and DevOps solutions, particularly focused on cloud cost management and DevOps analytics for enterprise customers.

Cloud ComputingDeveloper ToolsEnterprise Software

Gil Tene(Founder)Scott Sellers(Founder)Shyam Pillalamarri(Founder)

Co-investorsLELead Edge CapitalPAPartners for GrowthPAPartners for Growth (PFG)GSGS FuturesMIMitsubishi UFJ CapitalRERedpoint Ventures+4 more

AZUL Energy develops, manufactures, and sells bio-inspired catalyst electrode materials, next-generation metal-air battery products, and functional materials for environment, energy, and healthcare applications.

CleantechEnergyNew MaterialsSendai, JP

KIKoju Ito(Founder / President / CEO)inHYHiroshi Yabu(Founder / Director / CSO)HAHiroya Abe(Founder / Director)MHMasayuki Hayashi(COO)inKMKyoko Morisaki(CBO)in

Co-investorsSPSpiral CapitalPEPegasus Tech Ventures

Ball Wave develops and manufactures ball SAW sensors based on a novel principle for Internet of Things applications, serving as sensing infrastructure for machine-to-sensor communication networks.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardwareIoTNot stated, JP

赤尾慎吾

Co-investorsUNUntroD Capital

Cranebio develops low-cost, easy-to-use diagnostic testing systems aimed at making healthcare more accessible to a broad population.

BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices

Epigno develops management systems for medical and nursing care institutions and provides related consulting services.

Digital HealthHealthtechHR TechSaaSTokyo, JP

Fumiyoshi Inui(Representative Director)in

Co-investorsCOColopl NextLILifetime VenturesCACapital Medica Ventures

Goryo Chemical develops fluorescence-based technology to visualize diseases and support diagnosis and treatment.

BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesNew MaterialsTokyo, JP

KMKen-ichi MARUYAMA(Founder)in

Co-investorsDGDG IncubationGLGlobal BrainMIMiyako CapitalS S VenturesUNUniversal Materials Incubator

LIGHTz develops technology to connect people's thinking and wisdom across organizations, helping teams overcome collaboration gaps that reduce productivity by making individual knowledge visible and shareable.

AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareRoboticsTsukuba, JP

Co-investorsTETechstars

Linkwiz develops software that enables industrial robots to adapt to variations in workpiece position and shape, making them capable of handling complex, context-dependent tasks in manufacturing environments.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareRobotics浜松市, JP

吹豪吹野 豪(代表取締役)

Co-investorsGLGlobal BrainMAMarubeni Ventures Inc.UTUTokyo Innovation Platform Co. Ltd.ININCJ, Ltd.

Metcela is a Japanese biotech company developing science-backed therapies for pediatric and rare diseases, with in-house capabilities spanning research through development.

BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices

Co-investorsBEBeyond Next VenturesF-F-Prime CapitalOSOSAKA University Venture CapitalSOSony Ventures CorporationUTUTEC

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun operates a Japanese-language news publication focused on industry, manufacturing, and business coverage in Japan, reporting on topics such as economic indicators, energy, and technology.

Media & Entertainment

Co-investorsWAWaseda University Ventures

PD AeroSpace develops a fully reusable suborbital spaceplane powered by a patented engine that switches between jet and rocket combustion modes, aiming to build lower-cost space transportation infrastructure.

Deep TechMobility & TransportationSpace Tech

PowerSpin develops spintronics-based power semiconductors and high-efficiency power electronics technology, offering intellectual property licensing, circuit designs, and consulting services.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareSemiconductorsSendai, JP

遠藤哲郎(代表取締役COO / CTO (東北大学教授))福田悦生(代表取締役CEO)

Co-investorsJIJIC Venture Growth Investments

SEQSENSE is a Japanese company presenting a mission-driven message about changing conventional thinking to build a more convenient and prosperous future.

Sector Agnostic

Sound Wave Innovation develops therapeutic treatment technologies based on acoustic and shock wave applications for medical treatment.

BiotechDeep TechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP

Hiroaki Shimokawa(Founder, Representative Director, President, CEO, CMO)

Co-investorsIGiGlobe Partners

Stockmark is a Japanese company that develops large language models and AI-based products, offering both an AI PaaS platform and AI SaaS applications for businesses.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS

Tatsu Hayashi(代表取締役CEO (Representative Director & CEO))inKAKosuke Arima(取締役CTO (Director & CTO))in

Co-investorsNTNTT DOCOMO VenturesPOPolaris Capital GroupWOWorld Innovation Lab (WiL)

SUSMED (サスメド株式会社) develops therapeutic apps (digital therapeutics) and a blockchain-based clinical trial system, and provides medical data analysis using statistics and machine learning.

AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesTokyo, JP

上太上野 太郎(代表取締役社長)Taro Ueno, M.D., Ph.D(Founder)in本智本橋 智光(取締役 CTO)

Co-investorsBEBeyond Next VenturesDIDIMENSIONSOSony Ventures Corporation

AI Silk manufactures and sells lead skins (electrodes) and related electrode application products.

HardwareHealthtechMedical DevicesNew Materials仙台市, JP

Co-investorsDNDnx VenturesGLGlobal Brain

Kringle Pharma develops and manufactures HGF protein-based pharmaceuticals for treating conditions including spinal cord injury, ALS, and vocal cord scarring.

BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesOsaka, JP

Toshikazu Nakamura安達喜一

Co-investorsCHChishima Real Estate — Startup InvestmentDBDBJ CapitalOSOSAKA University Venture Capital

Spin Sensing Factory develops high-sensitivity magnetic sensors, including sensors aimed at biomagnetic field measurement, with applications spanning medical, healthcare, mobility, transportation, and infrastructure.

Deep TechHardwareMedical Devices

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

Co-investorsKYKyoto University Innovation Capital

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))喜ほ喜早 ほのか(Co-founder & CEO (代表取締役社長))髙克髙橋 克(Co-founder & CTO)髙宗髙谷 宗男(Co-founder & CBO)

Co-investorsASAstellas Venture Management LLCKYKyoto University Innovation CapitalOSOSAKA University Venture Capital

Hakko Holdings develops fermented bean-based foods using its proprietary "Aranea fermentation" technology, producing brewed beans (JYOZ) from soybeans and domestically bred edible lupin beans.

AgTechClimate TechFoodTechHayama, JP

Ken Iriumi(Founder & Representative)

Pixie Dust Technologies develops hardware products and services based on ultrasonic and sound research, including a hair care device using non-contact vibration pressure stimulation, open-ear earphones and TV speakers using gamma-wave sound, sound-absorbing materials, and indoor positioning and spatial DX platforms.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareHealthtechMedia & EntertainmentNew Materials

YOYoichi Ochiai(代表取締役 CEO (Representative Director & CEO))

Co-investorsGLGlobal BrainJRJR East Start UPKDKDDI Open Innovation FundSMSMBC Venture CapitalABAbies Ventures

Phytochem Products is a Tohoku University spinout that uses an ion-exchange resin method to extract functional compounds such as tocotrienol (super vitamin E) and plant sterols from unused biomass like rice bran left over from rice oil production.

Circular EconomyCleantechNew MaterialsSendai, JP

Rege Nephro develops regenerative medicine therapies for kidney disease, focusing on nephron progenitor cell research and differentiation from iPS cells.

BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesKyoto, JP

Co-investorsGLGlobal BrainKYKyoto University Innovation CapitalNINippon Venture Capital

Luxna Biotech develops nucleic acid medicines (oligonucleotide/antisense therapeutics) based on bridged/crosslinked modified nucleic acid chemistry originally developed at Osaka University.

BiotechDeep Tech

Co-investorsKOKobe University CapitalOSOSAKA University Venture Capital

JAMPT (Japan Additive Manufacturing) is a specialized metal 3D printing service bureau that provides an integrated offering spanning metal powder development and manufacturing, part fabrication, machining, inspection, and mass production.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardware

FingerVision develops and deploys robot systems equipped with vision-based tactile sensors to address industry-specific automation challenges, with a focus on food processing and handling applications that require flexible manipulation of soft or irregularly-shaped objects.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareRobotics

Akihiko Yamaguchi(Director)

Co-investorsKEKeio Innovation InitiativeMOMonozukuri Ventures

This page lists the individuals and organizations who participated as project members through a crowdfunding campaign run in May–June 2019 for an artificial shooting star project.

Climate TechDeep TechSpace TechTokyo, JP

Co-investorsHIHiroshima Venture Capital Co. Ltd.IYIyogin Capital

A Japanese battery development company working on next-generation batteries, including semi-solid battery mass-production technology for hybrid vehicles, in collaboration with Yamagata University's next-generation battery research lab.

CleantechDeep TechEnergy

ElevationSpace develops small-satellite re-entry and recovery technology to return the results of in-orbit experiments to Earth, aiming to build an orbital transport network for people and goods.

Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech

RKRyohei Kobayashi(Founder)in

Co-investorsBEBeyond Next VenturesCACanal VenturesGLGlobal BrainMIMIRAI SOUZOUNTNTT DOCOMO VenturesPEPERSOL VENTURE PARTNERS+3 more

ispace develops technology for lunar surface operations and commercialization as part of building an economic zone between Earth and the Moon.

Deep TechHardwareRoboticsSpace TechTokyo, JP

THTakeshi Hakamada(Founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsBEBeyond Earth VenturesCYCygames CapitalJIJIC Venture Growth InvestmentsTBTBS Innovation PartnersUNUntroD CapitalAIAirbus Ventures+1 more

KOEDA develops a 1mm anchor device that is inserted through an endoscopic ultrasound puncture needle to fix the gallbladder and stomach/duodenum together, making EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) easier and safer for treating conditions such as acute cholecystitis.

HardwareHealthtechMedical Devices

Toru Okuzono(Representative Director)Atsuko Otomo(Senior Managing Director)Yukio Nakajima(Executive Officer)

A therapeutics company that received investment from THVP's 3rd fund (per news item).

Neu Brains applies neuroscience through wearable brain-measurement devices, brain-training tools delivered via web and apps, and brain-testing services used by universities, companies, and research institutions.

HardwareHealthtechWellness & Fitness

Piezo Studio develops piezoelectric crystal resonators and materials, including CTGS-based resonators designed for fast oscillation startup and low power consumption for IoT applications.

HardwareIoTNew Materials

SiccaNova Therapeutics is a research-and-development-focused biotechnology company developing small-molecule drugs aimed at treating dryness-related medical conditions.

BiotechDeep TechTsukuba, JP

Kenichi Nii(Founder & Representative Director (CEO))Taiji Sawamoto(Director (COO))

Green Chemical (株式会社グリーンケミカル) is a Japanese deep-tech chemistry startup working in the GX (green transformation) and nanotechnology field.

CleantechDeep TechNew Materials

Co-investorsMIMIRAI SOUZOU

Super Nano Design develops custom nanoparticle materials using a supercritical hydrothermal synthesis method originating from Tohoku University, offering material design, synthesis recipes, and equipment design for industrial clients.

Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechNew MaterialsSendai, JP

TATadafumi Adschiri(CTO)

Haplopharma provides genetic analysis services including contract genome sequencing, develops diagnostic instruments and test reagents, and conducts drug discovery research and development.

BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices

A Japanese company developing solutions for evaluating the crystal quality of semiconductors, offering proprietary measurement technology, products, and contract measurement services.

Deep TechNew MaterialsSemiconductors

Renascience is a Japanese biotechnology company that develops pharmaceutical and medical projects.

Biotech

Co-investorsSMSMBC Venture Capital

Revolka is a biotechnology company that uses its aiProtein technology — combining AI prediction with directed evolution and limited experimental data — to design high-performance proteins such as antibodies and enzymes.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep Tech