Empowering Japan's Material and Chemical Innovations

Universal Materials Incubator Co., Ltd. (UMI) is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm established in October 2015. With a vision to strengthen Japan's technological capabilities, UMI focuses on fostering outstanding material and chemical companies, cultivating an industry structure that can compete globally. By bridging academic research and commercial production, UMI provides a platform for creating new businesses in these industries.

Investment Portfolio

• Total Investments: 44
• Portfolio Companies: 29
• Total Exits: 8

Target Investment Stage

• Early-stage ventures, particularly in the seed and Series A stages.

Target Investment Areas

UMI's investments span various industries, including:

• Biotechnology
• Information Technology
• Chemical
• Advanced Materials
• Agriculture
• Recycling

Target Geographies

• Primarily Japan, with selective investments in overseas

Portfolio Companies

Some of UMI's notable portfolio companies include:

• iPEACE223
• Listie
• Puraffinity
• Ac-Planta
• Jeplan
• CellFiber
• bitBiome
• Chemetry
• EF Polymer

Exits

Notable exits from UMI's portfolio include:

• Aromyx Corporation
• Advanced Material Technologies, Inc.
• MicroInnovators Laboratory, Inc.
• Green Earth Institute Co., Ltd.
• Jitsubo Co., Ltd.
• Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry Co., Ltd.
• micro-AMS Inc.

Why UMI?

• Investment Portfolio: UMI has made 44 investments, supporting 29 portfolio companies and achieving 8 successful exits.
• Strategic Investment Funds: UMI manages multiple funds, including UMI I, II, and III Investment Limited Partnerships, with total commitments of 10.01 billion JPY, 9.51 billion JPY, and 10.01 billion JPY, respectively.
• Experienced Leadership: The firm is led by a team of professionals with extensive experience in the material and chemical industries, including Managing Partner Shosuke Kiba, Ph.D., and Partner Yosuke Yamamoto.
• Global Investment Reach: While primarily investing in Japanese startups, UMI has also made investments in the United States and New Zealand, showcasing its international investment footprint.

What's in it for you?

1. UMI Investment Fund Program
Designed for early to growth-stage startups innovating in materials, chemicals, and sustainability. UMI offers funding through its three dedicated funds, each around ¥10 billion, with a strong focus on game-changing technologies.

2. Corporate Co-Creation Program
Ideal for corporations looking to co-build new ventures in advanced materials or chemical innovation. UMI collaborates from ideation through execution, bringing industrial knowledge and venture-building expertise.

3. Academic Commercialization Support
For university researchers and labs with world-class technology seeking commercialization support. UMI helps transform deep tech research into scalable businesses, offering business model design and early-stage investment.

4. Founder-Led Startup Support Program
Supports technical founders and early-stage entrepreneurs building globally unique solutions. UMI takes a hands-on approach, assisting with company formation, hiring, strategic advisory, and scale-up.

5. Global Expansion Collaboration Program
Open to both Japanese startups going global and international startups entering Japan. UMI helps navigate new markets with its cross-border investment experience and deep corporate networks.

The Process from Investment to Exit

1. Sourcing

UMI reviews over 150–200 projects annually using its extensive networks across academia, startups, SMEs, and large corporations. Their sourcing process is deeply personalized—built on the strength of individual relationships and a strong foundation in industrial knowledge. UMI doesn’t just look for investment opportunities; it creates them, often launching ventures from scratch alongside researchers or corporations.

2. Due Diligence

Due diligence at UMI is more than risk assessment. It’s about co-creating a future: UMI investigates both the financial and technological viability of each venture and builds an “investment scenario” focused on how the VC can proactively shape the company’s success—from IP strategy to financial modeling.

3. Investment Decision

UMI conducts six internal review stages before committing to an investment. These include:

• Deal Flow Meeting
• First & Second Evaluation Meetings
• External Technology Advisory Committee
• Pre-Investment Review Meeting
• Final Investment Committee

Every employee contributes to discussion, while the investment champion presents and plans the entire evaluation process—ensuring deep commitment and alignment.

4. Hands-On Support

Post-investment, UMI offers phase-specific, hands-on support. Whether it's hiring key talent, building go-to-market strategies, or forming partnerships, UMI plays an active role. They even help create new ventures from scratch when needed. As a lead investor, UMI becomes a close partner—advising, collaborating, and growing alongside the team.

5. Exit

From the start, UMI considers the ideal exit strategy—IPO, M&A, or strategic share transfer—to maximize long-term value and ensure the venture’s sustainability. They tailor exit plans to each company’s strengths and vision while remaining flexible to real-world developments.

Why should you collaborate with UMI?

UMI stands out as a hands-on venture capital firm built around deep industrial expertise and a mission to back globally leading technologies. With a strong focus on materials and sustainability, UMI actively invests, co-creates, and supports startups from inception to exit. The firm’s approach combines technical diligence, strategic guidance, and long-term partnership — giving entrepreneurs and innovators the edge to scale globally impactful businesses. UMI has already invested in numerous high-potential ventures, including several university spinouts and corporate-originated startups.

Ready to Collaborate?

Are you ready to commercialize your research, launch a new venture, or scale your startup with a committed VC partner who brings more than just capital? Explore UMI’s Partner Programs here!