UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd.
The University of Tokyo's investment company, backing academia-linked deep tech startups.
🇯🇵 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo · Founded 2016
Checks Up to ¥2B·Pre-seed to Series A·Leads or follows
UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) is the University of Tokyo's investment company, set up in 2016 and wholly owned by the university. It manages three funds of about ¥60 billion in total. It invests directly in deep tech startups linked to the University of Tokyo and other academia, backs carve-outs and joint ventures with companies, and invests in other venture funds. Its site says deals range from seed investments of tens of millions of yen to about ¥2 billion. It also runs the 1stRound startup program and the DeepTech Dive hiring platform.
What they invest in
We invest in startups that strive to implement academia-linked deep tech in society. We use the academic and research outputs of academia, led by the University of Tokyo, to create businesses that contribute back to society.
- Check size
- Up to ¥2B
- Stage
- Pre-seed to Series A
- Role in a round
- Leads or follows
- Fund
- IPC Fund 1 · ¥25B; AOI Fund 1 · ¥25.6B; ASA Fund · about ¥7B
- Closed 2025
- Deep tech
- Life science
- Space
- Robotics & hardware
- IT & services
- Japan
- United States
- United Kingdom
How to pitch
They read inbound pitches that match the criteria above.
Open to
- Pitches from founders
- Co-investment
- Mentoring founders
- Hiring for portfolio companies
The contact page has an inquiry form for startups and entrepreneurs. The 1stRound program takes applications twice a year and gives selected teams six months of mentoring, funding and resources. UTokyo IPC invests alongside other investors and as an LP in private venture funds. Its DeepTech Dive platform matches people with jobs at portfolio companies.
Portfolio
UTokyo IPC lists about 85 direct investments since its first fund in 2016. They span life science, space, hardware and materials, IT and AI. Most are Japanese deep tech startups linked to universities, with some in the US and UK. It also invests as an LP in other venture funds.
Some of the companies they have backed
The portfolio at a glance · 60 companies · 2021–2026 · 12 exits
Sectors
- Biotech20%
- Space7%
- Fintech5%
- Materials5%
- Other40%
Stage when they invested
- Series A3%
Where the companies are
- 🇯🇵 Japan63%
- 🇺🇸 United States3%
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom2%
60 of about 85 companies from the fund's own portfolio page and investment news, as of Oct 2026. Years come from its announcements. Its site has the full list.
Co-investors and partners
Funds that invested in the same rounds.
