UTokyo IPC
University of Tokyo's venture investor backing academia-linked deep tech startups, from creation to growth.
🇯🇵 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo · Founded 2016
Pre-seed to Series C+·Leads or follows
UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) was founded in January 2016 as the University of Tokyo's first wholly owned investment company and is based on the Hongo campus. It invests in deep tech startups built on academic research, in life sciences, agritech, space, hardware, IT and AI, from company creation and pre-seed through later rounds. It manages three funds of nearly JPY 60 billion combined, also invests as an LP in other VC funds, and runs the 1stRound accelerator and a Startup Building Program.
What they invest in
We invest in startups that strive to implement academia-linked deep tech in society, using research from academia, led by the University of Tokyo, to build businesses that contribute back to society.
- Stage
- Pre-seed to Series C+
- Role in a round
- Leads or follows
- Fund
- IPC Fund 1 · JPY 25B; AOI Fund 1 · JPY 25.6B; ASA Fund (fund of funds)
- Closed 2025
- Life sciences
- Agritech
- Space
- Hardware
- IT & Software
- Japan
- North America
- Europe
How to pitch
They read inbound pitches that match the criteria above.
Open to
- Pitches from founders
- Mentoring founders
- Hiring for portfolio companies
Portfolio
Since 2016 UTokyo IPC has invested in or supported over 85 startups, mostly in Japan with some in the US and UK, from pre-seed to later rounds, in life sciences, space, hardware, IT and AI. Its site lists 15 IPOs and exits.
Some of the companies they have backed
The portfolio at a glance · 60 companies · 2017–2026 · 13 exits · led 1
Sectors
- Biotech20%
- Robotics8%
- Space tech7%
- Energy5%
- Other53%
Stage when they invested
- Pre-seed2%
- Seed5%
- Series B2%
- Series C+2%
Where the companies are
- 🇯🇵 Japan80%
- 🇺🇸 United States5%
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom2%
Built from UTokyo IPC's own portfolio page and investment news, as of Oct 2026. Years are first announced investments; stages only where stated. CB Insights counts 130 investments.
Co-investors and partners
Funds that invested in the same rounds.