UTokyo IPC Invests in Vertex Ventures Japan Fund I

UTokyo Innovation Platform (UTokyo IPC) has made a limited partner investment in the “Vertex Ventures Japan Fund I,” managed by Vertex Ventures Japan (VVJ). The investment was made through the Academic Startup Acceleration Fund (ASA Fund), operated by UTokyo IPC with support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government under its startup strategy “Global Innovation with STARTUPS.”

Leveraging a Global Network to Support Cross-Border Growth and Industry Collaboration

VVJ is a member of the Vertex Holdings network—a Singapore-headquartered venture capital holding company with over USD 6 billion in assets under management and a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings. Vertex Holdings anchors and supports venture capital funds operating in major innovation hubs worldwide.

As part of the Vertex global network, VVJ plays a pivotal role in connecting Japanese startups with global markets. Through its fund, VVJ invests in high-potential growth sectors such as deep tech, AI, digital transformation (DX), and the creator economy. It also fosters collaboration with innovation ecosystems in Southeast Asia, India, the United States, Israel, China, and beyond, providing capital, global expansion support, and strategic partnership opportunities.

UTokyo IPC has chosen to invest in VVJ’s inaugural fund based on the proven global track record and extensive investment experience of the Vertex group, as well as its robust global platform and strategic focus on cross-border collaboration with industry leaders.

This LP commitment follows a joint statement issued in April 2024 by Vertex Holdings, the University of Tokyo, and UTokyo IPC to strengthen institutional collaboration.

UTokyo IPC is a leader in Japan’s academic startup ecosystem by providing support from seed commercialization to founder development and acceleration programs. Together, we will co-create an open innovation platform where startups from across Japanese universities and research institutions can thrive globally. Moving forward, Vertex Ventures Japan remains committed to empowering visionary researchers and entrepreneurs, and to building a global-scale platform that maximizes the potential of academic innovation.”

Advancing Japan’s Academic Startup Ecosystem with the ASA Fund

 Established in February 2024 and operated by UTokyo IPC, the ASA Fund aims to accelerate university-launched startups in Japan. As part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Global Innovation with STARTUPS” initiative, the fund supports the commercialization of research and the societal implementation of university-born technologies—particularly in deep tech.

The ASA Fund adopts a “fund-of-funds” model, investing in venture capital funds that support university-affiliated startups, with the goal of solving key ecosystem challenges and nurturing globally competitive unicorns. It also seeks to enhance collaboration across academia, industry, government, and international partners to elevate Japan’s university startup ecosystem to global standards.

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