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Establishment of a new venture capital firm “WASEDA University Ventures”

Background to this initiative

Since 2012, WASEDA University has set forth its vision for 2032, the 150th anniversary of our founding as WASEDA VISION 150, which was formulated under the leadership of former President Kaoru Kamata. WASEDA University is now renewing this vision under our current President, Dr Aiji Tanaka, as WASEDA VISION 150 AND BEYOND, incorporating our vision for Japan and the world into 2050.

Since our founding in 1882, Education and research have been the two core missions of WASEDA University for the past 140 years. In our new WASEDA VISION 150 AND BEYOND, we will accelerate our efforts to create social value worldwide through innovation – making this the third mission of our university.

The founder and our first President, Shigenobu Okuma, passed away on January 10th, 1922, and today marks the Centennial of his death. On this Memorial Day, we have announced the establishment of our new university-affiliated venture capital (VC) firm “WASEDA University Ventures (WUV).

WASEDA University Ventures (WUV) will be established with the primary objective of creating businesses and industries that contribute to the evolution, well-being and sustainability of human society. WUV will build new companies that utilize the practical application of scholarship, one of WASEDA University’s founding principles. Furthermore, WUV will create businesses from the valuable scientific discoveries and inventions made at WASEDA. As a result, WUV aims to create businesses and industries that contribute to human society’s evolution and well-being and sustainability.

Professional venture capitalists will manage WASEDA University Ventures (WUV), working closely with the University. WUV aims to become a world-class deep tech venture capital firm.

 

The role of WASEDA University Ventures (WUV)

WASEDA University is promoting original research to innovate the future by utilizing the accumulated knowledge in various fields, which is the strength of a comprehensive university. As a result, WASEDA University’s research capabilities are highly regarded worldwide, with nine research fields ranked in the top 100 in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds rankings.

WASEDA University Ventures (WUV) will help create new companies from the Seeds at WASEDA University. WUV will help build business plans and form teams to launch new companies. WUV will help these start-ups create businesses and attract talents and capital. We hope that WUV will be able to play a leading role in the formation of an innovation ecosystem around WASEDA University. In the near future, we envision the following:

  • With WUV’s funding and support, many start-ups in the field of “Deep Tech” have emerged from WASEDA University’s research outcomes, students, and graduates. These start-ups are expanding their businesses and contributing to society.
  • WUV to continue raising new funds.
  • The formation of an ecosystem that has produced many promising start-ups from WASEDA University and the presence of many VCs investing in start-ups related to WASEDA University.
  • Many WASEDA alumni are involved in start-ups and the creation of new industries, contributing to the sustainable development of Japan and the world.
  • The creation of economic impacts, from the licensing of the University intellectual properties, donations, and other financial contributions, to help further the private educations.

 

Overview of WASEA University Ventures (WUV)

Name: WASEDA University Ventures, Inc (WUV)

Establishment Date: April 1st, 2022 (planned)

Target Initial Fund Size: Abut $80M~$100M

Brief biographies of the General Partners

 

General Partners

Deep knowledge and experience in investment and management in the Deep Tech space

 

Ted Yamamoto

25 years of VC experience, global track-records in the Deep Tech space

Background

1994-2008: Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (engaged in venture capital business in the US and Japan)

2008-2020: The University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) Board Member & Partner

2021-    : Advisor to the Office of the President (Innovation Strategy), WASEDA University

No.1 on Forbes Japan Midas List 2020 (Japanese VC ranking)

MA (Physics), University of Oxford

Executive MBA Oxford Alumni Scholar, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

 

 

Hiroaki Ohta, Ph.D

Research with Nobel Prize physicist, McKinsey career, World-First Industrial Drone IPO

Background

2004-2007: ROHM Co.

2008     : Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University

2008-2010: Scientist, Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara

(Nobel Laureate Prof. Shuji Nakamura research project)

2010-2016: McKinsey & Company

2016-   : Chairman (Current), former President & CEO, ACSL, Inc. (formerly known as Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory, Inc.)

2021-    : Advisor to the Office of the President (Innovation Strategy), WASEDA University

Ph.D (Energy Science), Kyoto University, Japan

Took ACSL pubic on Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers market in 2018 as its President & Representative Director

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