{"id":87359,"date":"2026-03-03T13:47:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T04:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/?p=87359"},"modified":"2026-03-03T15:53:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T06:53:04","slug":"establishment-of-waseda-university-impact-capital-wic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/news\/87359","title":{"rendered":"Establishment of WASEDA University Impact Capital (WIC)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the establishment of WASEDA University Ventures (WUV), which promotes the social implementation of technology, Waseda University has founded WASEDA University Impact Capital (WIC) to pursue \u201cDeep Humanity\u201d \u2014 an integration of Deep Tech and the humanities and social sciences.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Waseda University aims to launch an impact venture capital fund in 2026 that leverages the University\u2019s academic strengths to address pressing social challenges. To serve as the management company of this fund, the University has established WASEDA University Impact Capital, Inc. (WIC)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This initiative builds upon WUV, which focuses on early-stage investment in Deep Tech to accelerate the social implementation of scientific and technological innovations. In alignment with Waseda University\u2019s vision of \u201ccontributing to humankind throughout the world,\u201d WIC advances the concept of \u201cDeep Humanity\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 combining Deep Tech with insights from the humanities and social sciences \u2014 and seeks to promote Social Well-being<\/strong> through impact investment.<\/p>\n

WIC Within Waseda University\u2019s Vision Toward 2050<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Waseda University aims, by 2050, to evolve into a university that contributes to humankind throughout the world and to drive transformative change in Japanese society through the convergence of knowledge spanning research, education, and social engagement.<\/p>\n

In 2022, guided by the founding principle of \u201cthe Practical Application of Scholarship,\u201d Waseda established WASEDA University Ventures (WUV)<\/strong> to create and nurture venture companies that accelerate social value creation, particularly in the Deep Tech domain centered on science and engineering.<\/p>\n

In contrast, WIC seeks to integrate technological innovation with insights from the humanities and social sciences to advance Social Well-being and plans to establish a new impact venture capital fund dedicated to this mission.<\/p>\n

Background: Investment that Reexamines Humanity and Society in the Age of AI<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As artificial intelligence advances rapidly, many forms of rational judgment are increasingly performed by AI. In this emerging era, uniquely human qualities, i.e. experience, emotion, meaning, are expected to become more central than ever.<\/p>\n

To build a sustainable and better society under these conditions, technological expertise alone is insufficient. Insights from the humanities and social sciences, which identify, analyze, and transform challenges within human and social systems, are indispensable.<\/p>\n

Recognizing this, WIC has been conceived to address societal challenges that cannot be fully captured by conventional science-driven Deep Tech investment. Going beyond traditional Deep Tech, WIC combines technology with humanistic and social scientific insight to pursue innovations that contribute to global peace and human flourishing \u2014 what we term \u201cDeep Humanity.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

WIC will focus on challenges surrounding human beings and society, including:<\/p>\n