MIRAI SOUZOU

What MIRAI SOUZOU does

MIRAI SOUZOU (legal name: みらい創造インベストメンツ / MIRAISOZO INVESTMENTS Inc.) is a Tokyo-based, university-anchored venture capital firm founded in September 2014 by Tokyo Institute of Technology alumni Yuyuki Okada (President/CEO) and Daisuke Kaneko (Co-founder/Director). The firm invests in research-and-development-intensive deep tech startups originating primarily from the Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology) ecosystem and from a broader network of 16+ partner universities accessed through GAP Fund programs including GTIE, PARKS, PSI, IJIE, and Tongali. Portfolio sectors span space (Synspective, ElevationSpace), robotics (HiBot, TriOrb, Rapyuta Robotics), semiconductors/sensors (QDlaser, Floadia, OptoComb), biotech/drug discovery (NOVIGO Pharma, Logomix, FerroptoCure), energy (Tsubame BHB, Enecoat, elleThermo), materials (Kyulux, digzyme), and AI/quantum (JIJ, FLUX). The firm manages two investment vehicles: Miraisozo Fund No. 1 (¥3.34B committed, established 2016) and Miraisozo Fund No. 2 (established 2021, certified under METI/MEXT Specified Research Outcome Utilization Business program), and has generated 3 IPOs (QDlaser on TSE Mothers Feb 2021; Synspective on TSE Growth Dec 2024; plus one additional) and 4 M&A exits.

The business model combines standard Japanese VC fund management fees on committed capital with carried interest from successful exits, supplemented by government grant co-funding (up to ¥70M per portfolio company via NEDO R&D-type startup support matched 2:1 against Miraisozou investment) and management talent matching services. Beyond capital, the firm operates a 'co-pioneering' model that includes an EIR (客員起業家) program accredited by METI/NEDO MPM, a CTO Supply/Development Ecosystem under Tokyo Metropolitan Government's TOKYO SUTEAM, the Deep Tech Entrepreneur Creation Course co-hosted with Science Tokyo CUMOT, and the recently launched Miraisozo Launchpad Program (MLP) for pre-seed support. Distribution is anchored by a headquarters co-located within the INDEST incubation studio on the Science Tokyo Tamachi campus, enabling direct access to research labs and student founders. The group includes three wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: Miraisozo Studio (carved out 2022, startup studio leveraging the kosen national college of technology network), Miraisozo Relations (spun off 2020, marketing/PR services for portfolio companies), and Kosen Career Education Laboratory (acquired 2020).

Headcount is small (~5 core investment professionals plus broader team, firmographic range 11-50), reflecting an institutional VC structure rather than a venture-builder with large operating teams. Co-investment syndicates with major Japanese institutional VCs (JAFCO, Globis Capital Partners, Itochu Technology Ventures, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital) and Angel Bridge provide deal-flow leverage and validation. LP base includes government-affiliated institutions, corporate strategic investors, and the founding university itself, while registered capital stands at ¥10M as of October 2024 (distinct from fund AUM). The firm rebranded from みらい創造機構 to みらい創造インベストメンツ on October 1, 2024, aligning its identity with the multi-fund investment platform role.

Name

MIRAI SOUZOU

Legal name

株式会社みらい創造インベストメンツ

Website

https://miraisozo.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MIRAI SOUZOU (MIRAISOZO INVESTMENTS) is a Tokyo-based, university-anchored venture capital firm founded in 2014 that invests in deep tech startups from Science Tokyo and 16+ partner universities across Japan. It manages two VC funds with ¥3.34B+ committed capital and has produced 3 IPOs and 4 M&A exits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital / Deep Tech Investment

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Institutional Capital Introduction (LP/Family Office/Endowment Matching) (FSAEALAI)

Keywords

• Deep tech venture capital
• University startup investment
• Technology commercialization
• Startup incubation programs
• Research-based startup funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fund Management Fees: Management fees charged to Limited Partners (LPs) of the Miraisozou Fund I (33.4 billion yen committed capital) and Fund II (established 2021, government-certified). Fee structure is standard for Japanese VC funds, based on committed capital during the investment period and reduced capital during the harvest period.
2. Carried Interest (Investment Returns): Carried interest from successful exits (IPOs and M&As). The firm has achieved 3 IPO exits (QDlaser 2021, multiple years of 3 companies) and 4 M&A exits across Fund I and Fund II.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MIRAISOZO INVESTMENTS is a university-anchored venture capital firm that operates two investment funds (Miraisozo No.1 and No.2) providing seed and pre-seed capital to deep tech startups originating primarily from Tokyo Science University and Japan's national colleges of technology (kosen). Beyond capital, the firm provides hands-on support including EIR program employment, GAP Fund program operation, business plan co-development, executive team formation, and post-investment growth assistance from research stage through exit.

Product overview

MIRAISOZO INVESTMENTS is a university-originated venture capital firm that operates as an investment company rather than a traditional software product company. The firm offers two main venture capital funds (Miraisozo Fund No.1 and No.2) that invest in deep tech startups primarily from Tokyo Science University and national colleges of technology. Supporting these funds, the company provides incubation programs including the EIR (Entrepreneur in Residence) program, the Deep Tech Entrepreneur Creation Course (in partnership with Tokyo Science University CUMOT), and the newly launched Miraisozo Launchpad Program for pre-seed stage support. The group also includes subsidiaries Miraisozo Studio (startup studio leveraging kosen network) and Miraisozo Relations (marketing and PR services). The firm acts as a "venture creator" providing hands-on support from research stage through post-investment growth, including GAP fund operations, management personnel matching, and startup ecosystem development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Miraisozo No.1 Investment Partnership (みらい創造一号投資事業有限責任組合) Seed and pre-seed venture capital fund focused on deep tech startups originating from Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Science Tokyo). Manages investments across robotics, biotech, AI, semiconductors, space, and energy sectors for institutional LPs.
• Miraisozo No.2 Investment Partnership (みらい創造二号投資事業有限責任組合) Second venture capital fund with expanded scope covering both Science Tokyo-affiliated and national college of technology (kosen)-affiliated deep tech startups. Government-certified under the Specified Research Outcome Utilization Business program, enabling access to grant co-funding for portfolio companies.
• EIR (客員起業家) Program Employment program placing aspiring entrepreneurs inside the VC firm with stable salary while they explore university technology seeds, develop business plans, and prepare for founding. Designed to address the shortage of CEO candidates in deep tech university spinouts.
• Deep Tech Entrepreneur Creation Course (ディープテック起業家創出コース) Joint MOT education program with Science Tokyo CUMOT that provides Management of Technology training and startup preparation support to researchers, students, and professionals aspiring to become deep tech entrepreneurs. Features lectures from actual deep tech startup founders and hands-on learning.
• Miraisozo Launchpad Program (MLP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ companies invested, 3 IPOs, 4 M&A exits across Fund I and Fund II
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Miraisozou Launchpad Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Launched 'Miraisozou Launchpad Program (MLP)' in June 2026, a new pre-seed support program for university deep tech researchers. MLP covers core IP protection, JST startup grant application support, and hands-on business development from research stage.
• Yokohama City UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Miraisozou serves as businessization promotion organization for Yokohama City University Professor Umemura's 'AC Magnetic Field Brain Tumor Treatment Device' project, selected for JST D-Global program. The partnership aims to create a startup for a new non-invasive cancer treatment.
• NTT Urban Development (NTT都市開発)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Miraisozou participates as a VC partner in NTT Urban Development's 'founders otameshi studio' startup support initiative, providing business mentoring and early-stage fundraising advisory to selected startups at the Tama campus area.
• Utsunomiya UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025Miraisozou serves as businessization promotion organization for Utsunomiya University Associate Professor Renato Miyagusuku's autonomous surveying robotics project under IJIE GAP Fund program 2025.
• Kure City / Hiroshima University Town & Gown ConceptminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2025Miraisozou became the first VC to join the Kure City / Hiroshima University Town & Gown Concept Marine Culture City Promotion Council, which aims to create an Asian maritime and marine industry hub. Miraisozou bridges technology ventures and regional maritime industry needs.
• Ibaraki University RECAS (Atom Science Research Education Center)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2025Ibaraki University RECAS and Miraisozou signed a comprehensive partnership agreement for startup creation and human resource development in the nuclear energy field. The partnership aims to foster ventures utilizing atomic energy-related research and develop entrepreneurship talent.
• Hiroshima UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2025Miraisozou partnered with Hiroshima University as businessization promotion organization for two GAP Fund projects: Professor Rikuta's large toroidal propeller for ship decarbonization and Assistant Professor Shima's edge high-speed camera vibration sensing system.
• Nagoya University (Tongali Program)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025Miraisozou selected as businessization promotion organization for Tongali GAP Fund Step 2, supporting Nagoya University Professor Mohri's 'Motion Sickness Care' acoustic device for autonomous vehicles. Also supported Tongali student entrepreneurship programs.
• JICA MexicominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2024Miraisozou collaborated with JICA Mexico to run a startup ecosystem linkage program. In October 2024, Mexico's largest VC Angel Ventures visited Japan (Tokyo and Kitakyushu) with JICA Mexico to meet robotics and other deep tech startups for Latin American market expansion discussions.
• Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework Promotion OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024Miraisozou certified as 'Fukushima Tech Create Supporter' (FTC Supporter) — a supporter organization in Fukushima's startup ecosystem for the reconstruction region. Participates in FTC成果报告会 VC booth exchanges.
• Sports Agency SOIP (Sports Open Innovation Platform)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2024Miraisozou Director/Co-Founder Kaneko appointed as mentor for the Sports Agency's Sports Open Innovation Platform (SOIP), contributing to sports industry development through startup-academia collaboration.
• Kyushu Institute of Technology (九州工業大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2024Kyushu Institute of Technology and Miraisozou signed a comprehensive partnership agreement for research outcome commercialization and startup creation support. The partnership leverages Kyutech's research strengths in environmental engineering, aerospace, robotics, and IC design, combined with Miraisozou's investment and startup support capabilities. Miraisozou's Fund II invested in TriOrb, a Kyutech-affiliated startup.
• INDEST (Innovation Design Studio, Science Tokyo)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024INDEST is Science Tokyo's campus incubation facility where Miraisozou is headquartered as a startup support organization. INDEST provides co-working space, incubation programs, and acts as the hub for Science Tokyo's startup ecosystem. Miraisozou's office is located in INDEST 301.
• Tokyo Science University (Science Tokyo)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2024Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology, integrated with Tokyo Medical and Dental University in October 2024) and Miraisozou signed a new comprehensive partnership agreement to accelerate startup support. Miraisozou operates from INDEST on the Science Tokyo campus. Science Tokyo invested 100M yen as LP in Fund II. The partnership covers GAP Fund program operation, EIR program management, and joint startup ecosystem development.
• Fuyo General Lease (芙蓉総合リース)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2023Fuyo General Lease, Science Tokyo, and Miraisozou jointly launched the 'Fuyo Mirai GAP Fund Program' in 2023. Fuyo General Lease provides funding, Miraisozou provides commercialization support for Science Tokyo technologies. The program has supported 17 innovations with 2 reaching social implementation.
• Tsukuba Research Support Center (つくば研究支援センター)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 September 2022Miraisozou and Tsukuba Research Support Center signed a business partnership to promote technology startup creation and growth from the Tsukuba area. The partnership opened an 'Entrepreneurship/Commercialization Consultation Desk' at the center for researchers from September 2022.
• Tokyo Tech GXI (Green Transformation Initiative at Science Tokyo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 August 2022Miraisozou partnered with Tokyo Institute of Technology's Zero Carbon Energy Institute and GXI (Green Transformation Initiative) to establish a 'Venture Fostering Core' for carbon neutrality technologies. Miraisozou supports technology seeding, PoC, business planning, and post-founding fundraising for GX-related startups from the institute.
• Mirai Studio (Subsidiary)coreOthers · 1 August 2022Mirai Studio was carved out from Miraisozou in 2022 as a separate company. It operates as a startup studio leveraging the Kosen (technical college) network to support early-stage venture formation. Miraisozou continues to coordinate with Mirai Studio for co-spawning startups. Advisors from Miraisozou serve on Mirai Studio's board.
• TechnoPro R&D (テクノプロ・R&D社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2022Miraisozou and TechnoPro R&D (with 1,300+ chemistry and biotech researchers) signed a collaboration to support portfolio company R&D through researcher dispatch and contracted research services. TechnoPro Holdings is an LP in Miraisozou Fund I.
• Kitakyushu CityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2020Miraisozou, Kosen Career研究所, and Kitakyushu City signed a partnership agreement to promote IT company recruitment and startup creation in Kitakyushu. The city was selected as a 'Startup Ecosystem Promotion Base City' by the Cabinet Office. Miraisozou relocated its office to Kitakyushu as part of this partnership.
• Kyoto University Innovation Capital (Kyoto iCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2020Miraisozou and Kyoto University Innovation Capital signed a partnership to strengthen investment support for university ventures beyond regional boundaries. Cooperates on research seeding commercialization, investment operations, post-investment support, and ecosystem information sharing.
• Mirai Relations (Subsidiary)minorOthers · 6 January 2020Mirai Relations was spun off from Miraisozou in January 2020 as a marketing and PR services company to support technology business development and global expansion for portfolio companies.
• SME Support Organization (中小機構)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2018Miraisozou and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Kanto Headquarters signed a business partnership agreement to actively promote university-related venture creation and growth.
• Tokyo University IPC (UTokyo IPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2016Miraisozou and Tokyo University Innovation Platform (UTokyo IPC) signed a partnership agreement to strengthen investment support for university-related ventures. The two firms cooperate on research seeding commercialization support, investment operations, and post-investment assistance, sharing information and expertise on university venture ecosystems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Itochu Technology Ventures: CVC arm of Itochu Corporation investing across technology stages. Participated as co-investor in Miraisozou's Logomix follow-on and represents the corporate-backed broad incumbent category.
• JAFCO Group: Largest Japanese VC firm managing broad-stage funds across all sectors. Frequently co-invests with Miraisozou (e.g., Logomix follow-on) and serves as a broad incumbent against which Miraisozou's specialized university deep tech positioning is differentiated.
• Globis Capital Partners: Major Japanese VC firm with diversified early-to-growth stage investments. Co-invests alongside Miraisozou in university spinouts but operates a much broader sector mandate at larger fund sizes.
• Mitsubishi UFJ Capital: CVC arm of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group with broad-stage venture and growth investments across sectors. Co-invested with Miraisozou in Logomix and represents bank-affiliated incumbent competition.
• ANRI: Early-stage Japanese VC investing across seed and Series A with a strong founder-focused brand. Competes with Miraisozou for early-stage Japanese deep tech founders but lacks the campus-anchored university specialization.
• Nissay Capital: CVC arm of Nippon Life Insurance with broad venture and growth investments across Japan. Operates a generalized early-to-mid stage mandate overlapping with Miraisozou's investment stages.

Direct peers

• QB Capital: Kyushu University-affiliated VC focused on university deep tech spinouts from Kyushu University and Kyushu Institute of Technology. Miraisozou has a formal MoU with QB Capital, making it the closest direct comparable in operating model and university-anchored thesis.
• UTokyo IPC: University of Tokyo Innovation Platform Company — the official VC arm of the University of Tokyo. Miraisozou and UTokyo IPC signed a partnership agreement in 2016, and both serve as businessization promotion organizations across Japanese university deep tech ecosystems.
• Kyoto University Innovation Capital (Kyoto iCAP): Kyoto University's official VC arm investing in deep tech spinouts from Kyoto University research. Miraisozou has a partnership agreement with Kyoto iCAP since 2020, and both operate the same campus-anchored, research-stage-first VC model at different national universities.
• DNX Ventures: Japan-US deep tech focused early-stage VC investing in B2B startups. While not university-anchored, DNX shares Miraisozou's deep tech concentration and works with similar early-stage deep tech founders across the Japanese ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/miraisozokiko
• Facebookfacebook.com/miraisozokiko

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments52 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MIRAI SOUZOU