KSP

What KSP does

KSP, Inc. (株式会社ケイエスピー), founded on December 19, 1986 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, is Japan's first business incubator, established as a public-private partnership among Kanagawa Prefecture, Kawasaki City, Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ, 34.2% public-sector ownership), and 46 private companies. The company operates three science park facilities in Kawasaki City — KSP (Takatsu Ward), KSP-Think (Keihin coastal area), and KSP Biotech Lab (Life Innovation Center at King Skyfront) — providing rental office and laboratory space to R&D-intensive startups across biotech, healthcare, robotics, IoT, AI, materials, and electronics domains.

KSP's service portfolio is organized around four interlocking revenue streams: (1) recurring incubation rental income from physical workspace at the three Kawasaki facilities, with pricing tiers ranging from 20,000 yen/month shared booths to 150,000 yen/month office-type rooms and ~5,200 yen/m²/month for laboratory space; (2) venture capital fund management through five KSP investment funds (No.1–No.5) totaling 5.01 billion yen, focused on early-to-mid-stage high-tech ventures, with management fees and investment returns (21 portfolio IPOs since 1997) as the monetization mechanism; (3) tuition from the Business Innovation School (429,000 yen per full program, established 1992, 770+ graduates); and (4) business matching services, including the semi-annual Kyoso Business Matching Forum and a nationwide technology scouting network operating across 10 Japanese cities.

The company targets three primary customer segments: R&D startup companies seeking infrastructure and capital; researchers and technical professionals pursuing commercialization of university- or corporate-derived IP; and large corporations seeking open-innovation partnerships. Its value proposition rests on integrated, one-stop incubation rather than any single product. Notable infrastructure investments include the KSP Biotech Lab dedicated to regenerative medicine and cell therapy, the Kawasaki Deep Tech Accelerator (launched for the 2026 cohort), and the RINK (Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy Industrialization Network of Kanagawa) co-established with Kanagawa Prefecture in 2015. KSP operates with a modest headcount of 11–50 employees, is privately held (not listed), and is governed by a board that includes representatives from public stakeholders (KISTEC, DBJ-related entities) and private shareholders (Tobishima, Micros Software, KSP Heat Supply, Bank of Yokohama, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance).

Name

KSP

Legal name

株式会社ケイエスピー

Website

https://www.ksp.co.jp/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KSP, Inc. is Japan's first business incubator, operating three science parks in Kawasaki City and managing five venture capital funds (5.01B yen total) that support R&D startups with workspace, investment, entrepreneurship education, and corporate matching since 1986.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Incubation Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Business incubation services
• Venture capital funds
• Startup office leasing
• Entrepreneurship education
• Business matching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kawasaki

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Incubation Services: Rental office and laboratory space leasing at three science park locations (KSP, KSP-Think, KSP Biotech Lab) in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
2. Investment Fund Management: KSP operates 5 investment funds (totaling 5.01 billion yen) investing in early to mid-stage high-tech ventures. Revenue comes from fund management fees and investment returns.
3. Business Innovation School: Entrepreneurship education program with tuition fees (429,000 yen for full program). Curriculum includes business plan creation, mentorship, and networking.
4. Business Matching Services: Matching services connecting venture companies with large corporations for new business development and technology partnerships. Forums and individual meeting facilitation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KSP (株式会社ケイエスピー) operates Japan's first business incubator at Kanagawa Science Park, providing rental office and laboratory space across three Kawasaki facilities (KSP, KSP-Think, KSP Biotech Lab). It manages five venture capital investment funds totaling 5.01 billion yen for early to mid-stage high-tech ventures, offers business matching services connecting startups with large corporations, runs the KSP Business Innovation School for entrepreneurship education, and operates the Kawasaki Deep Tech Accelerator program.

Product overview

KSP (株式会社ケイエスピー) operates as a business incubator providing a portfolio of support services for R&D startups and venture companies. The core offering consists of three incubation facilities: KSP (Kanagawa Science Park) in Takatsu Ward, KSP-Think (Techno Hub Innovation Kawasaki) in the Keihin coastal area, and KSP Biotech Lab at the Life Innovation Center for regenerative medicine companies. Complementary services include the KSP Venture Investment Funds (five funds totaling approximately 5.01 billion yen with 21 IPOs to date), the KSP Business Innovation School (entrepreneurship education since 1992, now in its 35th cohort), business matching services including the 'Kyoso' Business Matching Forum, the Kawasaki Deep Tech Accelerator for hard tech startups, and regenerative medicine industrialization support through Kanagawa Prefecture partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kawasaki Deep Tech Accelerator: Acceleration program supporting deep tech startups using core technologies from universities and companies
• KSPビジネスイノベーションスクール
• 協創マッチングフォーラム
• KSP Biotech Lab
• RINK (Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy Industrialization Network of Kanagawa)

Products and services

• KSP (Kanagawa Science Park) Incubation Facility Rental office and laboratory space at the original Kanagawa Science Park location in Takatsu Ward, Kawasaki. Provides startup rooms and the Incubate Zone 'NEO' for early-stage ventures along with incubation manager support for R&D-focused companies.
• KSP-Think (Techno Hub Innovation Kawasaki) Third science park in Kawasaki City located in the Keihin coastal area offering rental office and laboratory space for bio, new materials, and environmental industries.
• KSP Biotech Lab Offices and laboratories on the 4th floor of the Life Innovation Center (LIC) at King Skyfront, dedicated to startups in regenerative medicine and cell therapy fields.
• KSP Venture Investment Funds Five investment funds (KSP No.1 through No.5) totaling approximately 5.01 billion yen, focused on early to mid-stage high-tech ventures. Since 1997, 21 portfolio companies have gone public.
• KSP Business Innovation School Entrepreneurship education program established in 1992 that helps participants develop business plans. The 35th cohort runs from July 2026 to January 2027 with topics including business creation, value architecture, empathy creation, organizational design, intellectual property, and financial planning. Tuition is 429,000 yen for the full program.
• Business Matching Services Services including the 'Kyoso' Business Matching Forum, technology scouting for large companies, and success case presentations connecting venture companies with large enterprises.
• Kawasaki Deep Tech Accelerator Acceleration program for hard tech startups using core technology from universities and companies. Provides mentoring and connection to KSP Innovation School and investment services.
• Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Industrialization Support Support for regenerative and cell medicine projects through the 'Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Industrialization Joint Project' with Kanagawa Prefecture and the RINK network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 21 companies have gone public through KSP fund investments since 1997
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Ota Ward / Ota Industrial Promotion AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 December 2025KSP and supported companies exhibit at 'Meet New Solution in TIB 2025' event hosted by Ota Ward and Ota Industrial Promotion Association at Tokyo Innovation Base.
• Yokohama National University (YNU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2023KSP and YNU signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement in February 2023 for industry-academia collaboration to support startup creation and promote research outcomes.
• KISTEC (Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023KISTEC collaborates with KSP on technology evaluation and supports the investment committee. Also operates Kanagawa Center for Clinical Research & Strategy (KCCR) located within KSP Biotech Lab.
• Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy Industrialization Network of Kanagawa (RINK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015RINK was established to promote cooperation between companies and academic institutions involved in R&D or commercialization of regenerative medicine and cell therapy, aiming to accelerate industrialization of the field through value chain building.
• ASPA (Asian Science Park Association)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997ASPA is an international NGO for joint development in science, technology, industry, and economy in Asian region. Founded in Japan in 1997 led by KSP's 4th President and CEO Mr. Takao Kubo. Nearly 100 science park/organization members from 20 countries.
• JASPA (Japan Science Park Association)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997JASPA is an organization of science parks throughout Japan that conducts research and exchanges information. KSP serves as the secretariat for this organization.
• Kanagawa PrefecturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986Kanagawa Prefecture is a co-founding partner of KSP, established in 1986 as a public-private project together with Kawasaki City and Development Bank of Japan. KSP receives commissioned operations from the prefecture for regenerative medicine and cell therapy industrialization support.
• Kawasaki CitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986Kawasaki City co-founded KSP as a public-private project in 1986. The city supports startup businesses through KSP's services and provides business locations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global accelerator and venture capital operator running vertical-specific programs (biotech, deep tech, fintech) with corporate partners. Directly comparable to KSP as an investor-operator of corporate-backed acceleration programs.
• Kyoto Research Park: Japanese science park operator and KSP's stated collaboration partner for Science Park Summit 2025. Operates similar incubation, tenant support, and matching services in Kansai region.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network with mentorship-driven cohorts and an affiliated venture fund. Closely comparable to KSP's combination of structured education (Business Innovation School) and accelerator programs.
• Y Combinator: World's largest startup accelerator combining standardized education, demo days, and a venture fund (YC Continuity). Comparable to KSP as an investor-operator accelerator with deep education and matching components.
• Idealab: Long-running US technology incubator that creates and funds companies internally. Comparable to KSP's investor-operator model where the incubator provides both capital and operational infrastructure.
• CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center): Operator of innovation campuses providing shared workspace, venture programs, and corporate connections. Comparable to KSP as a multi-tenant science park with embedded accelerator and venture services.
• Beyond Next Ventures: Japanese early-stage VC focused on university-originated deep tech with accelerator programs. Comparable to KSP as a Japanese investor-operator targeting R&D-intensive startups across biotech, robotics, and materials.

Broad incumbents

• Innovation Works: Major Chinese early-stage venture firm with incubation programs. Comparable as an investor-operator in the deep tech / hardware space with structured founder support services.
• Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ): Japanese public-private innovation fund targeting deep tech and growth-stage investments. Comparable as a major Japanese institution combining policy-driven capital with operational support for technology ventures.

Regional players

• Tsukuba Center Inc. Operator of Tsukuba Science City's incubation facilities and KSP's investment partner. Comparable as a Japanese regional science park operator serving academic and R&D spinouts in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/K_DeepTech
• Facebookfacebook.com/Kawasaki.DeepTech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments46 records

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

Frequently asked questions about KSP