TECHFUND
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersShibuya, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
TECHFUND firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TECHFUND
- Legal name
- 株式会社TECHFUND
- Website
- https://techfund.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TECHFUND industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Acceleration Software
- NAICS
- Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)
Keywords
Where TECHFUND is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shibuya
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
TECHFUND business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Technology Investment / Sweat Equity: TECHFUND invests technology and engineering hours instead of capital into startups, receiving equity stakes in return. This is their flagship model — the world's first 'technical investment' approach, internationally known as sweat equity. Revenue is realized through equity exits (e.g., DogHuggy M&A exit in 2025).
- Enterprise Innovation Programs (Hi STARTUP for BIZ): Fee-based acceleration programs for large Japanese enterprises (Nomura Holdings, JCB, AEON Financial Service, etc.) to support intrapreneurship and internal startup creation. Covers program design, Lean Startup training, system implementation, and ongoing operational support.
- SaaS Subscriptions (Hi AUDIT, Hi INFRA): Recurring SaaS revenue from security audit platform Hi AUDIT and blockchain development infrastructure Hi INFRA. Hi AUDIT offers automated code review with pricing starting at 2,500,000 JPY for implementation support, with additional professional audit services.
- Security Audit Professional Services: Professional code review, consulting, and implementation support for Web3 security, including the TIS partnership for comprehensive Web2-to-Web3 security diagnostics. Covers PCI DSS and FISC audit standard compliance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Automated Code Review Implementation Support (web3 security diagnosis service) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
TECHFUND product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TECHFUND operates a technology investment acceleration platform that provides pre-seed and seed-stage startups with hands-on engineering co-development, Lean Startup methodology training, and AI-assisted auto-code development in exchange for equity (sweat equity). For large enterprises, it designs and operates intrapreneurship and innovation programs covering ideation, hypothesis validation, and business launch. It also develops and sells Hi AUDIT, an AI-powered Web3 security audit SaaS, and Hi INFRA, a cloud-based blockchain development infrastructure service.
Product overview
TECHFUND operates a portfolio of Innovation Management Software products and startup acceleration programs. The core product line includes Hi INFRA (blockchain development cloud infrastructure via API/GUI) and Hi AUDIT (AI-powered security audit SaaS for Web3), both built on the company's accelerator R&D. These are complemented by Hi STARTUP (startup acceleration via technology investment and lean startup methodology) and Hi STARTUP for BIZ (corporate innovation program design and execution). Together, the products form a unified ecosystem where Hi STARTUP identifies and accelerates startups, Hi INFRA provides blockchain development tools for their technical needs, and Hi AUDIT secures their products through automated AI-driven security audits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hi INFRA: Cloud-based blockchain application development infrastructure service providing methods and infrastructure for blockchain service development via API and GUI, supporting Ethereum, NEO and other blockchain platforms. Previously known as ACCEL BaaS.
- Hi AUDIT
- Hi WRITE
- Hi STARTUP
- Hi STARTUP for BIZ
Products and services
- Hi STARTUP Technology investment-based startup acceleration program supporting pre-seed and seed-stage startups with Lean Startup methodology, AI-driven auto-code development, focused marketing, and DEMODAY investor showcases. Program participation can be compensated via equity or tokens rather than cash. Currently focused on SaaS, AI, and Web3/blockchain startups.
- Hi STARTUP for BIZ
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ startups accelerated since 2014
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use TECHFUND
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
TECHFUND technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
TECHFUND partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- STATION AicoreJapan's largest startup support hub partnered with TECHFUND to support the Aichi Prefecture-organized 'e-Palette Business Contest'. TECHFUND provides technical verification, product design, and business development support for startups using Toyota's e-Palette autonomous EV. Multiple pilot experiments completed with Hakuhodo Products, Crystal, and Powerwave.
- Aichi PrefecturecoreAichi Prefecture government organized the 'e-Palette Business Contest' to drive new mobility business creation using Toyota's e-Palette autonomous EV. TECHFUND partnered with STATION Ai to provide acceleration support for contest winners, offering technical and business co-development from concept to implementation.
- CAC / Komlock labminorTECHFUND co-hosted a stablecoin utilization idea son competition with CAC and Komlock lab, with a total prize pool of 1 million yen.
- Asteria CorporationminorAsteria and TECHFUND announced a business partnership for JPYC (Japanese Yen stablecoin) audit services, promoting safe and reliable yen-pegged stablecoin usage for enterprises and organizations.
- CoinPostcoreTECHFUND and CoinPost (operator of Japan's largest crypto/Web3 media 'CoinPost' and WebX conference) collaborating to provide security audit information and scoring for the AI-powered 'CoinPost Terminal' service. Aims to address information asymmetry in the Web3 industry by providing security scores and vulnerability information for projects, exchanges, and investors.
- Yuki Muramura (former Shu-Matsushita Representative)minorYuki Muramura, former representative of Shu-Matsushita, joined TECHFUND as VPoA (Vice President of Acceleration), bringing extensive acceleration and corporate innovation experience to strengthen TECHFUND's program delivery.
- DAIJOBUminorTECHFUND and DAIJOBU (Web3-specialized software testing and QA services) signed a partnership to provide integrated QA to security audit services, covering the full quality assurance spectrum for Web3 projects.
- TIS CorporationcoreTIS INTEC Group company partnered with TECHFUND to launch a comprehensive 'web3 security diagnosis service' covering Web2-to-Web3 security transition. Combines TECHFUND's Web3 security expertise with TIS's 50+ years of system development and security audit track record. Targets enterprises entering or expanding in Web3, with plans to onboard 20 companies by FY2026.
- Relipa JapanminorTECHFUND and Relipa Japan (Web3 systems development company) established a partnership for Web3 system development collaboration.
- Safety-Critical Rust ConsortiumminorTECHFUND joined the Safety-Critical Rust Consortium alongside Rust Foundation, AdaCore, Arm, Ferrous Systems, OxidOS, Synopsys, HighTec EDV-Systeme GmbH, TrustInSoft, Veecle, and Woven by Toyota. The consortium aims to develop guidelines, library and analysis tool specifications, and language subsets for responsible use of Rust in safety-critical systems.
- Yu Kimura (Security Technical Advisor)minorYu Kimura joined as Security Technical Advisor, bringing experience from preventing a 500 million yen loss in the COSMOS incident, to strengthen multi-chain hacking countermeasures.
- Rust FoundationminorRust Foundation leads the Safety-Critical Rust Consortium. TECHFUND participates to advance Rust security in safety-critical software systems, contributing expertise from blockchain security research.
- ArmminorArm co-founded the Safety-Critical Rust Consortium to promote secure Rust adoption in safety-critical systems.
- Woven by ToyotaminorWoven by Toyota co-founded the Safety-Critical Rust Consortium, with TECHFUND contributing blockchain and Web3 security expertise to the initiative.
- JBA (Japan Blockchain Association)minorTECHFUND supported the launch of 'W³VE' (beta), a new Web3 vulnerability management platform led by JBA, contributing security expertise to the industry-wide initiative.
- Hakuhodo ProductsminorHakuhodo Products conducted the first pilot experiment in TECHFUND's STATION Ai e-Palette acceleration program, creating an immersive entertainment content experience using 3D spatial audio with local idols (SKE48, BOYS AND MEN) inside Toyota e-Palette vehicles.
- Crystal Co., Ltd.minorCrystal conducted the second pilot experiment in TECHFUND's STATION Ai e-Palette program, validating on-demand mobility operations in central Nagoya with route connecting JR Nagoya Station and commercial facilities.
- Powerwave Co., Ltd.minorPowerwave selected for the third pilot experiment in TECHFUND's STATION Ai e-Palette program, focusing on next-generation wireless EV charging technology to solve the charging convenience challenge for mobility adoption.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TECHFUND competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- CertiK: Leading Web3 security audit firm using AI + formal verification for smart contract auditing. Comparable to TECHFUND's Hi AUDIT product in the Web3 security audit space, though at significantly larger scale.
- OpenZeppelin: Web3 security and smart contract development company offering security audits and developer tools. Comparable to TECHFUND's Hi AUDIT security audit services for blockchain/Web3 projects.
Broad incumbents
- Alchemy: Dominant blockchain infrastructure platform providing APIs and node services for Ethereum and other chains. Comparable to TECHFUND's Hi INFRA product offering cloud-based blockchain development infrastructure.
- Infura (Consensys): Established blockchain API and infrastructure provider for Ethereum and IPFS. Comparable to TECHFUND's Hi INFRA as enterprise-grade blockchain backend infrastructure, though at much larger scale and broader chain support.
Direct peers
- Y Combinator: World's largest pre-seed/seed accelerator providing cash + mentorship for equity. Directly comparable to TECHFUND's Hi STARTUP in accelerator function, although YC deploys capital rather than sweat equity.
- Antler: Global pre-seed investor and accelerator with programs across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Comparable to TECHFUND as a pre-seed/seed accelerator with strong Japan and Singapore presence and a focus on supporting founders from inception.
- 500 Global: Global seed-stage accelerator/VC with programs in 80+ countries. Comparable to TECHFUND as a multi-region early-stage investor-operator that has accelerated thousands of startups and runs corporate innovation programs.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator and corporate innovation platform connecting large enterprises with startups — directly comparable to TECHFUND's Hi STARTUP for BIZ model serving Fortune 500/equivalent clients.
- Plug and Play Japan: Japan-based corporate innovation accelerator connecting Japanese enterprises (including financial services majors) with global startups. Most direct geographic and customer-overlap competitor to TECHFUND's Hi STARTUP for BIZ.
- Techstars: Global accelerator with a mentorship-driven, equity-for-services model operating accelerator programs worldwide. Comparable to TECHFUND in structure, deal stage focus, and equity-based monetization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TECHFUND social profiles
Digital presenceTECHFUND financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TECHFUND leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
TECHFUND funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TECHFUND M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TECHFUND
What does TECHFUND do?
TECHFUND operates a technology investment acceleration platform that provides pre-seed and seed-stage startups with hands-on engineering co-development, Lean Startup methodology training, and AI-assisted auto-code development in exchange for equity (sweat equity). For large enterprises, it designs and operates intrapreneurship and innovation programs covering ideation, hypothesis validation, and business launch. It also develops and sells Hi AUDIT, an AI-powered Web3 security audit SaaS, and Hi INFRA, a cloud-based blockchain development infrastructure service.
Is TECHFUND a public or private company?
TECHFUND is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was TECHFUND founded?
TECHFUND was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TECHFUND based?
TECHFUND is headquartered in Shibuya, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does TECHFUND make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Technology Investment / Sweat Equity is the primary driver. The others are enterprise Innovation Programs (Hi STARTUP for BIZ), saaS Subscriptions (Hi AUDIT, Hi INFRA) and security Audit Professional Services.
Who are TECHFUND's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are CertiK and OpenZeppelin. Broad incumbents are Alchemy and Infura (Consensys). Direct peers are Y Combinator, Antler, 500 Global, Plug and Play Tech Center, Plug and Play Japan and Techstars.
Does TECHFUND have an API?
No public API is recorded for TECHFUND.
What industry is TECHFUND in?
TECHFUND's product category is Startup Acceleration Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs. Its NAICS code is 525 and its SIC code is 7372.