University of Tokyo Founders Association Fund

What University of Tokyo Founders Association Fund does

The University of Tokyo Founders Association Fund (TODAIFUND) is a closed-end Japanese venture capital and incubation fund that deploys equity capital into early-stage startups founded by current students, alumni, or dropouts of the University of Tokyo. The fund is operated under a limited partnership structure (GP: UT創業者の会LLP) and was reconstituted in May 2022 after a predecessor fund managed by Angel Bridge (2018–2021). Capital is sourced from University of Tokyo alumni who are themselves founders of listed companies (Slogan, gooddays Holdings, Lertes, Star Mica), who also serve as mentors and limited partners. The fund deploys ¥5–100 million per company from a ¥10–15 billion fund size (roughly $65–100 million USD), and offers portfolio founders non-capital support including mentorship from IPO-experienced entrepreneurs, member-company service perks (shared office, HR platforms), and access to a curated alumni network.

The fund is not a technology product company; it has no proprietary platform or software product. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, sourcing deal flow through bi-annual MEET UP gatherings, pitch events, panel discussions, and word-of-mouth within the University of Tokyo startup ecosystem. Revenue is generated through traditional venture fund economics: management fees on committed capital and carried interest on successful exits. As of the most recent reporting, the fund has made 39 cumulative investments across both vintages (11 via the Angel Bridge predecessor fund and 28 via the current fund). Two documented exits have occurred: CAST CRAFT (trade sale, current fund) and Attelu (M&A exit, predecessor fund). Recent strategic activity has emphasized ecosystem partnerships, including co-hosted events with Tokyo University (March 2024), Google (May 2025), and SVCO / Financial Value & Advisors (April 2025, January 2026).

Name

University of Tokyo Founders Association Fund

Legal name

UT創業者の会LLP

Website

https://todaifund.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The University of Tokyo Founders Association Fund (TODAIFUND) is a Japan-based, alumni-led venture capital and incubation fund that invests ¥5–100 million in seed to early-stage startups founded by University of Tokyo students or alumni, offering mentorship from IPO-experienced founders and curated network access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Venture capital funding
• Early-stage investment
• Startup incubation
• Entrepreneur mentorship
• Alumni network support

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Fund Management: The fund raises capital from University of Tokyo alumni who are listed company founders and deploys it as equity investment into early-stage U-Tokyo startups. Revenue is generated through fund management fees and carried interest on successful exits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The University of Tokyo Founders Association Fund (TODAIFUND) is a venture capital / incubation fund that invests ¥5–100 million per company into early-stage startups founded by University of Tokyo students, graduates, or dropouts. Beyond capital, portfolio companies receive access to a mentor network of ~13 IPO-experienced U-Tokyo founders, peer networking with listed company members, and preferential perks (shared office space, HR platforms) from member companies. The current fund (GP: UT創業者の会LLP) was established in May 2022 with ¥10–15 billion in size, succeeding the 2018–2021 predecessor fund (GP: Angel Bridge).

Product overview

The University of Tokyo Founders Association Fund is a single venture capital/incubation fund that supports early-stage startups founded by University of Tokyo alumni. The fund offers investment capital, access to a network of IPO-experienced entrepreneurs for mentorship, preferential services from member companies, and pitch event opportunities. Founded in 2018 as a predecessor fund (GP: Angel Bridge) and re-established in May 2022 as the current fund (GP: UT創業者の会LLP), it has invested in 39 companies across both funds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tokyo Entrepreneur Incubation Fund (東大創業者の会ファンド / TODAIFUND) A venture capital fund that provides equity investment (¥5–100 million per company), access to a mentor network of IPO-experienced University of Tokyo founders, preferential services from member companies (shared office space, HR platforms), and pitch/community event participation. Target users: early-stage startups founded by University of Tokyo students, alumni, or dropouts who aim for IPO or equivalent.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31 companies supported since fund inception (2018–2022), expanding to 39 cumulative by the current fund period.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers36 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GooglecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 May 2025Google co-sponsored and supported the 'Knowledge and Innovation Frontier Co-Creation — AI, Entrepreneurship, and Global Future Creation Session' event in May 2025. This represents a co-marketing collaboration to engage the U-Tokyo startup ecosystem.
• SVCO (SVCOアカデミー / ファイナンシャル・バリュー&アドバイザーズ)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 January 2025SVCO (Financial Value & Advisors) collaborated on multiple study sessions and events with the fund, including a January 2026 workshop on 'Equity Stories for High Corporate Value' and an April 2025 study session event. Deep ongoing partnership for education and deal flow.
• Tokyo University (東京大学基金)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024The fund co-hosts events with Tokyo University's official fund organization, including the 'U-Tokyo Alumni Entrepreneurs Gathering' in March 2024. This formal university relationship provides legitimacy, deal access, and community credibility.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Angel Bridge: Japan-based seed/early-stage VC that served as GP for TODAIFUND's predecessor fund (2018–2021, 11 investments). Operates in the same U-Tokyo startup ecosystem with similar seed tickets and community-driven deal sourcing.
• UTEC (University of Tokyo Edge Capital): University-affiliated Japanese VC investing in deep-tech and science-based startups, many from U-Tokyo labs. Closest comparable as a U-Tokyo-branded institutional investor, though tilted toward deep tech versus TODAIFUND's broader seed-stage founder focus.
• Midas Capital: Founded by Yoshimura Hideki (a TODAIFUND mentor) of AirTrip origin; closely mirrors the U-Tokyo alumni LP model and invests alongside TODAIFUND in alumni-led startups with similar seed-stage tickets.
• UTokyo Innovation Platform Co. (東大IPC): University of Tokyo's official incubation and seed-investment arm. Operates in the same U-Tokyo founder ecosystem and frequently co-invests or co-hosts events with TODAIFUND.

Broad incumbents

• JAFCO Group: Japan's longest-established VC firm with broad sector and stage coverage. Frequently co-invests with smaller community-led funds like TODAIFUND in Japanese seed/early-stage rounds.
• World Innovation Lab (WiL): Japan-anchored, global-stage VC with strong corporate LP base (Sony, Honda, Nissan, etc.). Comparable as a Japanese early-stage fund but at much larger scale and with cross-border focus rather than alumni-driven sourcing.
• Daiwa Corporate Investment: Daiwa Securities-affiliated Japanese VC active across stages. Overlaps with TODAIFUND in Japanese seed-stage deals but without the alumni-community filter or mentorship layer.
• SMBC Venture Capital: Corporate VC arm of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, active across Japanese seed-to-growth. Competes for some of the same U-Tokyo-linked deals but with broader industry focus and substantially larger capital base.
• Global Brain: One of Japan's largest independent VCs with broad sector coverage and corporate LP base. Overlaps with TODAIFUND at seed/Series A in Japanese startups but does not specialize in U-Tokyo alumni founders.

Emerging players

• Plug and Play Japan: Silicon Valley-rooted accelerator/VC expanding in Japan with corporate partner programs. Comparable in early-stage Japanese ecosystem focus and event-driven deal sourcing, though tilted toward foreign corporates rather than alumni communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments12 records

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Frequently asked questions about University of Tokyo Founders Association Fund