Tech Planter

What Tech Planter does

Tech Planter is a deep-tech venture ecosystem platform operated by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. (株式会社リバネス), a private Japanese corporation headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The platform supports researchers and deep-tech entrepreneurs across the full lifecycle from ideation through company formation to commercial scaling, with the explicit goal of solving "Deep Issues" through "Deep Tech." Its core product is a structured, multi-stage program that begins with pre-incorporation support (Germination Reactor and D-0) for researchers with dormant university technology, progresses through a competition-based accelerator with regional Demo Days across Japan and Southeast Asia, and continues with post-incubation support (TECH VENTURE Meetup and Deep Tech Tour) for graduated startups. The ecosystem spans 7 technology domains (DEEP, ECO, MARINE, AGRI, FOOD, BIO, LIFE) and operates across 12+ Japanese regional chapters and 6 Southeast Asian countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam), with newer programs in Korea, the UK, and the USA.

The underlying platform architecture is human-mediated ecosystem orchestration rather than a software product: it combines an online application portal (id.lne.st), structured regional competitions, an annual Asia Final demo day, and a portfolio brand (L-VENTURES) representing graduated companies. Technology is described as connective infrastructure between universities, government agencies, small manufacturers (町工場), corporate partners, and investors, with the 2026 season alone featuring 21 active corporate partners. The platform does not sell software, host apps, or expose APIs, and there are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

The business model is professional-services based: corporate partners pay for participation in exchange for access to deep-tech startups and innovations, supplemented by program sponsorship and investment returns through L-VENTURES. Startup entry is application-based rather than fee-based, with the value exchange being support, network access, and potential funding. The platform does not disclose pricing and operates as a fully-owned subsidiary program within Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. rather than as an independent corporate entity.

Name

Tech Planter

Legal name

Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. (株式会社リバネス)

Website

https://en.techplanter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Tech Planter is a Japan-based deep-tech venture ecosystem operated by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. that runs competitions, accelerator programs, and Demo Days across 7 technology domains and 12+ regional chapters in Japan and Southeast Asia, connecting researchers and startups with corporate partners, investors, and manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deep Tech Venture Accelerator

akta.pro primary industry

Emerging Manager / Seeding Platforms (Multi-Manager) (FSANAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

Keywords

• Deep tech accelerator
• Venture ecosystem
• Startup competitions
• Technology incubation
• Research commercialization

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accelerator Program Operations: TECH PLANTER operates as an accelerator/ecosystem platform managed by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. Revenue is generated through partnership fees from corporate partners seeking innovation access, program sponsorship, and investment returns through L-VENTURES

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Tech Planter operates a deep-tech venture ecosystem that supports researchers and technology entrepreneurs from pre-company formation through scaling and growth. The platform runs accelerator programs including Pre Programs (Germination Reactor, D-0), national-level grand prix competitions across 7 technology domains (DEEP, ECO, MARINE, AGRI, FOOD, BIO, LIFE), regional chapters across Japan and Southeast Asia, and Post Programs (TECH VENTURE Meetup, Deep Tech Tour). The ecosystem connects technology seeds originating in universities with investors, corporations, and small manufacturers for commercialization.

Product overview

TECH PLANTER is an Asia-wide deep-tech venture ecosystem operated by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. (株式会社リバネス), providing a multi-tiered platform comprising national-level grand prix competitions across 7 technology domains (DEEP, ECO, MARINE, AGRI, FOOD, BIO, LIFE), 12 regional Japan Local programs, and 6+ Southeast Asia country programs. The ecosystem includes pre-programs (Germination Reactor and D-0) for early-stage researchers, post-programs (TECH VENTURE Meetup and Deep Tech Tour) for growth-stage startups, the L-VENTURES portfolio brand, and the DEEP TECH Venture of the Year award. The platform connects technology seeds from universities with investors, corporations, and small manufacturers to grow deep-tech businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TECH PLANTER: A deep tech venture ecosystem brand operated by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd., focusing on seven technology domains and operating regional programs across Japan and Southeast Asia.

Products and services

• TECH PLANTER Global Platform Deep-tech venture ecosystem that supports researchers and technology startups across the entire lifecycle from pre-company formation through growth, connecting them with universities, government agencies, manufacturers, corporations, and investors.
• 7 Domains Program Annual national-level grand prix competitions across seven technology domain categories: DEEP TECH, ECO TECH, MARINE TECH, AGRI TECH, FOOD TECH, BIO TECH, and LIFE TECH. Each domain features a dedicated grand prix competition as part of the season schedule.
• Japan Local Program Regional deep tech competition series with local chapters and competitions across 12 Japanese prefectures: Tohoku, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Tokai, Ishikawa, Kansai, Shiga, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Kyushu. Each region runs its own local Tech Planter competition.
• Southeast Asia Program Cross-border deep tech competition spanning Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, with country-level Demo Days and culminating in the Asia Final.
• Asia Final Annual pan-Asian demo day bringing together the best deep-tech startups from the Southeast Asian country competitions to pitch before investors and corporations.
• Germination Reactor (Pre Program) Pre-incorporation program for researchers and technology entrepreneurs in the early ideation stage, helping validate and develop technology seeds before company formation by leveraging networks across universities, government, investors, and experts.
• D-0 (Pre Program) Pre-program phase immediately preceding company incorporation, providing intensive support for business plan refinement and investor readiness in the deep-tech sector.
• TECH VENTURE Meetup (Post Program) Post-incorporation networking event connecting graduated startups with potential corporate partners, investors, and industry experts.
• Deep Tech Tour (Post Program) Post-program tour offering site visits to small manufacturers, research facilities, and corporate headquarters for hands-on prototyping and collaboration opportunities in deep-tech ventures.
• L-VENTURES Investment arm brand of Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. that provides seed funding and investment to startups emerging from the TECH PLANTER ecosystem.
• DEEP TECH Venture of the Year Award Annual award recognizing outstanding deep-tech ventures within the TECH PLANTER ecosystem.
• Entry & Application System Online registration platform for aspiring participants to apply to TECH PLANTER competitions and programs, available for Japan and Southeast Asia regions.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 21 Partner Companies (2026 Season)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026TECH PLANTER 2026 season features 21 partner companies actively participating in the deep-tech venture ecosystem. These corporate partners collaborate to solve Deep Issues through Deep Tech by engaging with startups and researchers in the program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MassChallenge: Large global non-profit accelerator with industry-specific programs and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a broad-incumbent accelerator with deep-tech verticals, but operates at larger scale and with different funding mechanics.

Direct peers

• Antler: Global startup generator active across Asia-Pacific with corporate partner support and pre-incorporation founder programs. Comparable to Tech Planter's pre-program (Germination Reactor/D-0) and pan-Asian footprint.
• Brinc: Asia-headquartered (Hong Kong) deep-tech accelerator with corporate partners and hardware prototyping support. Closest pure regional peer to Tech Planter in combining deep-tech focus, corporate sponsorship, and Asia-wide programs.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global accelerator and venture platform that runs corporate-partner-driven programs across multiple verticals and geographies. Directly comparable to Tech Planter's model of running competitions and demo days for corporate partners accessing startups, though Plug and Play is broader and Silicon Valley-anchored.
• Techstars: Global accelerator running mentorship-driven cohorts with corporate partners. Comparable as a multi-region, multi-program accelerator with corporate sponsorship revenue, though less deep-tech focused than Tech Planter.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator operating industry-specific programs with corporate sponsors and mentor networks. Comparable to Tech Planter's industry-domain grand prix structure and corporate-partner revenue model.
• SOSV: Multi-stage VC and accelerator running vertical-specific programs (deep tech, biotech, climate, food) globally. Directly comparable to Tech Planter's seven-domain vertical structure and accelerator-plus-investment model via L-VENTURES.

Regional players

• JETRO Deep Tech Innovation Network: Japan's government-backed program supporting deep-tech startups with global expansion. Comparable as a Japan-anchored deep-tech support ecosystem that touches the same researcher and corporate ecosystem as Tech Planter.
• LEAP (Singapore Deep Tech): Singapore-based deep-tech venture platform supporting founders across Southeast Asia. Comparable as a regional deep-tech accelerator competing for the same SEA startup pipeline that Tech Planter's Southeast Asia program targets.

Others

• 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Global venture firm and accelerator with Asia-Pacific presence. Comparable as a global accelerator ecosystem participant, though more software/consumer oriented than Tech Planter's deep-tech focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/techplanter1
• Facebookfacebook.com/TechPlanGrandPrix

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Tech Planter