U-FINO
U-FINO is a non-profit innovation platform, founded in 2022 and based at JAM BASE in Grand Green Osaka, that connects Kansai-region startups, large corporations, municipal governments, and universities through recurring networking events, acceleration programs, and a community platform — all offered free to participants and funded via corporate membership agreements, municipal co-sponsorship, and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersOsaka, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What U-FINO does
U-FINO (うめきた未来イノベーション機構), formally 一般社団法人うめきた未来イノベーション機構, is a Japanese general incorporated association founded in 2022 and headquartered at JAM BASE on the 4th floor of Grand Green Osaka's North Building in the Umekita 2 redevelopment district. The organization operates as a neutral open-innovation platform that connects four participant groups — municipal and prefectural governments, large Japanese corporations, startups/entrepreneurs, and universities/research institutions — through coordinated programming, recurring events, and a community platform. Its core offerings include the It's Sta. (Innovators & Trailblazers Synergy Station) community platform with Slack-based member engagement; Ecosystem Link networking events held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month; イノベーションラヂヲ (Innovation Radio) dialogue-style events; DAP (Deep Tech & AI Acceleration Program) for corporate-startup co-creation; the XKANSAI Social Innovation Program addressing decarbonization, healthcare, and safe city challenges; the T-CEP talent development program; and the Blooming DRIVE with JAM BASE co-creation acceleration program. By mid-2026 the organization had run 55+ Ecosystem Link sessions, 35+ Innovation Radio sessions, and grown It's Sta. to over 1,500 cumulative event participants, with 33.8% corporate participation in the 411-member community as of November 2024.
The organization generates no revenue from participants — all programming is offered free of charge — and is funded through membership/framework agreements with supporting partner companies, municipal co-sponsorship (Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture), and operational grants. Its partner ecosystem spans major Japanese corporations including SMBC, Kansai Electric Power, Osaka Gas, JR West, Hankyu Hanshin, Nankai, Keihan, NTT West, SBI Holdings, Sumitomo Mitsui Marine Insurance, Tokyo Marine Nichido, and Sakura Internet, alongside ecosystem organizations such as KSII (METI-supported), MUIC Kansai (Osaka University), Creww, and Umekita MMO. Programs produce measurable outcomes including 8 finalists and 3 award recipients in the XKANSAI Phase 2 Social Innovation Program final pitch (January 2026) and structured matchmaking pipelines for members. The organization is led by Representative Director 諸冨 隆一 and operates under a general incorporated association legal structure that precludes traditional equity investment or IPO.
U-FINO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- U-FINO
- Legal name
- 一般法人うめきた未来イノベーション機構
- Website
- https://u-fino.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- U-FINO is a non-profit innovation platform, founded in 2022 and based at JAM BASE in Grand Green Osaka, that connects Kansai-region startups, large corporations, municipal governments, and universities through recurring networking events, acceleration programs, and a community platform — all offered free to participants and funded via corporate membership agreements, municipal co-sponsorship, and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
U-FINO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Innovation Ecosystem Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE)
Keywords
Where U-FINO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Osaka
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
U-FINO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
U-FINO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
U-FINO (Umekita Future Innovation Organization) operates an open innovation ecosystem platform that connects startups, large corporations, local governments, and universities through structured programs, recurring events, and a community platform centered at JAM BASE in Grand Green Osaka. Its offerings include the It's Sta. community platform, monthly Ecosystem Link networking events, Innovation Radio dialogue events, the DAP deep tech/AI acceleration program, the XKANSAI Social Innovation Program, T-CEP talent development, and Blooming DRIVE co-creation initiatives.
Product overview
U-FINO (Umekita Future Innovation Organization) is an innovation ecosystem platform organization that operates multiple interconnected programs and venues. Its core offering consists of the It's Sta. community platform combined with recurring event series including Ecosystem Link networking events and Innovation Radio dialogue events. Supporting programs include the DAP deep tech acceleration program, XKANSAI social innovation program, T-CEP talent development, and Blooming DRIVE co-creation initiatives. All activities are centered at JAM BASE, the organization's physical innovation hub at Grand Green Osaka.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- It's Sta. (イッツステーション) Innovators & Trailblazers Synergy Station A community platform where startups, corporate innovation teams, financial institutions, professionals, government officials, and support organizations gather to share information, technology, and knowledge while self-publishing. Includes a Slack-based communication workspace for ongoing member engagement between events.
- Ecosystem Link Regular networking events held at JAM BASE on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, combining startup ecosystem sessions with notable startup pitches. Sessions cover diverse themes including deep tech, fintech, social infrastructure, sustainability, entertainment, global collaboration, and student entrepreneurship. 55+ sessions held as of mid-2026.
- イノベーションラヂヲ (Innovation Radio) Dialogue-type innovation events featuring guests from various fields who engage in interactive conversations with listeners in a radio program atmosphere to foster open mindsets. Sessions cover topics ranging from QR code invention to regional revitalization, biotechnology, architecture, and lifestyle innovation.
- DAP (Deep Tech & AI Acceleration Program) A closed community acceleration program for deep tech and AI startups, designed as the Kansai Deep Tech Model to accelerate new business creation through collaboration with established companies. Includes open seminars (DAP OPEN SEMINAR) for broader ecosystem education.
- XKANSAI Social Innovation Program A collective impact program where Kansai-region enterprises, local governments, financial institutions, and educational institutions collaborate to address social challenges across three themes: Decarbonization/Zero Waste, Health/Healthcare, and Safe City Development. Phase 2 (2025) selected 8 finalists awarding 1 Grand Prize and 2 Excellence Awards.
- T-CEP (Terasus Challenge Entrepreneurship Program) Human resources development program for innovation personnel, targeting the Kansai region. The T-CEP2025 cohort recruited starting July 1, 2025.
- Blooming DRIVE with JAM BASE Co-creation acceleration program operated in collaboration with Blooming Camp, combining U-FINO's ecosystem reach with Blooming Camp's startup support methodology. First iteration announced for September 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- 33.8% of community participants are from corporations, indicating a balanced ecosystem between startups and large enterprises
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use U-FINO
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
U-FINO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
U-FINO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- JAM BASE (グラングリーン大阪北館 JAM BASE)coreJAM BASE is the central innovation facility of the Umekita 2 district, operated as a hub for startups, corporations, government, and academia to co-create. U-FINO is co-located within JAM BASE, using its facilities as the primary venue for all programs and events. The facility's monthly programs (Ecosystem Link on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month) are a core U-FINO activity.
- Osaka City (大阪市)coreOsaka City is a core municipal partner of U-FINO, participating in the XKANSAI Social Innovation Program as a challenge-setting government body. City officials from the Economic Strategy Bureau participate in Ecosystem Link sessions as speakers and panelists.
- Osaka Prefecture (大阪府)coreOsaka Prefecture co-sponsors U-FINO programs and participates in the JAM EXPO and XKANSAI initiatives. The prefecture's commerce department contributes to social innovation challenge-setting and co-creation programs.
- Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (大阪商工会議所)secondaryThe Osaka Chamber of Commerce is listed as a supporting organization and co-sponsor of U-FINO programs, contributing to event programming and ecosystem networking.
- Kansai Economic Federation (関西経済連合会)secondaryThe Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren) is listed as a supporting organization, contributing regional economic perspective and network access to U-FINO's ecosystem.
- Osaka Exchange / Tokyo Stock Exchange / Japan Exchange Group (大阪取引所/東京証券取引所/日本取引所グループ)secondaryListed as co-organizer of the JAM EXPO event focused on international financial city Osaka, contributing institutional finance market perspective and participation.
- Kansai Innovation Initiative (関西イノベーションイニシアティブ / KSII)coreKSII is a key program co-organizer with U-FINO, participating in the DAP program, XKANSAI Social Innovation Program, KANSAI SEED NEXT FORCE, and multiple Ecosystem Link sessions. KSII is an METI-supported project mobilizing the Kansai university network for open innovation.
- Social-S (株式会社ソーシャル・エックス)secondarySocial-S is the operational planning partner for the XKANSAI Social Innovation Program, managing program operations, event coordination, and finalist support alongside U-FINO.
- STORIUM / Granstory (株式会社グランストーリー)secondarySTORIUM (operated by Granstory) is a co-organizer of the KANSAI SEED NEXT FORCE 2025 program, managing the startup-investor matching platform and pre-program mentoring for seed-stage companies.
- Creww (_CREWW株式会社)secondaryCreww is a co-organizer of multiple Ecosystem Link sessions and the Korean Govtech Startup Pitch event. Creww's open innovation platform (with ~9,000 registered startups) and ecosystem-building expertise support U-FINO's matching programs.
- Blooming Camp (ブルーミングキャンプ)secondaryBlooming Camp partnered with U-FINO to co-host 'Blooming DRIVE with JAM BASE' in September 2025, a co-creation acceleration program combining U-FINO's ecosystem with Blooming Camp's startup support methodology.
- T-CEP (T-CEP実行委員会)secondaryU-FINO supports the T-CEP (Terasus Challenge Entrepreneurship Program) as a talent development and entrepreneurship education initiative targeting the Kansai region, with recruitment for the 2025 cohort launched through U-FINO channels.
- Hankyu Hanshin Properties (株式会社苑Medaka Holdings / 阪急阪神不动产)secondaryListed as a co-sponsor of KANSAI SEED NEXT FORCE 2025, contributing real estate and urban development ecosystem connections to U-FINO programs. Hankyu Hanshin Innovation Ltd. actively participates in Ecosystem Link and JAM BASE activities.
- MUIC Kansai (大阪大学 产业科学 Bermuda / MUIC Kansai)coreMUIC Kansai (Osaka University Innovation Center) is a co-sponsor of the XKANSAI Phase 2 program and featured as a key 2025 Kansai innovation project in Ecosystem Link Session 1 (April 2025), showcasing its university startup support framework.
- CN Business Base / Osaka Science and Technology Center (CNビジネスベース/大阪科学技術センター)secondaryListed as a special cooperation partner for the annual R&D Policy Joint Briefing (研究与開度促進施策合同説明会), supporting the dissemination of national R&D funding information to the Kansai ecosystem.
- NTT West (NTT西区)secondaryListed as a co-sponsor of U-FINO's XKANSAI Phase 2 program, contributing telecommunications and technology infrastructure perspective to the ecosystem.
- Sakura Internet (さ.krインターネット)secondaryListed as a co-sponsor of KANSAI SEED NEXT FORCE 2025, contributing cloud infrastructure and technology ecosystem connections.
- Sumitomo Mitsui Marine Insurance (三井住友海上火灾保险)secondaryListed as co-sponsor of the XKANSAI Phase 2 program and active participant in Ecosystem Link sessions, bringing corporate risk management and insurance innovation perspective to the ecosystem.
- Tokyo Marine Nichido (东京海上日动)secondaryListed as a co-sponsor of the XKANSAI Phase 2 program, participating as a corporate supporter of social innovation initiatives in the Kansai region.
- Wing Arc NEX (ウイングアークNEX)secondaryListed as a co-sponsor of the XKANSAI Phase 2 program, contributing data and system integration technology perspective.
- Umekita MMO (うめきたMMO / 一般社团法人うめきたエリアマネジメント)coreListed as a cooperating organization for XKANSAI and JAM BASE programming. Umekita MMO is the area management organization for the Umekita district, responsible for the ongoing stewardship and programming of the Grand Green Osaka and surrounding area, working in close coordination with U-FINO.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
U-FINO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) Japan: CIC operates shared innovation campuses where startups, corporates, and investors co-locate. Its Tokyo and global facilities offer the same physical-hub-plus-ecosystem model that U-FINO delivers at JAM BASE, but at a larger, multi-tenant scale with international tenant rosters.
- Techstars: Techstars is a global accelerator network running 13-week cohort programs with corporate partners. It is a broad incumbent peer because it offers the same acceleration-plus-corporate-partnership model as U-FINO's DAP, but with international brand recognition and a deeper investor network.
- Plug and Play Japan: Plug and Play is a global accelerator and corporate innovation platform with a Japan operation running vertical-specific accelerator programs and corporate matchmaking. It is a broad incumbent peer because it operates the same accelerator-plus-corporate-matching model at national scale, with deeper capital and brand recognition.
- 500 Global: 500 Global is a global venture fund and accelerator with a Southeast Asia and Japan presence running multi-stage startup programs. It is a broad incumbent peer because it operates global accelerator programs that overlap with U-FINO's deep tech and AI startup support mandate at a far larger scale.
Direct peers
- Kansai Innovation Initiative (KSII / 関西イノベーションイニシアティブ): KSII is a METI-supported university-led open innovation initiative mobilizing the Kansai university network — explicitly listed as a core co-organizer of U-FINO's DAP, XKANSAI, and KANSAI SEED NEXT FORCE. KSII is a direct peer because both are Kansai-region open innovation convening bodies with overlapping government and academic backing.
- Creww: Creww operates Japan's largest open innovation platform connecting startups with large enterprises, with roughly 9,000 registered startups and active corporate collaboration programs. It is a direct peer because U-FINO itself lists Creww as a co-organizer on Ecosystem Link sessions, and the two operate the same startup-to-corporate matchmaking model in overlapping geographies.
- Impact Hub Tokyo: Impact Hub Tokyo is a member-based innovation community running programs for social entrepreneurs and impact startups in a co-working setting. It is a direct peer because it operates the same combination of community platform, recurring events, and social-innovation programming that U-FINO delivers, albeit in Tokyo.
- MUIC Kansai (Osaka University Innovation Center): MUIC Kansai is Osaka University's flagship industry-academia collaboration and startup support center, and a core partner in U-FINO's XKANSAI program. It is a direct peer because it operates university-anchored deep tech and bio incubation in the same Kansai geography with overlapping startup support mandates.
Emerging players
- Antler Japan: Antler is a global early-stage venture investor and accelerator with a Japan operation running cohort-based startup programs and corporate innovation partnerships. It is an emerging player peer because it focuses on day-zero founder support and corporate-startup co-creation — overlapping with U-FINO's mission at the earliest startup stages.
Regional players
- KPMG Ignition Tokyo: KPMG Ignition Tokyo is a corporate innovation hub operated by KPMG Japan, partnering with startups on emerging technology and open innovation challenges. It is a regional player peer because it pursues the same corporate-startup matchmaking model that U-FINO offers Kansai corporates, but operates from Tokyo with a Big Four professional services backbone.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
U-FINO social profiles
Digital presenceU-FINO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
U-FINO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
U-FINO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
U-FINO 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 U-FINO
What does U-FINO do?
U-FINO (Umekita Future Innovation Organization) operates an open innovation ecosystem platform that connects startups, large corporations, local governments, and universities through structured programs, recurring events, and a community platform centered at JAM BASE in Grand Green Osaka. Its offerings include the It's Sta. community platform, monthly Ecosystem Link networking events, Innovation Radio dialogue events, the DAP deep tech/AI acceleration program, the XKANSAI Social Innovation Program, T-CEP talent development, and Blooming DRIVE co-creation initiatives.
Is U-FINO a public or private company?
U-FINO is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was U-FINO founded?
U-FINO was founded in 2022.
Where is U-FINO based?
U-FINO is headquartered in Osaka, Japan, in the Asia region.
Who are U-FINO's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) Japan, Techstars, Plug and Play Japan and 500 Global. Direct peers are Kansai Innovation Initiative (KSII / 関西イノベーションイニシアティブ), Creww, Impact Hub Tokyo and MUIC Kansai (Osaka University Innovation Center). Antler Japan is listed as an emerging player. KPMG Ignition Tokyo is listed as a regional player.
Does U-FINO have an API?
No public API is recorded for U-FINO.
What industry is U-FINO in?
U-FINO's product category is Innovation Ecosystem Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAMAE, SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked).