UTokyo IPC Announces 12th Cohort of “1stRound” Startup Acceleration Program and Welcomes Three New Corporate Partners
PrintUTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC), the venture investment arm of the University of Tokyo, is pleased to announce the selection of nine new teams for the 12th cohort of its startup acceleration program, 1stRound — Japan’s largest academia-driven, non-equity startup support initiative.
This round also marks the addition of three new corporate partners to the program: Ajinomoto Co., Inc., ENEOS Xplora Inc., and The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. These industry leaders join a growing alliance of 24 companies supporting early-stage startups in collaboration with leading academic institutions and research organizations.
About 1stRound: Accelerating Technology Commercialization from Academia
Since its inception in 2017, 1stRound has provided non-equity funding and hands-on business support to promising technology-based startups at the earliest stages. Originally launched by UTokyo IPC in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, the program has since expanded to include 18 universities and 4 national research institutes across Japan.
With a cumulative 93 teams supported over 8.5 years prior to this cohort, the program boasts a 90%+ fundraising success rate, over 50% large-scale grant success rate, and numerous collaborations between startups and major corporations. The initiative continues to foster a thriving ecosystem by connecting deep-tech startups with seasoned corporate mentors, academic resources, and growth capital.
1stRound also works in close alignment with university entrepreneurship education programs. Approximately 20–25% of selected teams are re-applicants, highlighting the program’s role in nurturing long-term startup development within academia.
New Partners Join the 1stRound Consortium
Ajinomoto Co. (food and life science), ENEOS Xplora (energy), and Kansai Electric Power (utilities) join a distinguished list of existing corporate partners spanning industries such as mobility, infrastructure, finance, chemicals, and real estate. The consortium model supports open innovation by matching corporate needs with academic ingenuity.
A full list of corporate partners can be found here:
12th Cohort: Selected Startups
The following nine startups were selected from the December 2024 evaluation round, bringing the total number of 1stRound-supported projects to 102:
DubGuild Co., Ltd.
CEO: Masatoshi Otake
DubGuild is developing what it calls “the world’s most advanced AI dubbing technology,” aiming to make all content accessible to audiences worldwide. Their proprietary system enables high-quality dubbing that maintains the integrity of the original content while delivering a wide range of expressive voiceovers tailored to each target language. The founding team includes specialists in computer science, voice processing, and natural language processing. DubGuild is actively expanding its team and capabilities to lead global content localization.
AcceleBody Co., Ltd.
Co-Founders: Haruo Aoki (CTO) and Ayato Nakamura (CEO)
AcceleBody tackles musculoskeletal issues that impair quality of life in the final decade of life. Traditional orthopedic rehabilitation faces a trade-off between quality of care and patient throughput. AcceleBody leverages robotics-inspired algorithms to develop a motion analysis system that reliably measures joint load and other critical indicators using a single camera within one minute—something that was previously difficult in clinical settings. Their solution is designed to serve Japan’s 17,000 orthopedic clinics and contribute to extending healthy life expectancy.
Founder & CEO: Yoshihisa Hirano
QioN is developing breakthrough technology to produce ammonia—used as fertilizer and clean fuel—anywhere and at low cost. Their proprietary process uses renewable energy and locally available raw materials to generate ammonia with greater energy efficiency than conventional methods. It also enables small-scale production potentially at less than half the cost. The company aims to capture 15% of the global ammonia market (over 1.5 million tons/year) and contribute to reducing both CO₂ emissions and geopolitical risk associated with the supply.
YasAI
Co-Founders: Koyu Mizutani, Yuya Hirata
YasAI is developing an AI-based grading system for agricultural produce to address Japan’s acute labor shortage in the farming sector. Having completed the NEDO NEP Explorer Course and MITOU Advanced program, the team is now expanding beyond fruit and vegetable grading into broader industrial applications. Through the 1stRound program, they are exploring new use cases for their AI technology in existing industries.
Freezo Co., Ltd.
Founder & CEO: Shunsuke Mizuno
Freezo is developing proprietary AI-based optimization systems for industrial refrigeration, with a focus on large-scale cold storage facilities. Their technology optimizes freezer operations in real time to reduce electricity costs while maintaining reliable storage performance. The company is also exploring the potential to aggregate these freezer systems as distributed demand response resources, supporting grid stability through intelligent load control. By harnessing cold energy as a flexible asset, Freezo contributes to building a carbon-neutral society.
fff fortississimo Co., Ltd.
Founder & CEO: Juhei Irisawa
fff fortississimo is developing next-generation fiber materials with world-leading technology, focusing on carbon fiber—a key material for energy-saving and renewable energy sectors. They have achieved a new low-cost manufacturing process using sustainable raw materials, while maintaining the superior properties of conventional carbon fibers. Their innovative approach has the potential to transform the industry and enable wider adoption of carbon fiber solutions across various sectors.
ANAX Optics Co., Ltd.
Founder & CEO: Okiharu Kirino
ANAX Optics is a startup born from innovative optical design technology. The company develops software tools to support optical design and manufacturing, aiming to expand the entire optics industry. Leveraging their proprietary light-field optics, ANAX also engages in developing advanced industrial inspection cameras and 3D optical tweezers, creating new seeds of innovation in applied optics.
SAKIYA Co., Ltd.
Co-Founders: Kent Watanabe, Hajime Noda / Technical Advisor: Hiroto Yamaguchi
SAKIYA has developed a unique technology to non-invasively scan the internal properties of wood—such as knots, density, and strength—using electromagnetic waves. Their system can visualize even small internal defects, significantly improving yield through optimized cutting and reducing rework in manufacturing. Since timber varies widely in internal condition and has lacked effective non-destructive inspection tools, SAKIYA aims to revolutionize wood processing and contribute to quality assurance and stable supply.
Hasana Biosciences Inc.
President & CEO: William Kuziel
Hasana Biosciences is a biotech startup pioneering new therapeutic concepts for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Backed by a world-class leadership team and deep expertise in drug discovery and development, Hasana is focused on creating novel modalities and innovative treatments targeting atopic disorders. The company aims to redefine immune system therapies and deliver new hope for patients worldwide.
Call for Applications: 13th Cohort Now Open
Applications for the 13th cohort of 1stRound are now open through June 2, 2025. For details, visit: https://www.1stround.jp/
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UTokyo IPC
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