UTokyo IPC Announces LP Investment in Abies Ventures Fund II
PrintUTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC; President & CEO: Kosuke Ueda, based in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo）, has decided to invest in Abies Ventures Fund II, managed by Abies Ventures, Inc. (Co-Managing Partners: Fuyuki Yamaguchi and Sota Nagano; based in Minato-ku, Tokyo), through its Academic Startup Acceleration (ASA) Fund—a university startup support fund operated under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Global Innovation with STARTUPS” initiative.
Backing Deep-Tech Champions with Global Execution Capabilities
Founded in 2017, Abies Ventures is an independent venture capital firm dedicated to investing in deep-tech startups leveraging advanced technologies such as robotics/mobility, AI/computing and communications, advanced materials/climate tech and space.
Led by seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, Abies Ventures brings hands-on value creation, drawing from a track record of leading global startup investments, building unicorns, and successfully navigating cross-border IPOs. Beyond capital, the firm provides strategic management support and global business development resources, facilitating international growth, cross-border funding, and global market entry for its portfolio companies.
UTokyo IPC recognized Abies Ventures’ deep experience in both investing and business-building—particularly its proactive global expansion support—as highly complementary to its mission of strengthening Japan’s university startup ecosystem. This alignment led to the decision to invest in Abies Ventures Fund II.
Comment from Fuyuki Yamaguchi, Managing Partner, Abies Ventures, Inc.
Abies Ventures is an independent venture capital firm investing on seed and early-stage deep tech startups originating from universities and others.
Abies Ventures focuses on deep tech fields, which are expected to grow from the perspectives of DX/GX and economic security, and aims to realize a sustainable society and Society 5.0, as well as the globalization of Japanese startups. Abies Ventures has been building a track record of venture investment and support to achieve these goals.
With this LP investment as an opportunity, Abies Ventures will further strengthen the collaboration with Tokyo IPC, a core player in Japan’s university-based innovation ecosystem, and strive to create a lot of unicorns from universities with international competitiveness.
Through this investment and broader collaboration with Abies Ventures, UTokyo IPC aims to further accelerate the development of university-launched startups in Japan and expand the broader innovation ecosystem.
Advancing Japan’s Academic Startup Ecosystem with the ASA Fund
Established in February 2024 and operated by UTokyo IPC, the ASA Fund aims to accelerate university-launched startups in Japan. As part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Global Innovation with STARTUPS” initiative, the fund supports the commercialization of research and the societal implementation of university-born technologies—particularly in deep tech.
The ASA Fund adopts a “fund-of-funds” model, investing in venture capital funds that support university-affiliated startups, with the goal of solving key ecosystem challenges and nurturing globally competitive unicorns. It also seeks to enhance collaboration across academia, industry, government, and international partners to elevate Japan’s university startup ecosystem to global standards.
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About Abies Ventures, Inc.
Business: Venture capital fund management
Founded: October 2017
Headquarters: Landwork Aoyama Bldg. 2F, 2-7-26 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Co-Managing Partners: Fuyuki Yamaguchi, Sota Nagano
Website: https://abies.vc/company
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For Media Inquiries
UTokyo IPC
Entrepreneur Lab 261, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
TEL: +81-3-3830-0200 | FAX: +81-3-3830-0183
Email: info2@utokyo-ipc.co.jp
Contact: Masafumi Kawai