WERU Investment

WERU Investment, established in 1998 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a pioneering venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage companies. It was created as an extension of the WERU research unit at Waseda University, the first of its kind in Japan dedicated to entrepreneurship. The firm plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between government, business, and academia, leveraging its extensive network and research resources to support entrepreneurs and startups. WERU Investment also acts as a discretionary investment manager for institutional investors, such as pension funds and endowments, utilizing its accumulated expertise to provide tailored financial services. Through its unique position, WERU Investment is committed to fostering innovation and growth within the Japanese venture capital landscape.

Tadashi Takiguchi

President, CEO and Chief Executive Officer

20 past transactions

Novity

Seed Round in 2024
Novity specializes in predictive maintenance technology aimed at reducing unplanned downtime in the chemical, oil, and gas industries. By providing insights into the future health of production assets, Novity enables manufacturers to anticipate potential failures and manage their operations more effectively. The company offers a range of solutions, including health checks for reciprocating compressors and centrifugal pumps, as well as technologies to assess the remaining lifespan of critical equipment. This proactive approach helps clients achieve operational efficiency and ensures continuous production without unexpected interruptions.

Cinderelax

Seed Round in 2024
Cinderelax is a video application designed to enhance the makeup tutorial experience by allowing users to easily navigate and watch specific segments of makeup videos. Developed from user feedback, the app aims to foster a supportive environment where individuals can embrace and celebrate their unique beauty. By streamlining the viewing process, Cinderelax seeks to make makeup education more accessible and enjoyable for its users.

Synfini

Seed Round in 2023
Synfini, Inc. is a privately held company based in Menlo Park, California, focused on revolutionizing drug discovery through its advanced, automated molecular discovery platform. This platform utilizes integrated neuro-symbolic AI, robotic automation, and comprehensive chemistry data to facilitate more efficient chemistry design, development, and synthesis. By leveraging patented technologies from SRI International, Synfini aims to accelerate molecular discovery for drug hunters and pharmaceutical companies globally, ultimately enabling the creation of novel therapeutics.

Trustart

Seed Round in 2023
Trustart engages in real estate research business and real estate big data provision. The company offers real estate big data and big data subscriptions.

INCGROW

Venture Round in 2020
INCGROW is a consulting firm that specializes in providing advisory services and growth support to small and medium-sized enterprises. The company focuses on facilitating business succession and offers a range of services, including management training programs for successors and young managers in partnership with regional financial institutions. Additionally, INCGROW assists clients with subsidy application support and mergers and acquisitions advisory, helping businesses to enhance their growth and development.

ELternal

Seed Round in 2020
ELternal focuses on developing tourism resources for shrines and temples, offering consulting services that enhance their operational capabilities. The company provides support in business processes, social media utilization, and website development specifically tailored for these religious sites. By leveraging technology, ELternal aims to address social challenges and enrich community futures. It collaborates closely with temples, shrines, and local governments to create solutions that benefit both the sites and their visitors. Through these initiatives, ELternal contributes to the sustainable growth of cultural tourism while fostering cooperation among various stakeholders.

Mirror Fit

Seed Round in 2020
Mirror Fit offers an innovative online fitness platform that combines advanced technology with interactive training experiences. The service features a body shape fitness device resembling a mirror, which connects users with professional trainers through a dedicated application. This platform enables personalized workout programs, including AI-assisted form checks, live lessons from popular trainers, and access to over 300 on-demand classes. Users can engage in game-like exercises and communicate with friends for added motivation and support. Suitable for both novices and advanced fitness enthusiasts, Mirror Fit aims to make exercise enjoyable and adaptable to individual lifestyles, allowing users to conduct their workouts at home whenever it suits them.

Zuva

Venture Round in 2019
Zuva Inc. operates an information and database platform that focuses on emerging companies worldwide, particularly overseas startups. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Japan, the company gathers data from external suppliers and its own network, utilizing a unique algorithm to analyze this information. The platform offers insights into various aspects of startups, including websites, news, patent data, investment opportunities, mergers and acquisitions, and investor information. Users can classify, visualize, and compare the data, facilitating the discovery of promising startups and enabling users to forge new business connections.

CoreTissue BioEngineering

Venture Round in 2019
CoreTissue BioEngineering Inc. is a Japanese company specializing in the development and manufacturing of medical equipment, particularly focused on artificial ligaments for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Founded in 2016 and based in Shinjuku Ku, the company creates implantable ligaments using a process that decelerates tissue and removes cellular components from biological materials. This innovative approach allows for the transplantation of these ligaments into patients, facilitating effective reconstruction of the anterior knee cruciate ligaments. By enhancing the capabilities of surgical interventions, CoreTissue BioEngineering aims to improve patient outcomes and support a healthier lifestyle for individuals recovering from knee injuries.

LeoLabs

Series A in 2018
LeoLabs, Inc. is an aerospace company based in Menlo Park, California, that specializes in phased-array radar technology to provide high-resolution data on objects in low Earth orbit. Founded in 2015, LeoLabs operates a platform for collision avoidance, which automates and modernizes satellite operations while offering foundational mapping data and services to reduce collision risks. Its offerings include rapid orbit determination, early operational support, and ongoing orbit awareness. LeoLabs serves a diverse clientele, including commercial satellite operators, government regulatory bodies, and space agencies, facilitating safe and sustainable operations in space and enhancing visibility for satellite management.

Infostellar

Series A in 2017
Infostellar Inc., founded in 2016 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in developing cloud-based communication solutions for satellite operators. The company offers StellarStation, a modular platform that allows ground station owners to monetize their surplus capacity while enabling satellite operators to connect with satellites using a diverse range of antennas globally, all through a single interface. By facilitating the sharing of satellite antennas during idle periods, Infostellar helps reduce operational costs and enhance transmission time, thereby improving the quality of service for satellite operators. Additionally, Infostellar provides tools such as Ground Station Search and Makesat, further streamlining the satellite communication process.

VAQSO

Seed Round in 2017
VAQSO Inc. specializes in developing an odor-emitting attachment for virtual reality headsets. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company has designed a device approximately the size and shape of a candy bar, capable of holding up to three different scents. This innovative attachment includes a fan that adjusts the intensity of the emitted smells in response to visual stimuli on the screen, enhancing the immersive experience of virtual reality. VAQSO operates with a focus on integrating olfactory elements into digital environments, thereby expanding the sensory engagement of VR technology.

OSCAR TECHNOLOGY Japan

Corporate Round in 2017
Oscar Technology Corporation, founded in 2013 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in automatic parallelization technology for industrial application software designed to operate on multi-core CPUs, ranging from embedded systems to supercomputers. The company offers the OSCARTech Compiler, a tool that automatically converts sequential software into parallelized code compatible with any multi-core processor and operating system. In addition to its software solutions, Oscar Technology provides consulting services that include evaluations, parallelization assistance, and seminars focused on multi-core parallelization. The company's approach is aimed at enhancing software performance while optimizing power consumption, making it a key player in the field of software parallel services.

PrediXT

Seed Round in 2016
PrediXT is a developer of prediction technologies.

FunPep

Venture Round in 2016
FunPep is a biotechnology company dedicated to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and medical devices centered on functional peptides. The company specializes in creating treatments for intractable peptic ulcer disease, including antibody drugs and other pharmaceutical products. FunPep aims to innovate within the pharmaceutical sector by replacing traditional antibody medicines with next-generation products that utilize antibody-inducing peptides. Through its diverse portfolio, FunPep seeks to advance healthcare solutions and improve patient outcomes.

FunPep

Venture Round in 2015
FunPep is a biotechnology company dedicated to the research and development of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and medical devices centered on functional peptides. The company specializes in creating treatments for intractable peptic ulcer disease, including antibody drugs and other pharmaceutical products. FunPep aims to innovate within the pharmaceutical sector by replacing traditional antibody medicines with next-generation products that utilize antibody-inducing peptides. Through its diverse portfolio, FunPep seeks to advance healthcare solutions and improve patient outcomes.

MarkLines Co.

Venture Round in 2014
MarkLines Co., Ltd. operates a comprehensive automotive industry portal in Japan, offering an extensive Information Platform that caters to various stakeholders in the automotive sector. This platform delivers vital information regarding suppliers, including their relationships, plant data, and market trends, alongside sales and production statistics, technology reports, and model forecasts available in Japanese, Chinese, and English. Additionally, MarkLines provides an advertising and promotion service that includes promotional emails and banner ads for its Information Platform members. The company serves a diverse clientele, including original equipment manufacturers, parts suppliers, machinery and equipment providers, solution vendors, transportation companies, trading firms, consulting agencies, financial institutions, government entities, labor unions, universities, and construction companies. Founded in 2001, MarkLines is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

SymBio Pharmaceuticals

Venture Round in 2009
SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited is a biopharmaceutical company based in Tokyo, Japan, focused on the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceutical drugs, primarily in the fields of oncology and hematology. The company develops various anti-cancer agents, including Treakisym, which is used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and is currently undergoing Phase III trials for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Additionally, SymBio is working on several other drug formulations, including SyB L-1701, SyB L-1702, and Rigosertib SyB-C-0501, as well as SyB L-1101 and SyB C-1101 for higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. The company also has a candidate, SyB V-1901, aimed at treating infectious diseases. SymBio Pharmaceuticals operates primarily in Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Datasection

Series A in 2009
Datasection is a social big data company that provides various big data analysis tools for its clients. It specializes in marketing research, data provision and processing, image analysis, overseas SNS, and data utilization and optimization. Datasection was founded in 2000.

Valuenex

Seed Round in 2006
Valuenex, Inc. is a big data analytics company that specializes in predictive analytics software solutions and consulting services. The company's flagship product, VALUENEXRadar, provides users with a comprehensive visualization of diverse datasets, including reports on market trends, competitive positioning, and SWOT analyses of specific entities. Additionally, Valuenex offers tools like the clustermap viewer for visualizing patent data, as well as consulting services that encompass strategic analytics for research and development, intellectual property assessments, competitive intelligence, and predictive modeling. Founded in 2014 and based in Menlo Park, California, Valuenex operates as a subsidiary of Valuenex Japan Inc., which has been providing information analysis services since 2006 from its headquarters in Tokyo. Valuenex Japan offers a range of analysis tools and consulting services, supporting various sectors such as research and development, marketing, and management planning with a focus on intellectual property.
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