Miyako Capital

Miyako Capital is the venture capital that manages Kyoto University 2nd Venture Fund (KUVF). The company was founded in 2013 and based in Kyoto & Tokyo, Japan. Investment fields are: 1) Life Science, Biotechnology: Drug creation, regenerative medicine, medical beauty equipment, medical services. 2) Agri-Food: Industrialization, agricultural and fishery products growth-promoting technology, specified health food, health food. 3) Environment, Energy: Alternative energy, and related technologies. 4) IT, Electronics: Web, mobile related devices and application, telecommunication technology, security, consumer and business oriented application, mechatronic, robot. 5) New services utilizing state-of-art technology. Investment stages: Primary investment stages are initial-growth stages of seed and early. However, we aim at all growth stages and make investment in post-IPO portfolio companies as well as public companies that are related with Kyoto University.

Tsunesaburo Sugaya

Partner

49 past transactions

VLP Therapeutics

Series A in 2021
VLP Therapeutics, LLC (VLP) was established in 2012 by seasoned biopharmaceutical veterans with mission to develop innovative medical treatment which transforms traditional vaccine and targeted antibody therapies to address global unmet medical needs. Its vision is to combat the 21st century global public health problems through revolutionary next generation i-αVLP (inserted alpha VLP) Technology. The company is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland

CellAxia

Private Placement in 2020
CellAxia Inc. engages in development of cell therapy drugs. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Startbahn

Series B in 2021
Startbahn aims to realize a richer society by providing the technology needed by artists and people involved with art all over the world. We are developing Startbahn Cert., a service that issues blockchain certificates for artworks, and promoting the development of Startrail, a blockchain infrastructure that is the basis for Startbahn Cert. We also run joint projects with other companies.

HACARUS

Series B in 2020
HACARUS is a provider of Explainable Lightweight AI Tools, backed by Miyako Capital (Kyoto University) among others. Its solutions are used in the Medical and Manufacturing fields to enable humans to make better, faster and more reliable decisions, based on AI driven insights. Hacarus' proprietary AI engine is built using Sparse Modeling, an AI method that understands data like a human would - by its unique key features and is far more resource, time and energy efficient when compared to Deep Learning.

ARTham Therapeutics

Series A in 2018
ARTham Therapeutics Inc engages in deliver biological medicines. The company offers programs including art-648, art-ep, art-pde and art-001. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Naka-Ku, Japan.

StemRIM

Venture Round in 2017
Stem Rim is a biotechnology company aiming to develop “regenerative medicine”.We are developing drugs based on a new mechanism of action that mobilizes stem cells present in the living body to the injured or diseased tissue without removing them out of the body and induces functional tissue regeneration.

VividQ

Seed Round in 2021
VividQ is a deep tech software company with world-leading expertise in 3D holography, the next-generation display technology. It offers the world’s first complete software platform, powering full 3D holographic display on standard computing power. The company's software brings real-time computer-generated holography (CGH) to everyday applications such as AR/VR headsets and smart glasses, automotive head-up displays, and consumer electronics. The company was founded in February 2017 in Cambridge by a technical team of Ph.D. graduates from Oxford, St Andrews, and Cambridge itself. Following the development of Core - VividQ’s proprietary software engine - the company has reinforced its market-leading position in the AR/VR and digital display industry. VividQ collaborates with chipmakers, display nad consumer electronics manufacturers around the world, making holography a viable commercial display solution for the first time.

Megakaryon Corporation

Series C in 2017
Megakaryon Corporation develops platelets and red blood cells from human iPS cell lines. Its portfolio includes blood products that do not depend on blood donations. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Kyoto, Japan with an additional office in Tokyo, Japan.

Goryo Chemical

Venture Round in 2019
Goryo Chemical, Inc. develops fluorescent probes for chemical biology/bio applications. Its products and services include AcidiFluor, CalFluor, GlycoFluor, ProteoFluor, MetalloFluor, ROSFluor, and IndoCyanine green dye series; bioluminescent probes; labeling services; and custom synthesis. The company also provides its products for use as imaging regents for cellular analysis, assay, and imaging, as well as chromatic changing makers for fluorescent labeling to protein, peptide, antibody, and oligonucleotide for molecularly-targeted drug or immunoassay. It serves customers through a network of distributors in Japan and internationally. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Sapporo, Japan with an additional office in Tokyo, Japan.

Integral Geometry Science

Venture Round in 2019
Integral Geometry Science Inc. designs and develops measurement device and software for image data processing. It also manufactures microwave mammography, nondestructive inspection system for lithium ion battery. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Kobe, Japan.

AFI Japan

Series A in 2016
AFI Technology manufactures and sells products that use this technology, and responds to a wide range of requests, such as rapid microbiological testing.

Floadia Corporation

Private Placement in 2020
Floadia Corporation is an energetic start up, focused on providing embedded non-volatile memory IP solutions.The engineering team came from Renesas who has been developing embedded FLASH technology for over 20 years, including the inventor of "Source Side Injection" for Split Gate FLASH, which is the fundamental technology for commonly used FLASH architecture today.

StemRIM

Venture Round in 2018
Stem Rim is a biotechnology company aiming to develop “regenerative medicine”.We are developing drugs based on a new mechanism of action that mobilizes stem cells present in the living body to the injured or diseased tissue without removing them out of the body and induces functional tissue regeneration.

Floadia Corporation

Series C in 2020
Floadia Corporation is an energetic start up, focused on providing embedded non-volatile memory IP solutions.The engineering team came from Renesas who has been developing embedded FLASH technology for over 20 years, including the inventor of "Source Side Injection" for Split Gate FLASH, which is the fundamental technology for commonly used FLASH architecture today.

MONEY DESIGN

Seed Round in 2014
MONEY DESIGN Co., Ltd. offers asset management and investment advice services. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

HACARUS

Series A in 2018
HACARUS is a provider of Explainable Lightweight AI Tools, backed by Miyako Capital (Kyoto University) among others. Its solutions are used in the Medical and Manufacturing fields to enable humans to make better, faster and more reliable decisions, based on AI driven insights. Hacarus' proprietary AI engine is built using Sparse Modeling, an AI method that understands data like a human would - by its unique key features and is far more resource, time and energy efficient when compared to Deep Learning.

Drivemode

Series A in 2017
Drivemode, Inc. offers an interaction and feedback technology application for car drivers. Its application suggests drivers to where to go by using their driving pattern, calendar events, and recent texts with address. The company’s application also enables drivers to control their favorite music applications with a tap and swipe; don’t lose navigation whether they make or receive a call; and record their voice instead of typing on phone to get right recommendations at the right time. Drivemode, Inc. was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Redwood City, California. As of September 26, 2019, Drivemode, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Honda R&D Co.,Ltd.

Integral Geometry Science

Venture Round in 2019
Integral Geometry Science Inc. designs and develops measurement device and software for image data processing. It also manufactures microwave mammography, nondestructive inspection system for lithium ion battery. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Kobe, Japan.

Liberaware

Venture Round in 2020
Liberaware Co.,Ltd. develops and rents industrial drones in Japan. It also engages in the management and analysis of images and flight logs collected by drones. The company also develops compact drones for maneuvering and pilot training. Liberaware Co.,Ltd. was founded in 2016 and is based in Chiba-shi, Japan.

BizteX

Series C in 2020
BizteX is a software robotics company that uses cloud Robotic Process Automation to automate routine operations. The company develops SaaS services centered on cloud RPA and expand it globally to contribute to the creation of creativity for many people. The company's service called, BizteX cobit, is a digital robot that performs a one-click substitute for humans by instructing routine work. BizteX was founded in July 2015 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

iHeart Japan

Series A in 2014
iHeart Japan Corporation was established to realize an innovative next-generation therapy that can replace heart transplantation by applying technology developed by Prof. Jun K Yamashita of Center for iPS cell Research and Application.

Helpfeel

Series C in 2022
Nota is the company behind Gyazo, the highly popular and rapidly growing cloud-based screen capture and sharing application. Gyazo allows users to instantly share a full and partial screenshot with a custom URL from a PC/Mac desktop app. Gyazo has grown rapidly to a worldwide user base of more than 8 million through viral user acquisition. The company’s aim is to become a truly global company yet with uniquely Japanese roots. The company was established in 2007 and is based in Menlo Park, California with offices in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan.

LocationMind

Series B in 2024
LocationMind Co., Ltd. develops artificial intelligence (AI) based software solutions for flow pre-measurement. The company solutions include LocationMind xPop, which is a SaaS dashboard that meets a wide range of people flow analysis needs and MobMap, which is a tool that enables its users to analyze human flow data in a time series. It offers front-line research on spatial information engineering. The company serves various industries and institutions. LocationMind Co., Ltd. was founded in 2019 and is based in Chiyoda, Japan.

Trigence

Private Placement in 2018
Trigence Semiconductor, Inc. operates as an audio IC design and solution provider. The company offers digital audio products, such as Digital Speaker Module that include speakers, enclosures, connectors, FPCs, audio DSPs, and interfaces to simplify development for PC, tablet, and smartphone required audio functionality; and digital speaker drivers, USBs, and evaluation boards for the consumer and IT markets. It provides products for applications in computer and laptop, headsets, sound-bar, and Bluetooth speaker. The company offers its products through distributors. Trigence Semiconductor, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is based in Tokyo, Japan with offices in Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Varinos

Private Placement in 2020
Varinos Inc. is a clinical testing company that provides genomic testing and continuous clinical sequencing services. Its services include endometrial microbiome and flow of intrauterine flora testing. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Trigence

Series C in 2018
Trigence Semiconductor, Inc. operates as an audio IC design and solution provider. The company offers digital audio products, such as Digital Speaker Module that include speakers, enclosures, connectors, FPCs, audio DSPs, and interfaces to simplify development for PC, tablet, and smartphone required audio functionality; and digital speaker drivers, USBs, and evaluation boards for the consumer and IT markets. It provides products for applications in computer and laptop, headsets, sound-bar, and Bluetooth speaker. The company offers its products through distributors. Trigence Semiconductor, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is based in Tokyo, Japan with offices in Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Atomis

Series A in 2019
Atomis provides global solutions for precisely controlling gases. Its core technology, porous coordination polymers (PCPs; also known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)), is based on research developed by Distinguished Professor Susumu Kitagawa at the Institute for Advanced Study at Kyoto University. It aims not only to provide solutions such as the optimization for manufacturing processes of PCPs but to also develop applications that provide innovative value using these materials. It was founded by Masakazu Higuchi in 2015 and is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan.

Helpfeel

Series A in 2014
Nota is the company behind Gyazo, the highly popular and rapidly growing cloud-based screen capture and sharing application. Gyazo allows users to instantly share a full and partial screenshot with a custom URL from a PC/Mac desktop app. Gyazo has grown rapidly to a worldwide user base of more than 8 million through viral user acquisition. The company’s aim is to become a truly global company yet with uniquely Japanese roots. The company was established in 2007 and is based in Menlo Park, California with offices in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan.

Integral Geometry Science

Venture Round in 2016
Integral Geometry Science Inc. designs and develops measurement device and software for image data processing. It also manufactures microwave mammography, nondestructive inspection system for lithium ion battery. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Kobe, Japan.

VLP Therapeutics

Series A in 2021
VLP Therapeutics, LLC (VLP) was established in 2012 by seasoned biopharmaceutical veterans with mission to develop innovative medical treatment which transforms traditional vaccine and targeted antibody therapies to address global unmet medical needs. Its vision is to combat the 21st century global public health problems through revolutionary next generation i-αVLP (inserted alpha VLP) Technology. The company is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland

HACARUS

Seed Round in 2016
HACARUS is a provider of Explainable Lightweight AI Tools, backed by Miyako Capital (Kyoto University) among others. Its solutions are used in the Medical and Manufacturing fields to enable humans to make better, faster and more reliable decisions, based on AI driven insights. Hacarus' proprietary AI engine is built using Sparse Modeling, an AI method that understands data like a human would - by its unique key features and is far more resource, time and energy efficient when compared to Deep Learning.

SocialGood, Inc.

Series A in 2022
Social Good Ecosystem is connected with the virtual currency SocialGood and all individuals and companies
KDDD develop an innovative agent effective for various INCURABLE or INTRACTABLE eye diseases, especially CRAO, Retinal Pigmentosa, AMD and Glaucoma.

Varinos

Seed Round in 2020
Varinos Inc. is a clinical testing company that provides genomic testing and continuous clinical sequencing services. Its services include endometrial microbiome and flow of intrauterine flora testing. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

FLOSFIA

Venture Round in 2017
FLOSFIA is a spin-off from a research of Kyoto University, specializing in film-formation by mist chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Making use of physical properties of gallium oxide (Ga2O3), FLOSFIA has devoted to development of low-loss power devices.

Liberaware

Private Placement in 2020
Liberaware Co.,Ltd. develops and rents industrial drones in Japan. It also engages in the management and analysis of images and flight logs collected by drones. The company also develops compact drones for maneuvering and pilot training. Liberaware Co.,Ltd. was founded in 2016 and is based in Chiba-shi, Japan.

BizteX

Private Placement in 2020
BizteX is a software robotics company that uses cloud Robotic Process Automation to automate routine operations. The company develops SaaS services centered on cloud RPA and expand it globally to contribute to the creation of creativity for many people. The company's service called, BizteX cobit, is a digital robot that performs a one-click substitute for humans by instructing routine work. BizteX was founded in July 2015 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

HACARUS

Private Placement in 2018
HACARUS is a provider of Explainable Lightweight AI Tools, backed by Miyako Capital (Kyoto University) among others. Its solutions are used in the Medical and Manufacturing fields to enable humans to make better, faster and more reliable decisions, based on AI driven insights. Hacarus' proprietary AI engine is built using Sparse Modeling, an AI method that understands data like a human would - by its unique key features and is far more resource, time and energy efficient when compared to Deep Learning.

Institution for a Global Society

Corporate Round in 2017
Institution for a Global Society is a a French graduate school with students from 70 countries around the world

CellAxia

Series B in 2020
CellAxia Inc. engages in development of cell therapy drugs. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Megakaryon Corporation

Series B in 2015
Megakaryon Corporation develops platelets and red blood cells from human iPS cell lines. Its portfolio includes blood products that do not depend on blood donations. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Kyoto, Japan with an additional office in Tokyo, Japan.

REGiMMUNE

Venture Round in 2017
REGiMMUNE Corporation, a biotechnology company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of immune-regulatory therapeutics to treat life-threatening diseases and disorders. It offers therapeutics for allergies, autoimmune diseases, and transplantation disorders. The company’s products include RGI-2001, a drug in the class of Treg-inducing agents; RGI-1000 for allergy; and RGI-3100 series for type 1 diabetes, as well as products for preventing inhibitor formation in enzyme replacement therapies and for IBD. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with an additional office in San Francisco, California.

ALGO ARTIS

Series A in 2021
Developer of a consulting design system designed to optimize social infrastructure. The company's system leverages algorithmic methods and usable artificial intelligence technology for management and operational work, enabling businesses to optimize operations by going through the correct technology selection and process.

HACARUS

Private Placement in 2020
HACARUS is a provider of Explainable Lightweight AI Tools, backed by Miyako Capital (Kyoto University) among others. Its solutions are used in the Medical and Manufacturing fields to enable humans to make better, faster and more reliable decisions, based on AI driven insights. Hacarus' proprietary AI engine is built using Sparse Modeling, an AI method that understands data like a human would - by its unique key features and is far more resource, time and energy efficient when compared to Deep Learning.

Farmship

Venture Round in 2015
Farmship, Inc. offers agricultural food distribution services. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.