Universal Materials Incubator

Universal Materials Incubator Co., Ltd. is a venture capital firm established in October 2015 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The firm focuses on investing in companies within the materials and chemical industries, as well as sectors related to technology and material science. Its investment strategy includes targeting businesses in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and life sciences, aiming to support innovation and growth in these fields.

Yoshitaka Gunji

Principal

Wataru Mizutani

Principal

Sayuri Nonaka

Principal

Kazuko Sato

Principal

Yosuke Yamamoto

Director

31 past transactions

EF Polymer

Series B in 2025
EF Polymer is an agricultural firm focused on addressing water scarcity through innovative solutions. The company has developed "Fasal Amrit," an eco-friendly water retention natural polymer made from organic waste, including materials like citrus fruits and banana peels. This polymer can absorb up to 300 times its weight in water and retain it for 10-12 days, significantly reducing irrigation water needs by 30-40%. Additionally, it minimizes fertilizer loss by 10-20%, allowing for a reduction in fertilizer use by 40-50%. "Fasal Amrit" is free from chemicals and pollution, and it is 100% biodegradable within 5-6 months after application. Its micronutrient content supports optimal crop growth, enabling farmers to lower their water and fertilizer costs by 20-40% and potentially increase crop yields by 10-20%. The product is versatile, suitable for various applications, from in-house plants to gardens, and is particularly beneficial in areas where regular watering is challenging.

Scimplifi

Series B in 2025
Scimplifi operates as a business-to-business fulfillment platform that focuses on sourcing and manufacturing specialty chemicals. The company utilizes a science-driven approach, featuring in-house teams dedicated to value engineering, chemical processes, and analytical research. Its technology-enabled platform enhances transparency and simplifies navigation throughout the supply chain, allowing businesses to effectively manage their chemical requirements. Scimplifi serves various industries, including pharmaceuticals, personal care, and agrochemicals, by providing tailored solutions that address their unique needs.

iMicrobes

Seed Round in 2024
Industrial Microbes designs and builds microbes that produce better chemicals with lower costs and lower carbon emissions. We use greenhouse gases as the raw materials, including biogas, natural gas, and carbon dioxide. We scale our process with global chemical producers.

Allied Carbon Solutions

Series C in 2024
Allied Carbon Solutions is a biotechnology company that manufactures and sells biosurfants and livestock feed.

iPEACE223

Seed Round in 2024
iPEACE223 is a chemical company specializing in the production of green propylene from raw biomass materials through innovative zeolite catalyst technology. The company focuses on developing catalytic processes that efficiently extract propylene, which serves as a vital raw material for various chemical products. By leveraging this advanced technology, iPEACE223 offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution for propylene production, catering to the growing demand for environmentally friendly chemical manufacturing.

Listie

Seed Round in 2024
Listie is an industrial engineering company that develops, supplies, and maintains lithium separation equipment and membranes.

Ac-Planta

Series A in 2024
Ac-Planta Inc. is a Japan-based agricultural biotechnology company founded in 2018. It specializes in researching, manufacturing, and selling acetic acid-based biostimulants and agrochemicals designed to enhance plant resilience against heat, drought, and salt damage. One of its key products, Skeepon, is formulated to improve the adaptability of plants in challenging environmental conditions, addressing issues related to climate change. Through the innovative application of epigenetic technology, Ac-Planta aims to enhance plant growth and quality, ultimately contributing to increased agricultural productivity and food security while combating desertification. The company's efforts are focused on solving global food and environmental challenges through scientific advancements in plant health.

CellFiber

Venture Round in 2023
CellFiber Co., Ltd., founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the research, development, production, and sale of cell-laden soft materials. The company focuses on cell culture technology and offers support tools for drug discovery, primarily aimed at biopharmaceutical development. CellFiber has developed a unique cell culture platform technology that facilitates efficient bio-manufacturing solutions, enhancing cell and gene therapy applications. This technology aims to increase yields and product quality while ensuring the stability, predictability, reproducibility, and scalability of cell production. By streamlining the mass production process of cells, CellFiber enables clients to reduce costs and timelines, ultimately supporting their transition from research to clinical use.

EF Polymer

Series A in 2023
EF Polymer is an agricultural firm focused on addressing water scarcity through innovative solutions. The company has developed "Fasal Amrit," an eco-friendly water retention natural polymer made from organic waste, including materials like citrus fruits and banana peels. This polymer can absorb up to 300 times its weight in water and retain it for 10-12 days, significantly reducing irrigation water needs by 30-40%. Additionally, it minimizes fertilizer loss by 10-20%, allowing for a reduction in fertilizer use by 40-50%. "Fasal Amrit" is free from chemicals and pollution, and it is 100% biodegradable within 5-6 months after application. Its micronutrient content supports optimal crop growth, enabling farmers to lower their water and fertilizer costs by 20-40% and potentially increase crop yields by 10-20%. The product is versatile, suitable for various applications, from in-house plants to gardens, and is particularly beneficial in areas where regular watering is challenging.

Aquafortus

Series A in 2023
Aquafortus specializes in developing non-thermal crystallization technology aimed at treating high-salinity brines generated from various industrial processes, including cooling towers, mining, oil and gas operations, inland desalination, and flue gas desulfurization from power generation. This innovative technology effectively recovers clean water and crystallizes salts, significantly lowering energy consumption compared to traditional methods. By improving the efficiency of liquid transportation and wastewater management, Aquafortus offers a solution that enhances the economic viability of zero liquid discharge systems, helping clients reduce their operating expenses while addressing environmental concerns associated with high-salinity waste.

Citrine Informatics

Venture Round in 2022
Citrine Informatics, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance materials development. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Redwood City, California, with an additional office in Pittsburgh, the company operates a platform that aggregates and analyzes extensive datasets related to materials, chemicals, and devices. This platform aims to streamline research and development, manufacturing, and supply chain processes for organizations involved in producing physical products. By employing data science and machine learning, Citrine Informatics accelerates the discovery of new materials and helps identify defects early in the research process, thereby improving product design and development efficiency across various sectors, including energy, aerospace, and electronics.

Tsubame BHB

Series B in 2022
Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of on-site ammonia production systems and catalysts. The company aims to commercialize ammonia production using an innovative electride catalyst in small-scale plants. This technology addresses critical environmental and food-related issues while promoting sustainability. By enabling on-site ammonia synthesis under flexible conditions, Tsubame BHB helps clients lower their transportation and storage costs, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable ammonia supply chain.

Arzeda

Series B in 2022
Arzeda Corporation is a synthetic biology company based in Seattle, Washington, that specializes in the development and manufacture of proteins and enzymes for various applications, including pharmaceuticals, polymers, and industrial chemicals. Founded in 2008, Arzeda utilizes advanced technology that combines physics-based protein design with artificial intelligence algorithms to create and validate new designer proteins and enzymes. The company aims to provide innovative solutions that offer competitive performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability, addressing the needs of clients in diverse industries.

SteraVision

Venture Round in 2021
SteraVision is a fabless company that specializes in developing and manufacturing advanced optical steering devices aimed at enhancing visual systems. Utilizing light steering device technology initially developed at AIST, SteraVision produces a solid-state scanner designed to mimic human visual capabilities by integrating it with digital coherent lidar. This innovative technology is crucial for applications in autonomous driving and robotic vision, significantly improving obstacle detection even in challenging environments. By focusing on the advancement of visual systems, SteraVision aims to create new market value in various sectors reliant on precise and reliable visual technologies.

Boost Biomes

Series A in 2020
Boost Biomes, Inc. specializes in developing microbiome products aimed at enhancing food production and agricultural sustainability. The company employs a discovery platform that leverages high-throughput DNA sequencing, selective enrichment, and advanced bioinformatics to identify multi-microbial products that play significant commercial roles. This innovative approach is designed to be faster and more cost-effective than traditional methods, allowing for the identification of multi-microbial solutions that often outperform single-microbe products. By generating comprehensive data sets on agriculturally relevant microbiomes, Boost Biomes enables researchers to create safe and effective naturally occurring microbes to manage diseases in high-value crops. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, Boost Biomes was formerly known as Coax Biosystems, Inc. before rebranding in 2017.

bitBiome

Series B in 2020
bitBiome, Inc. is a synthetic biology company based in China, founded in November 2018. It focuses on genome analysis of microorganisms, employing single-cell technology to enhance enzyme discovery and engineering. The company boasts the largest proprietary database of natural microbial sequences, primarily sourced from environmental collections. Through its microbial single-cell sequencing platform, bit-MAP, it provides a variety of services, including single-cell genomics, database screening, and wet lab evaluation of target sequences. Additionally, bitBiome is dedicated to developing new diagnostics and drugs by analyzing bacteria that promote human health on a cell-by-cell basis.

Tsubame BHB

Seed Round in 2020
Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of on-site ammonia production systems and catalysts. The company aims to commercialize ammonia production using an innovative electride catalyst in small-scale plants. This technology addresses critical environmental and food-related issues while promoting sustainability. By enabling on-site ammonia synthesis under flexible conditions, Tsubame BHB helps clients lower their transportation and storage costs, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable ammonia supply chain.

Alphatech

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Alphatech Inc. is a food technology company based in Yonezawa, Japan, established in 2018. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of temperature-controlled crushing technology, which enables the production of pregelatinized rice flour. This innovative method allows for the milling of grains without the use of water, streamlining the production process and enhancing the quality of the final product.

Tsubame BHB

Seed Round in 2019
Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of on-site ammonia production systems and catalysts. The company aims to commercialize ammonia production using an innovative electride catalyst in small-scale plants. This technology addresses critical environmental and food-related issues while promoting sustainability. By enabling on-site ammonia synthesis under flexible conditions, Tsubame BHB helps clients lower their transportation and storage costs, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable ammonia supply chain.

Tiem Factory

Venture Round in 2018
Tiem Factory Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in the research, development, manufacturing, and sale of aerogel products under the brand name SUFA. Founded in 2012, Tiem Factory focuses on producing ultra-light transparent insulation materials designed for thermal insulation applications. Notably, the company has developed a unique method for creating its insulation materials without utilizing supercritical drying processes, allowing clients to obtain insulation composed primarily of air. This innovative approach positions Tiem Factory as a leader in the field of advanced insulation solutions.

micro-AMS

Venture Round in 2018
micro-AMS is an information technology firm focused on developing innovative materials and advanced manufacturing technologies. The company specializes in producing plastic molding products, aiming to transform the thermoplastic resin molding industry. Currently, micro-AMS offers contract molding services and is expanding its capabilities to include photon molding as well as microwave and near-infrared irradiation molding systems. These advancements are designed to help industries lower the costs associated with plastic product development, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity in manufacturing processes.

Advanced Material Technologies

Venture Round in 2018
Advanced Material Technologies, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, specializes in the manufacturing of equipment for surface processing of materials using high vacuum plasma techniques. The company focuses on high functional thin film deposition equipment, including plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems. Its innovative equipment is designed to enhance the chemical properties of materials through unique surface processing methods, particularly in the realm of film formation. Advanced Material Technologies emphasizes material design and sputtering technologies to improve the performance of advanced materials, such as lead zirconate titanate thin films, which are crucial for high-precision sensors. The company supports both manufacturing and research and development, enabling customers to enhance product performance and facilitate downsizing in their applications.

Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry

Seed Round in 2018
Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry Co., Ltd. specializes in the recycling of carbon fiber, providing services that convert used carbon fiber into recycled products suitable for various applications, including mechanical parts, paper sheets, and sporting goods. Founded in 2006 and based in Kani Gun, Japan, the company not only offers carbon fiber recycling services but also sells the recycled fiber and the necessary equipment and plants for carbon fiber recycling. By employing advanced methods such as chemical dissolution and supercritical fluid techniques, the company facilitates the responsible disposal of waste materials while delivering low-cost, high-quality recycled carbon fiber products to its clients.

SoPros

Venture Round in 2018
SoPros is a marine biotechnology firm focused on developing innovative microalgae cultivation technology. The company engages in extensive research on algae production and processing, as well as managing the sales and import/export of processed algae. By providing valuable insights and resources, SoPros enables businesses, particularly in the healthcare sector, to explore and utilize the potential benefits of microalgae in their products and services.

Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry

Venture Round in 2018
Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry Co., Ltd. specializes in the recycling of carbon fiber, providing services that convert used carbon fiber into recycled products suitable for various applications, including mechanical parts, paper sheets, and sporting goods. Founded in 2006 and based in Kani Gun, Japan, the company not only offers carbon fiber recycling services but also sells the recycled fiber and the necessary equipment and plants for carbon fiber recycling. By employing advanced methods such as chemical dissolution and supercritical fluid techniques, the company facilitates the responsible disposal of waste materials while delivering low-cost, high-quality recycled carbon fiber products to its clients.

Green Earth Institute

Venture Round in 2018
Green Earth Institute Co., Ltd., established in 2011 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the production of carbon-neutral biofuels and green chemicals derived from non-food biomass, such as plant leaves and stems. The company's product range includes vehicle and jet fuels, as well as various green chemicals like resins, carbon fibers, and feed additives. Utilizing a bioprocessing technology originally developed by the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, Green Earth Institute aims to create efficient, low-cost green products while addressing significant global challenges, such as greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and the diversion of food crops for fuel production. The company also operates a research center in Kisarazu, Japan, to further its commitment to sustainable innovation.

Arzeda

Series A in 2017
Arzeda Corporation is a synthetic biology company based in Seattle, Washington, that specializes in the development and manufacture of proteins and enzymes for various applications, including pharmaceuticals, polymers, and industrial chemicals. Founded in 2008, Arzeda utilizes advanced technology that combines physics-based protein design with artificial intelligence algorithms to create and validate new designer proteins and enzymes. The company aims to provide innovative solutions that offer competitive performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability, addressing the needs of clients in diverse industries.

Tsubame BHB

Funding Round in 2017
Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd., founded in 2017 and based in Tokyo, Japan, specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of on-site ammonia production systems and catalysts. The company aims to commercialize ammonia production using an innovative electride catalyst in small-scale plants. This technology addresses critical environmental and food-related issues while promoting sustainability. By enabling on-site ammonia synthesis under flexible conditions, Tsubame BHB helps clients lower their transportation and storage costs, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable ammonia supply chain.

Lightnix

Venture Round in 2017
Lightnix Inc., founded in 2002 and based in Nishinomiya, Japan, specializes in manufacturing medical equipment, specifically resin lancet needles. The company focuses on creating innovative products designed to minimize pain during injections. One of its key offerings is the pinnix light, a plant-based lancet that mimics the shape of a mosquito's proboscis. This design allows for the creation of microincisions with no needle exposure except during the puncture, thus enhancing patient comfort and safety during medical procedures. Lightnix is dedicated to improving the injection experience through its advanced and patient-friendly products.

JITSUBO

Venture Round in 2016
JITSUBO aims to be a Peptide Lowest Cost Producer by continuously improving core technologies by incorporating all the latest technologies. JITSUBO company name is derived from "Chiba Jitsubo-san", a family business of Kazuhiro Chiba, a science and technology adviser and co-founder. Chiba Minorusan is a rare medicine that has been contributing to the health of people for over 500 years as a herbal medicine for women. The company named 'JITSUBO' from the desire to provide products that are useful for people's health through peptide drugs for a long time. We aim to be such a great mother-like company that continues to bring the results of technological innovation to the value of superior peptide drugs and continue to produce them in society.

Goryo Chemical

Venture Round in 2016
Goryo Chemical, Inc. is a company based in Sapporo, Japan, with an additional office in Tokyo, that specializes in the development and sales of fluorescent probes and functional dyes for chemical biology and bio applications. Founded in 2010, the company offers a range of products and services, including AcidiFluor, CalFluor, GlycoFluor, ProteoFluor, MetalloFluor, ROSFluor, and IndoCyanine green dye series, as well as bioluminescent probes and custom synthesis services. These probes are designed for cellular analysis, assay, and imaging, allowing for selective staining of acidic organelles like lysosomes and late endosomes, which can aid in medical diagnostics and treatment. Goryo Chemical serves a diverse customer base through a network of distributors both in Japan and internationally.
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