Kosuke Ueda

Kosuke Ueda is President and CEO of UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd., the University of Tokyo’s wholly owned investment company. He joined UTokyo IPC in 2017, served as CFO and Partner in charge of corporate planning, and was appointed President and CEO in December 2022.

Before UTokyo IPC, Ueda worked at Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). He later served as head of corporate planning, CFO, and executive officer at DARTSLIVE Co., Ltd., a strategic subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings, where he oversaw administrative functions and served as an officer of overseas subsidiaries. He also worked in the global business division of MISUMI Group Inc.

His education includes a Master of Laws from Kansai University Graduate School and a Juris Doctor from Seikei University Law School. UTokyo IPC also lists him as a director of HONGO AI, a director of WE AT, a member of METI’s J-Startup recommendation committee, and a MEXT “Ambassador for Entrepreneurship Promotion.”

• UTokyo IPC states that it “invests in startups that strive to implement academia-linked deep tech in society,” using academic and research outputs led by the University of Tokyo to build businesses that contribute back to society.
• The firm manages IPC Fund 1, AOI Fund 1, and ASA Fund, with combined assets nearing ¥60 billion. IPC Fund 1 targets University of Tokyo-connected startups and VC fund investments; AOI Fund 1 supports joint ventures, carve-outs, and pre-seed startups partnered with business companies; ASA Fund invests in academic VC funds through a fund-of-funds approach.
• 1stRound is UTokyo IPC’s non-equity, cross-academia accelerator for early-stage academic startups. It provides up to ¥10 million in non-equity funding plus hands-on support, corporate collaboration, venture-capital access, fundraising help, executive talent development, and business networks.
• The firm’s portfolio categories show a broad deep-tech mandate: life science/agritech, space, hardware/materials, IT/software/services, and AI.
• UTokyo IPC’s investment principles emphasize social implementation of university research, responsible investing, ESG/SDG considerations, and maintaining proper investment returns for fund continuity.