GUV Powerlist 2018: #7 Katsuhiko Oizumi

Katsuhiko Oizumi is president and representative director at UTokyo Innovation Platform, an investment company developing the innovation ecosystem around Japan’s largest and oldest university, University of Tokyo.

Set up at the end of 2016 as part of the government’s $1.2bn-plus university venturing program for its four main universities, UTokyo complements the institution’s long-running university venture funds managed by University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTec). This year, UTec raised a ¥25bn ($229m) spinout-focused investment fund to provide up to $9.2m per portfolio company, favouring automated driving, artificial intelligence and healthcare.

UTec has approximately ¥30bn under management across three existing vehicles, including a seed to early-stage fund that initially closed at $130m in 2013 with backers including public-private partnership Innovation Network Corporation of Japan.

UTokyo has six commitments as a limited partner in third-partner venture capital funds and at least six direct investments in startups.

Its fund commitments include backing a $8.9m first close in October last year for 360ip Japan Fund 1, which will support technology spinouts from domestic universities and research institutes.

The seed-stage focused vehicle, which will also back startups, was launched by investment firm 360ip Japan and has also received capital from financial services provider Shinsei Bank.

The majority – between 60% and 70% – of UTokyo’s ¥23bn commitments has been allocated for 40 to 50 materials and pharmaceuticals-focused startups.

Its direct investments include this summer’s deals for Braceon Therapeutics and QD Laser. Braceon raised ¥300m from UTokyo with co-investment from SMBC Venture Capital for technology that helps to deliver drugs to the brain, while QD raised ¥100m for its quantum dot laser technology, which develops, manufactures and sells semiconductor laser components and their applied products, such as weak lasers fitted to glasses to improve sight.

Earlier deals included UTokyo investing in a $1.8m round for Japan-based smart apparel developer Xenoma.

The round also included government-owned research institute Japan Science and Technology Agency and venture capital firm Beyond Next Ventures, both of which backed a previous ¥185m funding in May 2016 led by Beyond.

Xenoma claims that its so-called e-skin technology can be woven easily into washable, durable and stretchable apparel for purposes such as exercise or virtual reality control.

Oizumi, who graduated in engineering from University of Tokyo, is a director of QD Laser, which was founded as a spinout from Fujitsu Laboratories in 2006 and developed in collaboration with research from Mitsuri Sugawara, a professor at University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Science.

Oizumi has been president and CEO of Mitsui & Co Global Investment since October 2009 and a director of the Japan Venture Capital Association. He joined Mitsui in 1980 and, in New York City from 1992 to 1996, he established a joint venture in Japan with internet services provider America Online.

Kazuhiko Kakehi, general manager of UTokyo since February 2016, has seen the implementation of the innovation platform, having been senior program officer at the university’s office of innovation and entrepreneurship, division of university corporate relations, from September 2012.