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epiST Ventures
Takashi Uemura's deep-tech VC that bridges Japanese university labs and corporate LPs, writing pre-seed-to-Series A checks from Tokyo.
epiST Ventures
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2019
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Japan
City
Tokyo
Corporate office
3-8 Ichigayatamachi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan
Principals
Takashi Uemura
Representative Director, CEO / Managing Partner
Sho Sakisuka
Representative Director, COO / Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at epiST Ventures?
Co-founder and CEO Takashi Uemura leads investment decisions as Managing Partner. Uemura founded AI firm ALBERT in 2005 and took it public in 2015 before starting epiST Ventures in 2019. COO Sho Sakisuka, a former Recruit CVC investor and GREE new-business executive, co-manages the fund and portfolio operations.
How does epiST Ventures source proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources deal flow through deep university relationships that its parent company, epiST Inc., cultivates through an industry-academia matchmaking platform, open-innovation consulting, and a dedicated media arm called epiST journal. Rather than competing in broker-led auctions, epiST Ventures typically accesses lab-stage opportunities before they reach broad market awareness.
Is epiST Ventures structured as a standalone venture firm?
No. epiST Ventures is the investment arm of epiST Inc., a larger operating company that runs corporate open-innovation programs, a university-matchmaking platform, and the epiST journal media property. CEO Takashi Uemura leads both entities, creating a hybrid structure where corporate partners act as limited partners and co-development collaborators.
Does epiST Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
epiST Ventures invests directly in startups from its own limited-partnership funds. The firm operates a first fund and a second fund named Data Driven Innovation, which announced new positions in FACTORY X and New Space Intelligence in spring 2026. There is no public evidence that epiST commits capital to external funds.
What investment stages does epiST Ventures target?
The firm targets pre-seed through Series A, with initial checks typically up to ¥50 million and reserves for follow-on rounds. Its public disclosures emphasize early-stage deep-tech startups emerging from Japanese university ecosystems.
Which sectors does epiST Ventures focus on?
epiST Ventures invests in technology startups across greentech, healthtech, AI and data science, agritech, spacetech, and robotics. Portfolio companies confirm exposure to geospatial analytics, industrial AI, and life sciences, consistent with the firm's university-to-industry thesis.
How is epiST Ventures related to its corporate limited partners?
The LP base includes operating companies such as Sega Sammy Holdings, Digital Advertising Consortium, and Tokyo University of Science Investment Management. The parent company's open-innovation consulting practice often positions these LPs as potential commercial partners for portfolio companies, creating an ecosystem where capital allocation and corporate development overlap.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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