We are pleased to announce that Kanematsu Corporation (Kanematsu) has decided to invest in the Waseda Innovation Fund (the “Fund”) established by WERU INVESTMENT Co., Ltd. (WERU), a venture capital firm specializing in supporting startups that possess innovative technology and business models.
Kanematsu and WERU entered into a comprehensive business partnership in December 2021, developing an investment scheme that integrates WERU’s expertise in cutting-edge technology sectors and Kanematsu’s wide-ranging business assets.
One of the priority initiatives stated in our medium-term vision, future 135, is to “Promote and expand new businesses with advanced technology.” Aiming to further expand our commercial rights, we recently launched the Innovation Investment Program.
Our participation in the Fund will allow WERU to share promising investment information with Kanematsu in a more coordinated manner, which is expected to accelerate business creation through innovation investment. Adhering to WERU’s philosophy of value creation through intangibles, we will work together to sow the seeds of innovation and create new businesses.
【Fund overview】
| Name | Waseda Innovation Fund |
| Investment scope | Primarily Japanese and U.S. startups that are growing globally in deep tech areas such as next-generation mobility and information technology |
| Investment stage | Seed stage, early stage |
【Overview of WERU】
| Name | WERU INVESTMENT Co., Ltd. |
| Established | June 1998 |
| President & CEO | Tadashi Takiguchi, Ph.D. (Adjunct Professor of Waseda University, Director of The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs, and Director of WICI Japan) |
| Address | 65 Kikuicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan |
| Business | Venture capital and associated support activities |
| URL | https://www.weruinvest.com |
[Contacts]
Public & Investor Relations Section, Kanematsu Corporation
Tel: +81-3-5440-8000
https://www.kanematsu.co.jp/en/inquiry/