Keio Innovation Initiative

Keio Innovation Initiative (KII) operates as a venture capital firm, commercializing university-born technologies by transforming academic research into viable businesses. It provides critical business expertise and comprehensive support, guiding research-intensive startups from their seed stage through market establishment. KII effectively bridges the gap between scientific innovation and commercial viability.

Established on December 17, 2015, by Keio University, KII's founding insight was that impactful academic research requires robust business support to flourish outside the laboratory. This principle underpins its mission to apply scholastic endeavors for societal benefit, reflecting Yukichi Fukuzawa's philosophy. Kotaro Yamagishi leads the firm as its CEO.

KII primarily serves startups rooted in academic research, broadening its scope beyond Keio University to other research institutions. Its mission is to empower these inventions for global impact through essential business infrastructure and growth assistance. KII envisions perpetually transforming exceptional academic breakthroughs into world-changing commercial realities.