The institution’s $970,000 Kaishi Angel Fund will target undergraduate student entrepreneurs.

Japan-based higher education institution Kaishi Professional University has teamed up with venture capital firm Jigyo Souzou Capital to form an investment vehicle dubbed Kaishi Angel Fund I.
Kaishi Professional University was inaugurated in 2020 under educational services provider NSG Group, and the new fund is part of its Innovation Power Research Institute’s Entrepreneurial Support Centre.
Kaishi Angel Fund has a target size of ¥100m ($970,000), with contributions from NSG’s group companies and Kaishi Professional University, and Jigyo Souzou Capital is seeking additional capital from angel investors.
The vehicle is set to operate for 10 years and will principally help the university’s undergraduate students launch new businesses, providing funding and mentoring from faculty members with prior entrepreneurial experience.
The scheme will support various business stages including brainstorming ideas, growth strategy creation and company registration. It intends to nurture spinouts in the Japanese prefecture of Niigata, where NSG is headquartered, in a bid to revitalise the local economy.

Edison Fu

Edison Fu is head of Asia development at Global Corporate Venturing.