UTokyo takes Bird Initiative under its wing

Sep 11, 2020 • Callum Cyrus

UTokyo Innovation Fund has signed up to a new incubator that will form companies commercialising university-industry collaborations.

UTokyo Innovation Platform, the investment company for University of Tokyo, co-founded Japan-based incubator Bird Initiative yesterday to form startups with the help of industry and financial institutions.
Bird’s co-founders also include IT company NEC, construction group Obayashi and Itochu Techno-Solutions, an IT maintenance and products subsidiary of trading conglomerate Itochu.
Private equity firms Japan Industrial Partners and Japan Investment Adviser have also supported the formation of Bird. UTokyo will participate through AOI Fund 1, a $26.1m vehicle…

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