Hokkaido University and 15th Rock Launch JPY 3bn Tech Venture Fund
Hokkaido University has partnered with Yokohama-based venture capital firm 15th Rock Inc., a tenant at FinGATE Sapporo, to establish the "Hokkaido University Green Frontier Fund No. 1 Investment Limited Partnership," an initiative designed to spur innovation and commercialize academic research in northern Japan.
Following an initial first close in March 2026, the fund has set a target size of 3 billion yen ($20+ million) with a 10-year operational term. 15th Rock—founded in 2019 by Hokkaido University alumni—serves as the general partner (GP). Limited partners (LPs) backing the fund include the City of Sapporo, North Pacific Bank, The Bank of Hokkaido, Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), and Dynax Corporation.
The fund focuses its capital deployment across four primary sectors:
- Agri-Food Tech: Modernizing primary industries including agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
- Clean Tech & Green Transformation (GX): Developing sustainable energy and environmental technologies.
- Semiconductors: Supporting the growing semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem in Hokkaido.
- Human Augmentation: Commercializing technologies aimed at expanding human physical and cognitive capabilities.
The investment strategy focuses on three core objectives: commercializing Hokkaido University’s research capabilities, backing startups connected to university alumni and staff, and attracting outside or international startups to establish operations in Hokkaido.
The fund has already completed investments into its first two portfolio companies.
Norbert Gehrke
