Osaka University Aims to Produce Unicorn Firms with Support from Berkeley SkyDeck in Silicon Valley

Osaka University (OU) and OSAKA University Venture Capital, Co., Ltd. (OUVC) opened a collaboration hub in Silicon Valley, California, USA, to help develop students and researchers who will start businesses and enhance collaboration with local venture capital firms.

For this purpose, OUVC signed a partnership agreement with Berkeley SkyDeck, a global startup accelerator at the University of California, Berkeley, on June 1, 2023. Under this agreement, OU startups (or startup teams in the planning phase) to which OUVC intends to invest will participate in the Innovation Partners Program at SkyDeck starting from November 2023.

Berkeley SkyDeck has provided deep tech startups launched at universities with world-class support programs. SkyDeck programs have produced many remarkable tech startups, some of which have grown to unicorn firms. For SkyDeck, this is the first agreement with a Japanese national university and its affiliated company. The selection process of OU startups is underway for the program starting this November, with candidates for the program to be selected in August.

Startup accelerators, which support early-stage companies by giving advice through mentorships and offering a training program of about 8 weeks, are essential for accelerating growth and success of startups.

Moving forward, OU startups, as well as OU researchers and students planning startups, will join the Innovation Partners Program provided by Berkeley SkyDeck, produce startups in Silicon Valley, and develop them into globally competitive firms.

In opening the collaboration hub in Silicon Valley and concluding the agreement, Osaka University received great support from JETRO Osaka and JETRO San Francisco. OU will continue to work in cooperation with JETRO.

(JETRO: Japan External Trade Organization)