University programme · Tokyo, Japan

FoundX Founders Program

The University of Tokyo's nine-month, equity-free program for early teams with a UTokyo-linked co-founder, offering free private offices, weekly batch meetings and support toward a first equity raise.

Open · closes 1 Dec 2026 Run by University of Tokyo (FoundX)

Verified 18 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
not published
Instrument
No investment
Equity taken
None (equity-free)
Programme fee
No fee Support is provided free and without taking equity
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
4 a year
Delivery
In person
Stages
Idea, pre-seed
Sectors
Sector-agnostic
Open to founders from
not published
Perks
  • Free private room and co-working space
  • US$10,000 in AWS credits and US$2,000 in Google Cloud credits
  • Free contract review during the program
  • Introductions to investors and specialist advisers

Nine months, extendable to twelve for some businesses; teams meet investors in month five and leave the program if they do not pass that review.

Application dates

Open · closes 1 Dec 2026January 2027 start

January 2027 start: applications close 1 December 2026; the programme starts 1 January 2027.

Usual timing: Quarterly deadlines on 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December.

Who can apply

  • At least one co-founder is a University of Tokyo graduate, student, researcher or former researcher
  • Team of four or fewer, having raised no more than JPY 30 million from outside investors
  • Working team members hold at least 85% of the shares
  • Uses the private office at least 40% of weekdays and joins weekly meetings
  • Not focused on drug discovery, biotech or medical devices
  • Stage: idea, pre-seed

What founders should check

  1. The programme says it takes no equity. Still read the agreement for warrants, revenue shares or rights in a later round.
  2. It charges no programme fee.
  3. It runs in person in Tokyo. Plan to be there for the length of the programme.
  4. Applications are open until 1 December 2026.

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