Beyond Next Ventures Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tsuyoshi Ito) is pleased to announce that Beyond Next Ventures 3 Investment Limited Partnership (the Fund-3) has been certified under Japan Post Insurance Co., Ltd.’s (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kunio Tanigaki) Impact “K” Project.

About Japan Post Insurance’s Impact “K” Project

The Impact “K” Project is an initiative by Japan Post Insurance to promote the expansion of impact-oriented investments aimed at solving societal challenges and creating sustainable value.

This certification framework assesses funds and projects based on proprietary criteria established by Japan Post Insurance. It prioritizes the creation of meaningful and measurable impact in impact investments by ensuring quality and transparency through defined requirements and processes.

The certification involves a comprehensive evaluation of various elements, including the consistency of identified societal challenges, theories of change, and logic models. Additionally, it assesses the processes involved in creating impact, such as the setting of outcome-based KPIs and implementing Impact Measurement and Management (IMM).

Impact Investment Through Beyond Next Ventures Fund-3

As a venture capital firm, Beyond Next Ventures partners with researchers and entrepreneurs to tackle global societal challenges through the implementation of groundbreaking scientific and technological innovations and the enhancement of ecosystems.

In its Fund-3, the fund makes investments with the intent to create positive impact, in line with its IMM Policy. The fund conducts impact due diligence alongside business due diligence, leveraging the Five Dimensions of Impact methodology for impact screening. Through active dialogue with the management teams of investee companies, the fund validates their intended impacts.

Post-investment, the fund collaborates with investee companies to establish milestones and KPIs aimed at achieving impact. It provides hands-on support for business growth, with the goal of accelerating and maximizing the realization of social impact.

Portfolio Companies in Beyond Next Ventures Fund-3

The Fund-3 focuses on addressing global societal challenges through innovative science and technology derived from academic research. It invests in businesses contributing to solutions for social issues and advancing the SDGs across fields such as medical and healthcare, drug discovery and biotech, agri-food, digital and space technologies, and climate tech.

Portfolio Examples

Boston Medical Sciences, Inc.

• Social Challenge:Colorectal cancer ranks second globally in both incidence and mortality, with approximately 800,000 deaths annually. Healthcare costs amount to approximately 2 trillion JPY per year in the U.S. and 600 billion JPY in Japan. Conventional invasive colonoscopy deters early detection due to patient aversion.
• Business Overview:Developing a medical device program utilizing deep learning for virtual colon cleansing and polyp detection in CT colonography. The solution aims to realize “completely laxative-free virtual colonoscopy” to eradicate colorectal cancer deaths globally.

Fermelanta, Inc.

• Social Challenge:Most plant-derived raw materials rely on traditional plant cultivation, requiring significant land and water resources and contributing to high CO2 emissions. High production costs limit access to pharmaceuticals, creating regional disparities.
• Business Overview:Enables the production of rare and costly plant-derived raw materials via microbial fermentation, significantly reducing environmental impact. By optimizing E. coli characteristics, it achieves highly efficient production, offering affordable alternatives to conventional plant-based materials.

UMAMI UNITED JAPAN Co., Ltd.

• Social Challenge:The supply and pricing of chicken eggs are unstable due to geopolitical risks and avian influenza. Conventional intensive poultry farming raises concerns about animal welfare. Increasing demand for dietary diversity due to allergies and vegetarianism.
• Business Overview:Producing plant-based eggs entirely from konjac-derived ingredients. These products replicate the taste, texture, and functional properties (e.g., coagulation, water retention, emulsification) of chicken eggs, serving as a versatile alternative across culinary applications.

About Beyond Next Ventures Inc.

Creating the beyond next society; enabling exceptional people solving global challenges.
We believe deep tech scientific innovations can enrich the world. Gathering top talent and risk financing together with these innovations inspires new business models and ensures future generations by creating a reinforcing cycle of science and technology innovation.

• Head Office: 3-7-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, MFPR Nihonbashi Honcho Building, 3rd Floor
• Subsidairy: Galaxy-Wework, 43, Residency Road, Shanthala Nagar Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India – 560025
• Representative: President & CEO, Tsuyoshi Ito
• Established: August 2014
• Business: Investment and growth support for deep tech startups in Japan and India, support for the commercialization of research seeds, cultivation and formation of management talent and teams, operation of shared wet labs, etc.
• URL: https://beyondnextventures.com