Setsuro Tech raised ¥320 million from Nikon CVC, Mongolian VC, and international investors　to expand its genome editing business globally

　Setsuro Tech Inc., a biotechnology startup headquartered in Tokushima, Japan, has raised a total of 320 million yen through the sale of new shares. Investors in this round include Nikon-SBI Innovation Fund II, EXPONENTIAL ZAISAN PARTNERS, INSPiRE Mutualistic Symbiosis Fund 1, Osaka Small and Medium Business Investment & Consultation Co.,Ltd., Iyogin Capital Co., Ltd., and HOXIN Co., Ltd. The money raised will be used for the purpose of accelerating research and development, strengthening recruitment and organizational capabilities, and supporting the global expansion of the genome editing business.

About Setsuro Tech

　Setsuro Tech is a Tokushima University- originated startup founded in 2017 by researchers Tatsuya Takemoto and Shun Sawatsubashi. The company utilizes intellectual property of a high-efficiency genome editing technology developed by its founders. Guided by the mission “To create industries that solve the challenges of both customers and the planet by harnessing the latent power of living organisms.” Setsuro Tech operates two core businesses areas: Precision Breeding, which focuses on developing improved breeds of animals, plants, and microbes for applications in agriculture, livestock, and industrial sectors, and Research Support, which provides genome-edited mice and cells to academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and other research organizations.

Genome Editing Business Expansion

　Genome editing technology, also considered as accelerated breeding technology, enables precise modification at specific genes within an organism’s genome. In recent years, rapid environmental changes such as climate warming and the emergence of new diseases, have posed significant challenges for agriculture and livestock production. Genome editing technology is receiving global attention as a tool for developing agricultural and livestock products that can adapt to these rapidly changing conditions.

　Setsuro Tech’s genome editing breeding service,“Setsuro Breeding”offers two key technological advantages. The first is the genome editing technology invented by Takemoto, Sawatsubashi, and their colleagues. This includes two patented methods: GEEP, which enables highly efficient genome editing in mammalian embryos, and VIKING, which allows for simple and highly efficient gene modification in cultured cells. The second advantage is ST9.5, a genome editing tool independently developed by Setsuro Tech. Unlike Cas9, ST9.5 has clearly defined patent rights and does not require costly licensing fees. By leveraging these two technologies, Setsuro Breeding can support breeding and strain improvement across a variety of species and cell types. In practice, Setsuro Tech has utilized these technologies to obtain manufacturing patents related to the breeding of chickens and goats.

　In this way, Setsuro Tech leverages its multiple foundational technologies and patents to provide customers engaged in research and product development with cutting-edge genome editing technology that accelerates the improvement of varieties.

Regarding Series A5 Fundraising

　In the Series A5 funding round, we were pleased to welcome the Nikon-SBI Innovation Fund II , backed by the globally renowned optics leader Nikon Corporation. We also welcomed EXPONENTIAL ZAISAN PARTNERS (XZP), a Mongolian venture capital firm, as our first foreign investor. We sincerely thank these investors for their trust and support.

　Using these funds, we will: 1) accelerate research and development of crop improvement technologies and their industrial application, 2) expand business operations both domestically and internationally, 3) strengthen management systems and internal controls in preparation for future capital market activities.

Overview of Setsuro Tech

1.Company Name: Setsuro Tech Inc.
2.Representative: Shinichiro Takezawa (CEO)
3.Headquarters: Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima-shi, Tokushima, 770-8503, JAPAN
4.Established: February 22, 2017
5.Business: Genome editing technology-based R&D services and commercialization of organisms with newly developed traits
6.URL: https://www.setsurotech.com/