- Partnership: Japan’s Beyond Next Ventures (BNV), an early-stage deeptech VC, is partnering with IILM University to identify and build founders at the university stage, before companies formally exist.
- First Campus Move: This marks BNV’s first initiative in campus pre-incubation.
- On-Campus Presence: A full-time team member will be placed on the IILM campus, working daily with students and faculty.
- Commitment: No direct capital goes into the programme. Instead, BNV commits its people and venture-building playbook, gaining first look at proprietary deal flow.
- Funding Pathway: Ventures showing promise will be considered for seed funding by BNV.
- Targets:
- Year one: 1,000 students and faculty engaged, 100 new ventures surfaced.
- Two years: 200+ ventures expected.
- Strategic Context: Initiative comes as Japanese capital intensifies investments in Indian deeptech, AI, and emerging sectors.
- Launch Date:
New Delhi | June 2026: Beyond Next Ventures (BNV), a Japanese deeptech fund, has announced a pioneering partnership with IILM University to run a campus-based pre-incubation engine. The initiative sets an ambitious target of surfacing 100 new ventures in the first year from a base of 1,000 students and faculty, and more than 200 ventures over two years.
This marks a bold move upstream, embedding venture creation inside a university before companies formally exist, giving BNV proprietary access to early-stage technical talent and ideas.
Strategic Rationale
Since 2019, BNV has backed 16 startups in India, typically at seed and pre-Series A stages. Most VCs compete for deals at similar stages, but BNV is going several steps earlier, embedding a team member full-time on the IILM campus to help students and faculty convert raw ideas and research into fundable companies.
The fund is not deploying capital into the programme itself but is committing people and its company-building playbook, a model it has successfully run inside Japanese universities. Ventures showing promise will be considered for seed funding, giving BNV a first-mover advantage.
Programme Mechanics
- Operates through the IILM Innovation Lab.
- Includes a credit-bearing venture-building elective taking participants from concept to prototype.
- Designed to be cross-disciplinary, mixing engineering, sciences, law, arts, and management talent.
- Intellectual property generated will remain with the university under its regulations.
Timing & Context
The initiative comes as Japanese capital intensifies its presence in India, with both governments elevating their economic partnership. Japan has named AI, semiconductors, and climate technology among its India priorities.
BNV’s campus model positions capital closer to the source of innovation, rather than waiting for growth-stage opportunities.
Jay Krishnan, Partner & Head of Investments, Beyond Next Ventures India: “The world’s most successful innovation ecosystems were built when universities, entrepreneurs, and capital came together ahead of the curve. At Beyond Next Ventures, we seek out those inflection points early. Our partnership with IILM reflects that approach, connecting talent, research, and venture creation to help shape India’s next generation of globally relevant deep technology ventures.”
Anjali Rai, Pro Chancellor, IILM University: “India is at an inflection point. The problems we face, in energy, health, manufacturing, and climate, are vast, but so is our potential to solve them. At IILM, we believe the next generation of Indian innovators must think with a global mindset and act with national purpose. This partnership with Beyond Next Ventures is our commitment to building that generation, founders who are rooted in India’s challenges and connected to the world’s best thinking.”
About Beyond Next Ventures
Beyond Next Ventures is a Japanese deeptech-focused fund investing in seed and pre-Series A startups, typically co-leading rounds and providing follow-on funding. The firm has backed 16 Indian startups since 2019 and runs a proven model of company-building inside universities, converting deep science into startups.
About IILM University
IILM University is a leading institution fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through its Innovation Lab and structured venture-building programmes. The university emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration to create durable ventures addressing India’s challenges in energy, health, manufacturing, and climate.
🌐 Learn more: www.iilm.edu
