Firms

Fast Track Initiative

Fast Track Initiative

fti.vcus.fasttrackinitiative.comfti-jp.com

Japanese life-science venture capital firm founded in March 2004 with offices in Tokyo and Cambridge, Massachusetts. It invests in early-stage biotech, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health and healthcare services, supporting research-based companies from scientific discovery through clinical development and commercial growth. Its team provides hands-on help with business and R&D strategy, partnerships, investor syndication and expansion between Japan and the United States. Its fourth healthcare fund closed at ¥20 billion in October 2025.

Founded
2004
Type
Venture capital

Funds1

  • Fast Track Initiative Fund IV¥20B

    Fourth healthcare venture fund, formally Fast Track Initiative 4th Investment Limited Partnership, closed at ¥20 billion in October 2025. It invests across healthcare innovation from early-stage science through clinical validation, connecting Japanese scientific discoveries with global clinical and business capabilities. The issuer English announcement is dated October 22, 2025; the Japanese issuer release followed October 23. Approximately US$130 million is the issuer’s currency equivalent, not an additional fund. Over 90% of commitments came from institutional investors.

Team

Keith Crandell
$25M$50K – $150MChicago, Illinois

Operations and support

Evan RachlinFund IV Adviser
Hiroko KimuraPrincipal
Hiromichi KimuraFounder and Managing Partner
Kazuhiro MatsuoAuditor
Keita KiriyaVenture Capitalist
Kensuke AkaogiVenture Capitalist
Koji YasudaPrincipal
Makoto TakeuchiDirector
Masaaki SatoVenture Partner
Natalie Roy D’AmoreVenture Partner
Shintaro SengokuInnovation Expert
Shogo KatoVenture Capitalist
Tai HaradaPartner
Tariq KassumFund IV Adviser
Tetsuyuki MaruyamaTetsuyuki MaruyamaFund IV Adviser
Tomohiro AnzaiManaging Partner
Tomoyo MoriVenture Capitalist

Co-investing

Investments