~First AI-Native Fund Management System in Japan, in Collaboration with a Next-Generation VC from San Francisco~

Bio Engineering Capital Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yuki Shimahara; hereinafter “BEC”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a comprehensive strategic partnership　agreement with Vela Partners (Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA; General Partner: Fuat Alican; hereinafter “VELA”), a quant VC firm specializing in AI.

Through this partnership, BEC will become the first institution in Japan to adopt VELA’s proprietary AI-native fund management system, called Vela OS. This system is designed to automate processes such as sourcing, idea, founder and company evaluation, market research, market mapping and decision making, which have traditionally relied on human expertise. By implementing this solution, BEC aims to transition from intuition- and network-based decision-making to a science-based investment process.

VELA is led by a team of AI researchers from the University of Oxford, repeat entrepreneurs and former Googlers. VELA’s backtested 100+ models, which are open-sourced and published as academic papers on arXiv, have 3x better precision compared to the US-based tier-1 VCs. Its advanced AI technology is used for VELA’s own top-decile-performing funds, and provided to a select group of strategic partners, including tier-1 VC firms in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through this partnership, BEC receives exclusive access, and becomes the first organization in Japan to integrate this cutting-edge technology into its operations.

[System Usage Overview]

Future Collaboration Initiatives
Going forward, BEC and VELA will collaborate around the following three pillars:

1. Enhancing Fund Management with AI
   By leveraging AI for sourcing, evaluating, and monitoring portfolio companies, the two firms aim to streamline operations and maximize return on investment (ROI).
2. Supporting Cross-Border Expansion of Startups
   The partnership will support Japanese deep tech startups entering the U.S. market and facilitate the expansion of U.S.-based startups into Japan.
3. Launching Global Talent Development Programs
   BEC and VELA will jointly promote international talent development by connecting educational and acceleration programs in Japan and the U.S., with a focus on nurturing entrepreneurs with global vision.

In addition, BEC and VELA will collaborate on the customization of AI models for the Japanese market, particularly in the healthcare sector. BEC will continue to work toward establishing a competitive advantage in supporting globally-minded startups from Japan. Guided by the philosophy of Science-Driven Innovation, BEC will utilize cutting-edge technology and global networks to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports the realization of next-generation healthcare.

Company Overview
Bio Engineering Capital Inc.
Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Founded: 2023
CEO: Yuki Shimahara
Business Focus: Investment and support for startups in the medical AI and regenerative medicine sectors; ecosystem development for healthcare innovation
Website: https://bioengineering.capital/

VELA Partners
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
Founded: 2017
General Partner: Fuat Alican
Business Focus: Leading quant VC firm, turning the art of investing into science.
Website: https://www.vela.partners/

Contact
Public Relations Office
Bio Engineering Capital Inc.
Email: pr@bioengineering.capital