15th Rock's Hokkaido fund backs soil tech startup Teraform
What's the deal? Venture capital firm 15th Rock has invested in TeraformDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Tokyo-based startup developing a natural soil water-retention agent called SuperSponge. The investment, announced in October 2026, was made through the Hokkaido University Green Frontier Fund, which 15th Rock manages. The amount was not disclosed.
What does Teraform do? It makes soil-based products that improve how well earth holds water, aiming to help crops take root in dry conditions. The approach targets regions with limited water sources or irrigation, letting farmers make better use of scarce water.
Why now? The deal is the fund's third investment, following biotech firms MetaGen Therapeutics and eGenesis. 15th Rock said it was drawn to Teraform's use of natural materials and the company's attention to on-farm usability, cost, and raw material sourcing.
What's the endgame? 15th Rock plans to support Teraform's research, testing, and commercialisation alongside Hokkaido University. The firm aims to build a track record for the startup in Hokkaido and across Japan, then expand it to overseas markets.
The fund: The Hokkaido University Green Frontier Fund launched in 2026 with a US$23.1M target and a 10-year term. It invests across four areas — agri-food tech, cleantech, semiconductors, and human augmentation — and counts SapporoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, regional banks, the Development Bank of JapanDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and DynaxDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → among its backers. Teraform falls under its agri-food tech focus.
The signal: The deal shows how a new, regionally backed university fund is deploying capital to turn research into commercial ventures. For 15th Rock — a firm known for its human augmentation thesis — it also marks a widening reach into agricultural technology through its Hokkaido mandate.
Read more: prtimes.jp
Image credit: Hugh Venables
