VETA Inc.: A New Startup Born from Waseda University Innovations
Waseda University has recently launched a new startup called VETA Inc., aimed at addressing societal frictions stemming from value mismatches. This initiative is not only a celebration of the university's pioneering research from its Graduate School of Political Science and Economics but also highlights the university's commitment to impacting society positively.
Founded on April 30, 2025, VETA Inc. has attracted significant attention with an investment of approximately 200 million yen from Waseda University Ventures (WUV), a venture capital firm associated with the university. This funding will help VETA advance its mission of using advanced social science methodologies to bridge gaps between diverse perspectives.
Overview of Waseda University’s Commitment
Waseda University is gearing up for its 150th anniversary in 2032 and aims to evolve into a university that contributes to humanity through academic excellence and innovative research. With a goal to drive societal transformation by 2050, Waseda has actively supported various startups aimed at commercializing research findings in fields like quantum computing and semiconductor technology. VETA Inc. stands out as a beacon of innovation in the humanities and social sciences, harnessing insights from political economics to promote social impact.
The company was co-founded by notable figures, including Taketo Hara, the CEO, Teppei Yamamoto, Chief Science Officer, and Airo Hino, Chief Knowledge Officer. These founders are committed to leveraging their academic expertise to develop applications that can extract and align individual values through their proprietary techniques.
Methodology and Research Background
VETA’s main innovation is built upon the Conjoint Analysis methodology traditionally utilized in marketing. However, the company is adapting this tool to infer preferences related to political decision-making. By integrating user feedback with complex data analysis, VETA provides a unique platform where users can understand their decision-making processes better.
The company will focus on developing its own algorithms, currently under patent application, to refine how it interprets individual preferences. This advancement makes it a pioneering entity within the realm of political science, offering insights into how values influence decisions.
Business Development and Future Applications
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