Innovation Kyoto 2021 Investment Limited Partnership ("KYOTO-ICAP No.2 Fund"), with Kyoto University Innovation Capital Corporation ("Kyoto iCAP") (Head Office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Ko Kusumi) as unlimited liability partner, has made a new investment in Kyoto University venture company Mari Co. (Head office: Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Hirofumi Taki), a venture company originating from Kyoto University.

Outline of this investment
Mari is a medical device venture that promotes the commercialization of diagnostic and therapeutic devices for sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) based on technology developed with Associate Professor Takuya Sakamoto of Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering, Professor Kazuo Chen of the Department of Respiratory Management and Sleep Control at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine (currently Professor at Nihon University School of Medicine), and Professor Toru Sato of Kyoto University International Advanced Institute for Education. The company is a medical device venture that promotes the commercialization of diagnostic and therapeutic devices for sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).

SAS is a sleep disorder that causes apnea and hypopnea during sleep. In addition to causing economic losses due to daytime sleepiness and falling asleep, SAS is a serious disorder that can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and coronary artery disease if left untreated. Currently, the main treatment for SAS is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, but the rate of continuation of treatment is only about 50% due to the lack of subjective symptoms, and as a result, treatment of SAS and prevention of progression to more serious diseases are insufficient, resulting in economic losses.

Under such circumstances, Mari, together with Associate Professor Sakamoto, Professor Chen, and Professor Sato, has developed a non-contact biometric monitoring technology, and has been developing SAS diagnosis devices and SAS treatment devices that increase the continuation rate of SAS using this technology, and funding was needed to promote the development of these medical devices.

Kyoto iCAP is an example of medical-engineering collaboration from Kyoto University, which is expected to become more active in the future, and is expected to diagnose and treat SAS, a social issue, using Mari's revolutionary non-contact medical device. The fund has decided to invest a total of 300 million yen (including 100 million yen in Kyoto iCAP) in collaboration with MedVenture Partners and the KIRIN HEALTH INNOVATION FUND.

Outline of Mari Corporation

Establishment	November 2017
Business	Development of novel medical treatment and diagnostic devices for sleep apnea syndrome (SAS)
Head Office Location	Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
President & CEO	Hirofumi Taki