SPECIAL SESSION by Yuri Group
"Japan's Startup Future: Okinawa as a Gateway to Global Innovation"

Japan's startup ecosystem is entering a new phase of growth. But where will the next breakthroughs come from, and what will it take to turn cutting-edge research into globally competitive businesses? Bringing together perspectives from international investors, Japanese corporates, startup founders, and OIST's innovation ecosystem, this panel explores the concrete opportunities and challenges shaping Japan's startup future. From investment and commercialization to international collaboration, speakers will examine what makes Japan attractive to global innovators — and why Okinawa, with its unique research environment, international talent, and growing startup community, could play an outsized role in Japan's next innovation wave.

Speakers

• Yoshihiko Shizu (Sumitomo Corporation, Open Innovation Lead, Innovation & Investment Unit No. 1)
• Minguen Lee (Samsung Venture Investment, Head of Japan Office)
• Shivani Sathish (Atierra, Co-founder and CEO)
• James Feliciano (Surzen Biotherapeutics, CEO)
• Anna Nagamine (Associate Vice President for Technology Development and Innovation, OIST)
• Moderator: Yuriy Humber (President of Yuri Group, Founder of Japan NRG)

11:55-12:45 @Venue B (Conference Center Meeting Room 1)

Local Startup Pitch

Highlighting local startups aligned with the Healthcare or Deep Tech themes — including OIST startups, tenant startups of the OIST Innovation Incubator, and startups from the University of the Ryukyus or PARKS. A great opportunity to meet local startups while visiting Okinawa.

• Deep Tech startups: 13:00–14:00 (60 min)
• Healthcare startups: 16:30–17:30 (60 min

​@Venue B (Conference Center Meeting Room 1)

SPECIAL SESSION by Nomura Securities
OIST Accelerator × Meetup

Campus Tour

Join a guided tour of the OIST campus — don't miss it if this is your first visit.

• 1st tour: 10:15–11:00 (45 min)
• 2nd tour: 12:05–12:50 (45 min)
• 3rd tour: 16:45–17:30 (45 min)

Poster Session

Posters from participating startups and researchers will be on display at the venue throughout the day. Stop by to learn about the technology and meet the researchers and entrepreneurs behind it.

Professor Yohei Yokobayashi
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit

• Zacharie Taoufiq: UD proteomics-driven optimization of human stem cell programming into keratinocytes
• Chia (Anna) Jung Chang: A novel synthesized peptide, PHDP5, as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
• Geoffrey Acoba Garcia: Continuum-robot-based endoscopic surgery system
• Bakhytzhan Akdavletov: Development of Novel AI-Enabled Phage Therapies and an AI Platform
• Narae Kim: Developing an RNA-based platform to guide what stem cells become, with breast reconstruction as one potential future application.
• Prashant Jain: Reprogramming protein kinases through minimal changes to their regulatory loops allows them to
  remain active while making cellular signaling more selective.
• Asa Conover: Exploring the promise of microbiome science, the scientific and commercial barriers to translation, and what it will take to realize its potential.

• TIDA BIOTECH: A biotech company developing innovative cell therapies against solid tumors.
• RyuWell: A health-tech venture originating from the University of the Ryukyus that builds its business around online consultation and AI assisted diagnosis in mental health and dementia, with the aim of making Okinawa a region of health and longevity.
• Machinaka ME Center: We develop veterinary medical devices and cloud-based systems for continuous vital-sign monitoring of dogs and cats, from veterinary hospitals to the home.
• Cancer Free Biotech: Empowering the Future of Precision Oncology: Next-Generation Ex Vivo Drug Testing
• ekei labs: A biotechnology company providing high-resolution DNA methylation profiling for drug discovery, cell manufacturing, and ageing research, while developing sequencing technologies and assets.

Professor Christine Luscombe
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
pi-Conjugated Polymers Unit

• Ayumu Karimata: Development of flexible mechanoluminescent materials
• Mitchell Owen de Vries: The Kawaii-QuBit – Educational Diamond Quantum Teaching Tool
• Morihiro Ohta: Spin-based ultra-low-noise amplifier for microwave quantum technologies and magnetic resonance applications)
• Natalia Morais: Quasioptical Microwave Field Enhancement for Electron-on-Helium Qubits
• Luis Katsuya Ono: Development of Transparent Perovskite Solar Cells
• Alexey Vylegzhanin: Rydberg Atom – Optical Nanofiber based Single Photon Emitter
• Kosmas Deligkaris: Development of an Edge AI system for real-time detection of alien invasive anuran species
• Satoshi Takebayashi: iHAT: Iron-catalyzed Hydrogen Atom Transfer from H2
• Roger Huerlimann: EbiSeq: Innovative Environmental Nucleic Acid Tools Improve Shrimp Farming
• Giovanni Masucci: Toward Scalable and Sustainable Squid Aquaculture
• Mark Sullivan: Smart Filtration: Engineering Molecular Recognition-Based Filters for Efficient PFAS Capture and Removal

• AmaterZ: A GX and farm intelligence startup with an Okinawa base, turning hard-to access livestock data into evidence of environmental improvement and better farm operations.
• Atierra: Developing an intelligent microalgae bioproduction platform to produce scalable, low-carbon oils for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other industrial applications.
• PhoxTech: Developing next-generation optical communication modules for use in optoelectronic integration and satellite optical communications.
• ProteinFlex: Rapidly engineers acid-stable proteins, enabling next generation oral biologics such as insulin and antibodies that can be taken as a pill instead of an injection.
• KeKatu: Turning industrial residues into living soil — from farmland regeneration to red soil control, protecting Okinawa’s land and sea.

• Castomize: Revolutionizing Orthopedics with reusable, breathable, 4D-printed casts for humans and pets
• KeKatu: Upscaling industrial waste to create microbial
  solutions to red soil runoff and soil contamination
• MINORICA:  Plant Enhancer that makes crops more heat- and drought-resilant and tastier.
• MyImmune: AI-powered platform called AbSapien that shortcuts Antibody Humanization and Discovery

• ARKAIYA: Biotech therapeutic platform targeting archaeal microbiome imbalance using standardized PCR diagnostics and cell-free secretome interventions for gut health.
• CORAlliance: Marine biotech solution that restores coral reef health through encapsulated polyp restoration and biodegradable hydrogel deployment.
• Deep/C Systems: Ocean-tech platform using autonomous systems and AI for deepsea exploration, carbon cycling monitoring, and marine resource mapping.
• EzeRx Health Tech: Medical device startup developing point-of-care urine test for bladder cancer using UV-Vis and NIR spectroscopy with AI-driven risk quantification.
• Fuselage Innovations: B2G logistics and port-operations software platform automating vessel scheduling and cargo handling for island and coastal shipping efficiency.
• Hito Robotics: Robotics and AI venture building humanoid robots for healthcare and service automation
• HOW Pectin: Specialty ingredient biotech extracting clean-label pectin from plant waste through licensed enzyme technology, targeting food and pharmaceutical emulsification.
• PreCise Big Data: AI-powered ECG diagnostics SaaS platform delivering rapid atrial fibrillation and heart-failure risk assessment via cloud analytics integrated into hospital workflows.
• Taiga Biyoteknoloji: Biotech microfluidic diagnostic chip platform for rapid, point-of care detection of active versus past syphilis infections using dual biomarker automation
• VeritaCell: Regenerative medicine platform using cell-free mesenchymal stem cell secretome to deliver multi-pathway immune regulation and skin repair without live-cell therapy risk.

• OIST researchers interested in connecting, learning, and collaborating with industry — or looking to launch a startup and bring their technology to life
• Locally based healthcare/deeptech startups, including OIST startups, tenant startups of the OIST Innovation Incubator, and startups from the University of the Ryukyus or PARKS, interested in connecting, learning, and collaborating with industry — or looking to launch a startup and bring their technology to life
• Industry players interested in connecting, learning, and collaborating with OIST
• VCs exploring investment opportunities in OIST technology or startups
• EIR candidates / business talents looking for research seeds to build a startup around

Although you may attend without prior registration simply by presenting your staff ID, to make networking among participants more meaningful, we will be creating a participant list that will be shared among those who register their information. If you would like access to the participant list, please register your information below.
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Please sign up using the form below:
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Registration for general startups is now closed.

Please sign up using the form below (application due: August 31st):
[Startup Sign-up Form]

This is the common form for applying to Pitch Elevate, the pitch contest held on November 4th and 6th. Even if you're only interested in joining the local pitch, not Pitch Elevate, please use this form to apply. 

• INO Members: The sign-up form is shared via the INO office. If you haven't received it, please contact ino@oist.jp.
• Startup Elevate Sponsor companies: Your participation is included as part of your sponsorship. For details, please follow the information provided by the Startup Elevate office.
• Others: Participation is by invitation only. If you're interested in joining, please reach out to check your eligibility: olseoistday2026@365groups.oist.jp

You are invited to attend. Please let us know at the address below if you plan to participate, and we will share the registration details with you.
startup-elevate2026@lifetime-ventures.com

The EIR track is a document-screened place for pre-founding individuals. If you are interested in joining Startup Elevate, including OIST Innovation Day, to meet pre-incorporation seeds for co-founding and connecting with venture-creation-focused VCs from Japan and abroad, please apply using the form below:
[Form is closed now]