Top 40 Life Science Startup Investors in Japan in October 2023

Portfolio highlights

• SK Fine — SK Fine is the first to develop a 3D printer for ceramics and release it to the market for the first time in Japan.In addition, we are using 3D ceramic printers to develop 3D ceramic parts molding processes that meet our needs.
• EX-Fusion — EX-Fusion develops the first commercial laser based nuclear fusion reactor for power generation.
• GAIA BioMedicine — GAIA BioMedicine Inc., a spin-out venture from Kyushu University founded on 2015, is a technology-driven biopharmaceutical company focusing on cellular therapies and immunotherapies mainly for intractable malignancies.

Portfolio highlights

• Utill — Utill is anything that expands the possibilities of not only production but also our own services
• LIFESCAPES — LIFESCAPES is a research and manufacturer of brain-computer interface equipment.
• LUCA Science — LUCA Science develops innovative treatments intended for mitochondrial and related diseases.

Portfolio highlights

• LiLz — LiLz is an IT technology network for businesses looking to use AI and IoT to offer new services and value.
• CADDi — CADDi is an online ordering platform for manufacturing industry.
• EX-Fusion — EX-Fusion develops the first commercial laser based nuclear fusion reactor for power generation.

Portfolio highlights

• Heartseed — Heartseed has set a mission to “open the door to heart disease treatment with regenerative medicine” and is working toward the day-to-day clinical application of myocardial regenerative medicine.
• Luup — Luup is an Internet Company.
• Kyoto Fusioneering — Kyoto Fusioneering is a research & development, design, and manufacture of parts related to fusion reactors.

Portfolio highlights

• Edgecortix — At Edgecortix, we automate the design of AI accelerators for on-device deep learning. Our Dynamic Neural Accelerator IP, and performance optimized AI Software & Hardware Co-exploration framework, reduces time to market and brings massive cost savings across multiple industry verticals.
• Habito — We're the Treating Customers Fairly Champion of 2023 as voted for in the British Bank Awards. We're here to make mortgages easier - no paperwork, no stress and no fees.
• Captain Fresh — Captain Fresh is a freshwater fish and seafood supply chain platform. Captain Fresh is a B2B marketplace leveraging technology to deliver the fastest harvest-to-retail in the industry. The company focuses on aggregating the fragmented retail demand across the country and linking them to the small fishermen and farmers throughout the Indian coast.The company was founded in 2019 and is based in Bengaluru, India.

Portfolio highlights

• Funds — Funds is an online marketplace for lending funds.
• Bloomo Investment — Bloomo Investment is a software company that specializes in the development of smart and fun investment apps.
• LexxPluss — LexxPluss develops an automatic transfer software system and robot hardware.

Portfolio highlights

• ProfilePrint — ProfilePrint synthesises complex molecular data of ingredient samples into digital fingerprints, rapidly predicting its identity and quality, helping agribusinesses to buy and sell better with its patented digital food identity-as-a-service (IDaaS) technology.
• Integriculture — Integriculture makes cellular agriculture products to improve sustainability, food security, and reduce public health problems. The company offers a developed patented general-purpose large-scale cell culture system that can culture wide range of cells without external addition of expensive growth factors and provide consumers with affordable cleanmeat.Founded in 2015, Integriculture is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
• Sentient.io — We provide a secure AI & Data platform with ready-made AI models for easy adoption and turnkey AI solutions for Enterprises on your digitalisation journey.

Portfolio highlights

• Sagri — Sagri is developing agriculture software for experienced farmers.
• BABY JOB — BABY JOB offers nursery support and child care support businesses.
• On The Slope — On the way to Sakano deliver vegetables grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, aiming to spread agriculture with low environmental impact. We want to make agriculture sustainable and reach a sustainable society.

Portfolio highlights

• Todoker — Todoker is a baggage delivery convenient service providing company.
• LUCA Science — LUCA Science develops innovative treatments intended for mitochondrial and related diseases.
• Beer and Tech — Beer and Tech operates a website for the Phalaenopsis or foliage plant HitoHana. Norihisa Morita and Yoshiaki Ito founded it in 2014, with its headquarters in Saitama in Japan.

Portfolio highlights

• Cerby — Collaborate without chaos. Cerby helps your team be productive while protecting your brand. Secure unmanageable applications. Only with Cerby.
• CYBO — CYBO provides products and services to understand cells deeply and to harness them widely.
• Bondy — Bondy is an HR Tech automation platform that specializes in connecting different HR processes.

Portfolio highlights

• Modalis Therapeutics — Modalis Therapeutics Corporation is an biotech company focusing on developing transformative therapeutics for unmet medical needs using its proprietary technologies on CRISPR and protein engineering platforms. The company has a strong foundation on intellectual property licensed from the University of Tokyo.
• DiscGenics — DiscGenics is focused on developing regenerative therapies that alleviate pain and restore function in patients with degenerative diseases of the spine.

Portfolio highlights

• Allm — Allm is a medical ICT company dedicated to shaping healthcare. The company seeks to benefit society by launching next-generation technologies and medical communications platforms for the healthcare industry. The solutions are installed more than 18 countries across US, South America, EU, Japan, Middle East and Africa.
• Wejo — We unlock limitless possibilities with connected vehicle data
• GROOVE X — GROOVE X is designing and developing a totally new, next-generation household robot that no one has seen before, that truly touches people's hearts and inspires real affection.

Portfolio highlights

• Torana — Torana provides "Toysub!" well known as educational toy subscription service in Japan market. We plan to go global and will be more bigger market share holder in East Asia. We collect month-age base toy feedback data and children's development status information. We plan best combination of toys and deliver. Customer returns and getsnew toys which fit children's growth and it is eco friendly service. We plan to build our own brand toys based on massive customer feedback and growth data and enter D2C market.
• LIFESCAPES — LIFESCAPES is a research and manufacturer of brain-computer interface equipment.
• IGNITE IMPULSE, INC. — As a digital agricultural enhancing service, Ignite impulse offers a variety of services, some of which include the following: agricultural software and equipment rentals, sales, maintenance, and leasing solutions; self-regulated farm shells with pre-installed vertical farming solutions; machined irrigation consulting and installations; artificialintelligence (AI) powered farming solutions; hydroponics farming consultation- partnership and installations; supply chain and logistics partnership; and more.Ignite Impulse also offers hydroponics solutions, as well as controlled farming assistance and consulting, to corporate, government, and educational organizations as part of our cooperation with these entities.

Portfolio highlights

• Hogetic Lab — Hogetic Lab specialize in DCaaS, AI development, and Data human resources training.
• Smart Shopping — Smartmat is an eco-friendly IoT purchase system for on-demand, no-hassle grocery with cost-effective shipping.
• OriCiro Genomics — DNA amplification | OriCiro Cloning Kit - OriCiro Genomics, Inc.

Portfolio highlights

• AceRNA — AceRNA contributes to regenerative medicine and drug discovery through the discovery of novel miRNA functions. It began operation in April 2018, with its headquarters in Kyoto in Japan.
• Epicbase — Epicbase is an AI-based automatic voice transcription service based on voice recognition technology.
• Go Visions — Go Visions engages in the edutainment tech for children and human resources services.

Portfolio highlights

• Thyas — Thyas Co. Ltd. provides preparations of regenerative immunocell therapy for cancer and infection.
• Regional Fish — Regional Fish provides seed, seedlings, aquaculture methods and fisheries services.
• Space Power Technologies — Space Power Technologies (SPT) was founded in 2019 as Japan's first start-up for “Spatial Transmission Wireless Power Transmission (WPT)”. We will harmonize elemental technologies cultivated through academics with people and society, and solve social issues related to power supply.

Portfolio highlights

• HACARUS — We make AI work, where common Big Data aproaches fail. Get explainable results, even from small data amounts. Available on the cloud or as embedded devices.
• HekaBio — HekaBio connects world-leading healthcare innovations to unmet medical needs in the Asia Pacific, with broad category development expertise in pharma, medical device, in-vitro diagnostics, digital health, and cell & gene therapies.
• Jiksak Bioengineering — Jiksak Bioengineering is a biotechnology company. Jiksak Bioengineering provide an efficient screening service using a three-dimensional cell tissue "Nerve Organoid". We will mainly develop screening technologies specifically for neurodegenerative diseases and search for drugs that are effective for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Portfolio highlights

• Blusink — Blusink is an ocean-based carbon removals company.
• EF Polymer — EF Polymer Private Limited providing 100% Organic and fully Biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymer cum Fertilizer to reduce Water and Fertilizer requirement for your plant. Let's grow organically.
• MORPHEUS — Development of Nose To Brain Drug Delivery System (DDS)

Portfolio highlights

• Bonx — GO MAKE NOISE
• 17LIVE — Flip action technology, connect the world together; integrate instant audio and video into life, and create a new generation of action audio and video. No matter where you are, in any corner of the world, you can connect with the world anytime, anywhere through the 17LIVE platform, show your talent and enthusiasm, realize your dreams, and createyour own wonderful life.
• Life is Tech — Life is Tech is a developer of education platform intended for elementary and junior high school students.The company's platform organizes coding and IT camps, collaborating with local governments and running several schemes such as Tech for Local, Be Startup, Code Girls and Tech for Teachers, enabling students to improve their coding skillsand creativity

Portfolio highlights

• Medii — Medii provides a physician sharing service for hospitals.
• Digzyme — Digzyme is a research and development platform for creating, discovering, and evaluating new enzyme-catalyzed reactions by bioinformatics.
• viviane (1Screen) — viviane is running Japan's best video streaming guide, 1Screen.

Portfolio highlights

• AIRNA — AIRNA is on a mission to transform the lives of patients with rare and common diseases by pioneering thediscovery and development of RNA editing therapeutics.
• Storm Therapeutics — Targeting pathways that modify RNA to deliver novel cancer therapeutics.
• Metagen Therapeutics — Metagen Therapeutics is a Drug discovery and medical business company which utilizes microbiome science.

Portfolio highlights

• Funds — Funds is an online marketplace for lending funds.
• K Pharma — K Pharma Is the development Of the Treatment Of the Spinal Cord injury
• OriCiro Genomics — DNA amplification | OriCiro Cloning Kit - OriCiro Genomics, Inc.

Portfolio highlights

• GPx — GPx is a biotech company that revolutionizes remote chronic disease management with bloodless blood tests. It is dedicated to transforming the standard of care of cardiorenal diseases and enabling patients to better understand their condition, much like the continuous glucose monitor has transformed diabetes care.The company was founded in 2020and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Epistra — Epistra accelerates research and development in life sciences.
• Activaid — Activaid owns and operates a social data platform for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. It allows patients to support and exchange information within the patient community with the same disease; provide information necessary for new drug development and matching to clinical trials that suits them; and improve medical treatment. YasuakiHasebe founded Activaid in 2018. It has its headquarters in Tokyo in Japan.

Portfolio highlights

• Alivas — Alivas is a medical company that develops new therapeutic medical devices for refractory constipation. It is a joint venture between Stanford University and the University of Tokyo with the Japan Biodesign program for innovative medical device creation. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Hongo, Tokyo in Japan.
• PaMeLa — PaMeLa is a company that measures pain with science.PaMeLa will establish a method of objectively assessing pain and contribute to medical care.
• SentiAR — SentiAR is digital health, software device company adding a new dimension to clinical practice in interventional procedures. Spun out of Washington University, we are developing the first 3D visualization platform using real-time holography of the patient's anatomy and catheter location, "floating" over the patients, with a goal toprovide the clinician and patient a faster, safer delivery of care.SentiAR’s mission is to transform the experience for both patient and clinician in interventional procedures with a 3D augmented reality platform featuring real-time holographic visualization of the patient’s actual anatomy, “floating” over the patient.The visualization is fully controllable “hands-free” by the clinician, providing an ergonomic breakthrough for the treatment and analysis of cardiac arrhythmias within an interventional catheter lab environment. SentiAR is developing the platform for eventual FDA submission.

Portfolio highlights

• EX-Fusion — EX-Fusion develops the first commercial laser based nuclear fusion reactor for power generation.
• YourTrade — YourTrade helps cross-border e-commerce companies to resale rejected goods and backlogged inventory from overseas sales through local sales channels.It also provides services such as collection and inspection of returned items, as well as resale through local sales channels.
• Carnot — LLM, Autonomous Agent

Portfolio highlights

• Thinca — Thinca is an IT system planning, development, and operations company that provides a cloud-based CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) hospitality & communication solution for corporate offices.
• Rege Nephro — Rege Nephro is a biotech company that specialized in R&D, production and marketing of renal disease therapeutics.
• Regional Fish — Regional Fish provides seed, seedlings, aquaculture methods and fisheries services.

Portfolio highlights

• HACARUS — We make AI work, where common Big Data aproaches fail. Get explainable results, even from small data amounts. Available on the cloud or as embedded devices.

Portfolio highlights

• Otobank — OTOBANK provides voice content and audiobook platforms and publishing production company.
• Enechange — Tokyo-based Enechange, the company offering an energy price comparison site under the same name .They are disseminating information on electricity and energy, useful electricity savings and savings right now, in order to liberalize the electricity in 2016.Enechange.Jp/try/detail Let's now begin the power company to choose in! Themiddle person is a graduate student intern! I am studying every day.
• Yukai Engineering — YUKAI Engineering - THE ROBOT COMPANY

Portfolio highlights

• MedUp — MedUp operates foro CRM, a SaaS CRM tool that provides hospitals with sales and marketing support, data analysis and visualization, and more.
• KAUCHE — KAUCHE is a social commerce app. They provide services for online and mail-order retail shops. Their customers' inquiries are addressed through phone, email, and online applications.
• Sumutasu — sumutasu is an online real estate marketplace that enables users to quickly buy and sell their properties.

Portfolio highlights

• StemRIM — Stem Rim is a biotechnology company aiming to develop “regenerative medicine”.We are developing drugs based on a new mechanism of action that mobilizes stem cells present in the living body to the injured or diseased tissue without removing them out of the body and induces functional tissue regeneration.
• Chromocenter — Chromocenter is a next generation biopharmaceuticals Manufacturing company. It uses technologies such as artificial chromosome vectors, mainly for drug discovery such as medical pharmaceuticals
• Stem Cell & Device Laboratory — Stem Cell & Device Laboratory is aiming to contribute to a healthy society with new cell application products.

Portfolio highlights

• Blue Laser Fusion — Blue Laser Fusion is a commercial fusion company. Blue Laser Fusion is a laser startup to commercialize laser fusion by inventing its own laser and fusion reactor.
• UnaBiz — Based in Singapore, Taiwan and Japan, UnaBiz delivers end-to-end customised IoT solutions worldwide. Simple, cost-efficient & low maintenance
• Nanofiber Quantum Technologies — Powering a globally connected quantum future with pioneering nanofiber cavity QED.

Portfolio highlights

• HACARUS — We make AI work, where common Big Data aproaches fail. Get explainable results, even from small data amounts. Available on the cloud or as embedded devices.
• Helium Health — Helium Health empowers healthcare providers in Africa with digital tools, financing solutions, and data partnerships. Learn more about our innovative solutions.
• Revital Healthcare — Revital revolutionizes healthcare by bringing advancedmedical devices, including WHO-Prequalified syringes, meeting the healthcare needs of Africa and beyond.

Portfolio highlights

• ThinkCyte — ThinkCyte provides single-cell analysis for research, diagnostics, and therapeutics with an integrated multidisciplinary approach.
• Tsubame BHB — Tsubame BHB is a Sales company
• 3D Printing Corporation — 3D Printing Corporation provides 3D printing technology solutions.

Portfolio highlights

• Atomis — Atomis provides global solutions for precisely controlling gases. Its core technology, porous coordination polymers (PCPs; also known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)), is based on research developed by Distinguished Professor Susumu Kitagawa at the Institute for Advanced Study at Kyoto University. It aims not only to provide solutions such asthe optimization for manufacturing processes of PCPs but to also develop applications that provide innovative value using these materials.It was founded by Masakazu Higuchi in 2015 and is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan.

Portfolio highlights

• Cocoach — Cocoach provides online education service.
• Data Viz Lab — Data Viz Lab is a platform that offers data analysis, visualization consulting, and data human resource development support.
• ElevationSpace — ElevationSpace offers high quality & well equipped workspaces giving tenants a nurturing environment .

Portfolio highlights

• HACARUS — We make AI work, where common Big Data aproaches fail. Get explainable results, even from small data amounts. Available on the cloud or as embedded devices.
• HekaBio — HekaBio connects world-leading healthcare innovations to unmet medical needs in the Asia Pacific, with broad category development expertise in pharma, medical device, in-vitro diagnostics, digital health, and cell & gene therapies.
• Jiksak Bioengineering — Jiksak Bioengineering is a biotechnology company. Jiksak Bioengineering provide an efficient screening service using a three-dimensional cell tissue "Nerve Organoid". We will mainly develop screening technologies specifically for neurodegenerative diseases and search for drugs that are effective for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Portfolio highlights

• HCMJ — HCMJ specializes in software development in the medical industry.
• Epigno — Epigno provides hospital management systems for medical institutions.
• Rehab for JAPAN — Rehab for Japan is developing a special rehabilitation SaaS for day service .

Portfolio highlights

• Yukai Engineering — YUKAI Engineering - THE ROBOT COMPANY

Portfolio highlights

• LisB — LisB provides cloud service development, smartphone, tuplet, PC application development web system.
• Astroscale — Astroscale is the first private company with a vision to secure the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations, and the only company solely dedicated to on-orbit servicing across all orbits.
• Ispace Technologies — ispace is a private lunar robotic exploration company that is developing micro-robotic technology to provide a low-cost and frequent transportation service to and on the Moon, conduct lunar surface exploration to map, process and deliver resources to our customers in cislunar space.

Portfolio highlights

• Rege Nephro — Rege Nephro is a biotech company that specialized in R&D, production and marketing of renal disease therapeutics.
• Nanox Imaging — Nanox Vision develops a next-generation medical imaging system based on groundbreaking technology. Our aim is to democratize medical imaging and bring preventive healthcare to communities worldwide, helping create a better standard of care for all.
• 24M Technologies — 24M Technologies develops energy storage systems for grid and transportation applications. 24M Technologies, Inc. builds energy storage systems for grid and transportation applications. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.