OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate 2026 to be Held

Venture capital firm Lifetime Ventures, in collaboration with the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), will host "OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate 2026," an international conference for deep tech entrepreneurs, from November 4-6, 2026, at the OIST campus (Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture).

Applications for pitch-presenting startups will begin today, May 13.

Opportunity for Entrepreneurs: Three Days to Accelerate Fundraising and Global Connections

This conference is not just an event; it is a platform to achieve "fundraising, business partnerships, and research collaborations." - Matching with top-tier domestic and international VCs, CVCs, and operating companies - Mentoring and feedback opportunities from investors for pitch-presenting companies - Building a network for global expansion

The inaugural event in 2025 achieved: - 514 participants from 18 countries - 370 investment matching opportunities - Participant satisfaction: 97%, NPS over 60 These results directly led to fundraising and business collaborations.

Participants praised it as "a place for essential encounters that sets it apart from conventional pitch events."

Pitch Elevate: A Stage Exclusively for Selected Entrepreneurs

Only entrepreneurs who pass the selection process with an application rate of 5-10 times will have the opportunity to pitch to global investors. - Up to 5 companies per day will present - Practical pitches aimed at fundraising and business partnerships - Pre-mentoring by VCs available

Applications are open from super early stage (including pre-incorporation). For those who unfortunately do not make it to the pitch stage, there is also a plan to participate on-site with a poster exhibition and network with investors.

Special Invited Guest

Benjamin Kim (Partner, Playground Global) Special Judge & Panel Speaker for Life Science Day (November 4)

Benjamin Kim, a partner at Playground Global, is a venture capitalist who leads investments in innovative startups in the engineered biology sector. He has previously led investments in next-generation bio and drug discovery startups such as Atomic AI, Infinimmune, Outpace Bio, and Manifold Bio. He holds a Ph.D. in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering from Stanford University and has a background in research as an NSF Fellow.

At Startup Elevate 2026, Benjamin Kim will serve as a guest judge and panel speaker on Life Science Day, discussing the forefront of the bio and life sciences fields from the perspective of a global investor. In addition to Mr. Kim, several other international investors are scheduled to be invited as guest speakers, making this a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs in the life science and deep tech fields to directly discuss and connect with world-leading investors.

New Point for 2026: Establishment of "OIST Innovation Day"

This year, we will newly establish "OIST Innovation Day." This day offers a valuable opportunity to directly access OIST's: - Pre-startup research seeds - Intellectual property and deep tech

As a platform where researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors come together, it provides significant value for entrepreneurs aiming for collaborative research and spin-offs.

Three Days Focused on Specific Domains

Day 1: Life Science (drug discovery, medical, bio, etc.) Day 2: OIST Innovation Day (research seeds, collaborative research) Day 3: Deeptech (energy, quantum, materials, etc.)

Why Deep Tech in Okinawa Now?

Japan is rapidly attracting attention from global investors due to: - The world's 3rd largest R&D investment scale - Accumulation of patents and research achievements

Startup Elevate is designed as a platform to connect "research x capital" in the shortest possible way.

Furthermore, Okinawa Prefecture has been selected by the Cabinet Office as a second-phase Startup Ecosystem NEXT Hub City, aiming to establish a unique economic model leveraging its island characteristics and become a "startup gateway" for international business expansion. Towards forming a "future-oriented blue economy hub," the following four fields are positioned as priority industries where economic impact can be realized:

"Healthcare" "Energy" "Circular Economy"