JSTORIES — Startups and innovators dedicated to fixing international social points gathered in Tokyo on March 13 for the second annual Japan International Innovators’ Discussion board (JGIF), a world pitch occasion to share improvements past Japan’s borders.
With a deal with “inclusive innovation”—making certain sustainability with out leaving anybody behind—the occasion supplied a platform for startups tackling international social challenges to showcase their merchandise and applied sciences to the world. Your entire occasion was carried out in English.
This 12 months, the pitch classes had been refined to emphasise innovation, that includes life sciences, sustainability, and mobility sectors. A brand new class, “Challenges from Regional Japan,” was launched to highlight startups rising from outdoors main city facilities.
The Life Sciences class mirrored Japan’s ageing society, with discussions centering on customized most cancers therapy and AI-driven well being administration.
CEO Po Chen expressed the corporate’s ambitions to increase in Japan, having received a number of awards at main startup occasions final 12 months. “We intention to deliver optimum therapy options to extra sufferers and redefine most cancers remedy,” he mentioned.
Tokyo-based Hubbit is a health-tech startup providing a novel strategy to assist dementia sufferers join extra deeply with their households and caregivers. The corporate’s easy but highly effective instrument has the potential to revolutionize every day dementia care.
Founder Kiki Usui emphasised that Hubbit’s know-how can considerably improve the standard of dementia care and enhance affected person interactions.
Fukuoka-based Wellness Professional promotes wholesome ageing by way of beauty-focused initiatives. Led by CEO Hitomi Uchino, the corporate collaborates with native communities to develop new assist techniques that allow seniors to guide vibrant, impartial lives.
Technological improvements in logistics, finance, and aerospace
CEO Shahboz Khayriloev, initially from Uzbekistan, relies in Shibuya’s startup accelerator hub and is pioneering an AI-driven joint supply system to optimize logistics throughout Japan.
Kyoto-based Valuufy was based in 2023 primarily based on a decade of analysis at Doshisha College and the Worth Analysis Middle. The corporate developed ValuuCompass, which helps companies measure and leverage their sustainability efforts.
Co-founder Marco Koder, initially from Germany, leads a workforce of consultants in worth creation, sustainability, and ESG to assist firms stability profitability with sustainable practices.
Shizuoka-based Arase Aizawa Aerospatiale develops engine-powered drones able to long-distance flight, catering to catastrophe prevention and restoration efforts.
Based by former Suzuki engineers specializing in motorbike engines, the corporate goals to revolutionize drone know-how in disaster-prone Japan, enhancing infrastructure resilience.
The pitch occasion featured a panel of three famend enterprise capitalists (VCs) from Japan and Taiwan:
- Matthew Romaine, investor and co-founder of Shizen Capital and Gengo, a cloud-based translation service.
- Tim Romero, consultant of JERA Ventures, host of the “Disrupting Japan” podcast, and former Google Japan Startup Lead.
- Kazuaki Konno, enterprise companion of Darwin Ventures, former Nissan engineer, and ex-BCG marketing consultant.
The judges supplied suggestions on the startups’ international viability, providing strategic recommendation for worldwide enlargement.
On the occasion’s conclusion, Tomotsu Takatsuka, CEO of Mainichi Future Creation Lab, praised the pitch’s high quality, stating, “Each startup’s presentation was excellent and galvanizing. As we enter our second 12 months, we look ahead to additional increasing this occasion.”
The following JGIF is scheduled for 2026, promising even larger alternatives for Japanese and worldwide startups to share their improvements on the world stage.
Translated by J-Tales (Anita De Michele)
Edited by J-Tales (Lucas Maltzman)
High picture by J-Tales (Emi Takahata)
