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What investors can expect

For Investors

Two women sitting across from each other at a small table, viewing a laptop screen together in a bright room with large windows.

OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate offers strategic investors privileged access to carefully selected early-stage startups in healthcare and sustainability sectors with global potential.

Your Role as an Investor

This is how you can have an impact as an investor, participating in OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate.

Strategic Mentorship

Share your expertise with selected entrepreneurs, helping them refine their business models and growth strategies before and during the event.

Strategic Mentorship

Share your expertise with selected entrepreneurs, helping them refine their business models and growth strategies before and during the event.

Early Access

Evaluate promising startups before they reach broader investor audiences, with structured opportunities to assess both their technologies and founding teams.

Early Access

Evaluate promising startups before they reach broader investor audiences, with structured opportunities to assess both their technologies and founding teams.

Curated Matching

Benefit from tailored introductions to startups that align with your investment thesis and sector expertise, optimizing your time and focus.

Curated Matching

Benefit from tailored introductions to startups that align with your investment thesis and sector expertise, optimizing your time and focus.

OIST Connection

Gain exposure to Japan's cutting-edge research ecosystem through OIST's network and resources, opening potential for ongoing dealflow.

OIST Connection

Gain exposure to Japan's cutting-edge research ecosystem through OIST's network and resources, opening potential for ongoing dealflow.

Investment Opportunities

As an investor at OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate, you'll connect with founders who are developing cutting-edge solutions in these high-impact sectors:

Day One

Healthcare

Drug Discovery
Biotech
Bioinformatics
Neurotech
Medical Devices

Digital Health
Preventive Medicine & Longevity
FemTech
AgeTech

Day Two

Sustainability

Energy Solutions
Sustainable Materials
Clean Mobility
AgriTech
FoodTech

Carbon Capture & Utilization
Maritime & Marine Solutions
Aquaculture
Marine Biodiversity

All participating startups have undergone a rigorous selection process to ensure they represent the most promising innovations in these fields.

Benefits for Investors

Curated Dealflow

Access to rigorously screened startups in healthcare and sustainability sectors, saving you time in identifying high-potential opportunities.

Curated Dealflow

Access to rigorously screened startups in healthcare and sustainability sectors, saving you time in identifying high-potential opportunities.

In-Depth Assessment

Multiple touchpoints to evaluate startups, from formal pitch presentations to informal conversations during networking events and poster sessions.

In-Depth Assessment

Multiple touchpoints to evaluate startups, from formal pitch presentations to informal conversations during networking events and poster sessions.

Co-Investment Opportunities

Connect with other strategic investors for potential co-investment partnerships in promising startups.

Co-Investment Opportunities

Connect with other strategic investors for potential co-investment partnerships in promising startups.

Japanese Innovation Access

Unique window into Japan's vibrant startup ecosystem, with opportunities to establish ongoing relationships with OIST and Lifetime Ventures.

Japanese Innovation Access

Unique window into Japan's vibrant startup ecosystem, with opportunities to establish ongoing relationships with OIST and Lifetime Ventures.

Participation Process

These are the steps involved in the application process & participation.

Invitation

July - August 2025

OIST and Lifetime Ventures extend personal invitations to selected investors who can provide meaningful support to early-stage startups in healthcare and sustainability sectors.

Invitation

July - August 2025

OIST and Lifetime Ventures extend personal invitations to selected investors who can provide meaningful support to early-stage startups in healthcare and sustainability sectors.

Confirmation

By August 15, 2025

Confirm your participation and share your investment focus areas to help us facilitate the most relevant connections with entrepreneurs.

We'll collect information about:

Specific sectors of interest within healthcare and sustainability
Investment stage preferences
Geographic focus
Typical investment size
Value-add beyond capital

Confirmation

By August 15, 2025

Confirm your participation and share your investment focus areas to help us facilitate the most relevant connections with entrepreneurs.

We'll collect information about:

Specific sectors of interest within healthcare and sustainability
Investment stage preferences
Geographic focus
Typical investment size
Value-add beyond capital

Startup Profiles Access

Early September 2025

Receive profiles of the selected startups that will be participating in the conference, allowing you to identify the most interesting opportunities in advance.

Startup Profiles Access

Early September 2025

Receive profiles of the selected startups that will be participating in the conference, allowing you to identify the most interesting opportunities in advance.

Mentoring Matching

One week before the event

For investors who opt to participate as mentors, we'll match you with entrepreneurs in your area of expertise for the pre-event Pitch Circuit.

As a mentor, you'll:

Provide feedback on entrepreneurs' pitches and business strategies
Help founders prepare for investor questions and objections
Offer industry-specific insights that strengthen their value proposition
Build relationships before the formal conference begins

Mentoring Matching

One week before the event

For investors who opt to participate as mentors, we'll match you with entrepreneurs in your area of expertise for the pre-event Pitch Circuit.

As a mentor, you'll:

Provide feedback on entrepreneurs' pitches and business strategies
Help founders prepare for investor questions and objections
Offer industry-specific insights that strengthen their value proposition
Build relationships before the formal conference begins

Conference Participation

September 29 & 30, 2025 at OIST

Engage with entrepreneurs and fellow investors through a variety of structured formats over the two-day conference.

Day One (Healthcare Focus)

Participate in expert-led talk sessions on healthcare innovation
Evaluate 10 selected healthcare startups during pitch sessions
Explore 50 healthcare innovations at the poster exhibition
Network with entrepreneurs and fellow investors
Attend the evening networking dinner in Naha

Day Two (Sustainability Focus)

Participate in talk sessions on sustainability innovations
Evaluate 10 selected sustainability startups during pitch sessions
Explore 50 sustainability solutions at the poster exhibition
Connect with entrepreneurs during structured networking
Attend the concluding networking dinner

Conference Participation

September 29 & 30, 2025 at OIST

Engage with entrepreneurs and fellow investors through a variety of structured formats over the two-day conference.

Day One (Healthcare Focus)

Participate in expert-led talk sessions on healthcare innovation
Evaluate 10 selected healthcare startups during pitch sessions
Explore 50 healthcare innovations at the poster exhibition
Network with entrepreneurs and fellow investors
Attend the evening networking dinner in Naha

Day Two (Sustainability Focus)

Participate in talk sessions on sustainability innovations
Evaluate 10 selected sustainability startups during pitch sessions
Explore 50 sustainability solutions at the poster exhibition
Connect with entrepreneurs during structured networking
Attend the concluding networking dinner

Logistics Information

The conference will be held at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) on September 29 & 30, 2025
A welcome dinner will be held in Naha on September 28 (the evening before the conference)
On the day of the event, transportation will be provided from Naha Airport/hotels to OIST by shuttle bus
Please arrange your own travel and accommodation to Okinawa
A portion of travel expenses may be supported through an honorarium

Application Deadline is July 31

Apply now to join a carefully curated group of founders and funders at Startup Elevate 2025. This is your chance to connect, collaborate, and grow on a global stage. Applications close July 31

Apply as an Investor

Brought to you by

We are a seed-stage venture capital firm, backing world-class entrepreneurs in deeptech for human and planetary health.

Partner of Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology

Learn More

Brought to you by

We are a seed-stage venture capital firm, backing world-class entrepreneurs in deeptech for human and planetary health.

Partner of Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology

Learn More

Brought to you by

We are a seed-stage venture capital firm, backing world-class entrepreneurs in deeptech for human and planetary health.

Partner of Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology

Learn More

About

Structure

Process

Sessions

Contact

Lifetime Ventures

About

Structure

Process

Sessions

Contact

Lifetime Ventures

About

Structure

Process

Sessions

Contact

Lifetime Ventures