What investors can expect
For Investors
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Sustainability
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1
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.
1
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.
1
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.
1
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.
2
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
2
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
2
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
2
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
3
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.
3
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.
3
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.
3
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.
4
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
4
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
4
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
4
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
5
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
5
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
5
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
5
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
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
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
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
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
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