LINK‑J, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., and BioLabs jointly hosted “TOKYO Biotech DAY by TIB CATAPULT / LINK‑BioBAY TOKYO” on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Mitsui Link‑Lab Shinkiba 2.
LINK‑BioBAY TOKYO aims to build an ecosystem that enables life science startups originating in Japan to scale and succeed in the global market.
This event was held as a Demo Day featuring startups selected for the BioLabs Masterclass Program, where award recipients were chosen through evaluations by a panel of judges as well as audience voting.
In addition, key opinion leaders from the life science industry were invited to participate in sessions on life science ecosystems and startup support. These sessions provided participants with insights into the latest trends and explored future opportunities for collaboration. A guided tour of Mitsui Link‑Lab Shinkiba 2 was also conducted as part of the program.
Pitching Startups and Award Results
The following promising startups took the stage to deliver their pitches:
CancerFree Biotech
INOPASE Inc
MiRNDa, Inc.
Sothis Technologies Inc.
Theta Therapeutics, Inc.
The Judges’ Award was presented to INOPASE Inc.
INOPASE is a clinical‑stage medical device company pioneering closed‑loop personalized neuromodulation therapy for the treatment of chronic neurological disorders.
The Audience Award was presented to CancerFree Biotech.
The company specializes in the cultivation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and focuses on personalized analysis. Through its CTC‑derived organoid (CDO) system, CancerFree Biotech supports physicians and patients in selecting the most appropriate cancer treatments while aiming to minimize unnecessary drug use.
Event Highlights
1. Laboratory Tour
Participants joined a guided tour of Mitsui Link‑Lab Shinkiba 2, which serves as one of the key hubs for the TIB CATAPULT initiative.
The tour deepened participants’ understanding of both Mitsui Link‑Lab and the TIB CATAPULT / LINK‑BioBAY TOKYO.
2. Keynote Panel Discussion
Key figures from the life science industry engaged in a panel discussion addressing the latest developments in life science ecosystems and startup support. The discussion also explored what is essential for startups to succeed on the global stage.
[Moderator]
Dr. Ikuo Hayashi (General Manager, LINK-J)
[Panelists]
Mr. Hirokazu Shimoda (Senior Director, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED))
Dr. Takashi Futami (Partner, AN Venture Partners）
3. Pitches by Masterclass Program Startups
The Masterclass Program is an acceleration program designed for life science startups.
With support from BioLabs, a U.S.‑based incubator with a strong global track record, selected startups received approximately six months of mentoring and webinars.
Immediately prior to this event, a workshop was also held for participating companies, covering topics such as cross‑cultural communication.
During the Demo Day pitches, each startup showcased the progress achieved through the program.
Dr. Po Chen (CEO, CancerFree Biotech)
Dr. Munemasa Sugimoto (CEO, INOPASE Inc)
Mr. Masaki Hirose (CEO, MiRNDa, Inc. )
Dr. Hideyuki Yaginuma (CEO, Sothis Technologies Inc.)
Dr. Yoshihiro Tachihara (CEO, Theta Therapeutics, Inc.)
4. Evaluation and Awards Ceremony
Both the Judges’ Award and the Audience Award, determined by participant voting, were announced.
Judges posed a continuous stream of questions, demonstrating strong interest in Japan‑based startups. During the post‑pitch networking reception, judges and startups actively engaged in discussions, with startups seeking advice on their business strategies and technologies.
[Judges]
Dr. Takashi Futami (Partner, AN Venture Partners）
Mr. Nobuhiro Kazama (Operating Officer, Head of Collaborate to Cure Hub Japan Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd.)
Dr. Tomoyoshi Koyanagi (Program-Specific Professor, Director of Business Development Office,
Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science (iACT), KYOTO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL)
Dr. Ikuo Hayashi (General Manager, LINK-J)
Dr. Laura Stevens (Sr. Project Manager Business Development, BioLabs)
5. Networking Session
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The networking session provided opportunities for startups, investors, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies to connect and explore potential collaborations.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all participants and speakers.
Through initiatives such as the Masterclass Program, LINK‑BioBAY TOKYO will continue its efforts to accelerate the growth of life science startups originating in Japan.
Applications for the next Masterclass Program are scheduled to open in early next year.
Please refer to pur website for further details.
