OIST-Lifetime Ventures Startup Elevate 2024

OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate 2024 is an invitation-only off-site conference for entrepreneurs and investors who aim to co-create world-class startups from their early stages. The inaugural conference will focus on healthcare and sustainability, providing an opportunity for startup entrepreneurs and investors with a high level of interest in these areas to meet and connect closely. The two-day program will include a pitch for funding, mentoring from investors, poster presentations, and networking with investors, VCs, and OIST officials. They will also aim to create effective actions together.

Benefits

• Mentoring
  • All entrepreneurs and startups who passed the screening process will be interviewed by investors and Lifetime Ventures members to help them prepare for the pitch as well as refine their business strategy.
• Acceleration 
  • They will provide mentoring to a limited number of entrepreneurs who have entered the program in the early stage of the application process. Mentoring Board composed by Lifetime Ventures and other top investors will work with them for several weeks, supporting them from business plan review and preparation of pitch deck.
• Matching
  • One week prior to the event, an 1-on-1 online matching session is held with all of the mentor VCs with healthcare and sustainability expertise. Startup entrepreneurs and mentor VCs will be matched one week prior to the Startup Elevate event. Investors will give detailed advice to the entrepreneurs to be ready for the pitch event on April 25-26th.
• Finance Support
  • The entrepreneurs will have a chance to pitch or present for funding to the potential investors during the Startup Elevate event. The entrepreneurs will get the support in fundraising through this event regardless of the investment from Lifetime Ventures or startup program participation at OIST.

Qualifications

• Seed/early-stage healthcare/sustainability startups that are currently seeking funding and have raised less than ¥500 million in equity to date.
• Applicants must be able to participate in the entire two-day program (including the pitch at the venue on-site on the day of the event).
• Notes:
  • They welcome applications at idea stage/ pre-incorporation.
  • Please note that presentations will be given in English at the event.

For more information, visit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology.