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Over the past nine months, 10 high-potential Japanese HealthTech startups have participated in the inaugural J-StarX program, designed to fast-track their international expansion across the Asia-Pacific and European markets. Through a series of high-intensity sprints, these startups have sharpened their strategies, engaged in deep mentoring, refined their pitches, and built global readiness.
Who are the startups? From revolutionary diagnostics and smart implantables to pioneering therapeutics, these startups are addressing critical healthcare challenges. Read more below.
MedTech Actuator – Asia-Pacific’s health venture catalyst – supports health-based startups to transform into global companies that can deliver a new wave of healthcare and economic impact. Learn more here.
The J-StarX HealthTech Gateway is proudly supported by JETRO Sydney.
CNS DRUG INNOVATION
CNS DRUG INNOVATION
Company Type: BioTech | Stage: Early Prototype | Location: Fukushima
CNS Drug Innovation is pioneering the development of FABP3 inhibitors to treat Lewy body diseases, including Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The number of people with dementia is increasing worldwide. Recently, drugs like Lecanemab and Donanemab, which treat Alzheimer's disease (the main cause of dementia), have been approved by the FDA and other countries. However, there is still no cure for dementia with Lewy bodies, the second most common neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer's.
Clinician Targets: Neurologists, Geriatric Psychiatrists, and Neuropsychologists
Clinician Meet Objective: Clinical Validation, Feedback, and KOLs/Advisors
Target Research Groups: Pharmacological research, Lewy body disease research institutions and groups
Funds Raised to Date: Non-dilutive grant funding only
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Tomoki Sekimori and Ichiro Kawahata
GIFTS
GIFTS
Company Type: Medical Device | Stage: Prototype | Location: Tokyo
Gifts Inc. is developing Ladybug, an Automatic Fetal Ultrasonography that allows anyone to easily monitor a fetus anytime. Fetal ultrasonography could reduce the fetal mortality rate by 20%. However, the shortage of obstetricians prevents pregnant women from accessing appropriate echo tests. Our product enables users to monitor fetal conditions automatically, with high accuracy, and in a significantly reduced timeframe.
Clinician targets: obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, midwifery networks, neonatologists, and pediatric cardiologists
Objective: clinical validation and feedback, and pre-clinical study collaborations
Target research groups: fetal monitoring and biomedical signal processing, medical imaging (ultrasound), wearable healthtech and digital biomarkers, and translational and perinatal research centers
Funds raised to date: <$1M USD
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Jun Ogasawara and Yuki Nakade
HEDGEHOG MEDTECH
HEDGEHOG MEDTECH
Company Type: MedTech (SaMD) | Stage: Advanced Prototype | Location: Tokyo
Hedgehog MedTech is developing an AI-assisted diagnostic tool for headaches and a therapeutic application for migraines. The AI-assisted diagnostic tool can be utilized by physicians to diagnose the type of headache correctly based on patients’ interview information. The Treatment headache app includes recording functions and cognitive behavioral therapy that help patients understand their symptoms and reduce headache frequency and strength.
Clinician Targets: Neurologists, GPs, Pain Management Specialists, Neuromuscular Dentists, and ENT specialists
Clinician Meet Objective: Collaborators for Pre-Clinical Studies, Feedback, and KOLs/Advisors
Target Research Groups: Chronic Pain Institutes, and Headache and Migraine Research Groups
Funds Raised to Date: Non-dilutive grant funding only
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Yuki Tatsuno, Yumi Kawata and Rio Hiruta
IMMUNOSENS
IMMUNOSENS
Company Type: POCT Device | Stage: PMDA approved | Location: Osaka
IMMUNOSENS Co is developing a compact, high-performance POCT device using its unique GLEIA electrochemical immunoassay technology to enable convenient at-home testing. Starting with heart failure management, their device allows real-time NT-proBNP monitoring, helping doctors optimize medication timing remotely and improving patient outcomes.
Clinician Targets: Cardiologists, Cardiothoracic surgeons, Cardiac and Heart Failure Nurses
Clinician Meet Objective: PI for Clinical Study, Clinical Validation, KOLs/Advisors, and Investors
Target Research Groups: Heart Failure and Cardiovascular Research Groups
Funds Raised to Date: AUD$5M
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Toshihiko Ioroi and Hirokazu Sugihara
INOPASE
INOPASE
Company Type: Implantable Medical Device | Stage: Clinical Studies | Location: Tokyo
INOPASE is developing a Closed-Loop SNM System to improve the chance of incontinence-free. The implant device senses bladder afferent nerve activity to predict symptoms and delivers precision stimulation at the right strength and the right timing. This approach enables personalized parameters to effectively modulate abnormal nerve activity, restoring brain-bladder communication by facilitating neuroplasticity that leads potential cure for the disease. We aim to achieve 75% of incontinence-free outcomes.
Clinician Targets: Urologists, Neurologist, Urogynaecologists, and Colorectal Surgeons
Clinician Meet Objective: Clinical Validation, KOLs/Advisors, and Investors
Target Research Groups: Research groups focused on sacral neuromodulation
Funds Raised to Date: AUD$5M
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Sugimoto Munemasa
JOCONNE
JOCONNE
Company Type: MedTech | Stage: Prototype | Location: Tokyo
Joconne is creating a self-training device for pelvic floor muscles to help improve urinary incontinence, which imposes a substantial economic burden on women and men while diminishing their QOL and focus at work. Our self-training device improves symptoms of urinary incontinence using live feedback to the patient in a non-invasive format that can be used in all settings, including the home and office.
Clinician targets: obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, midwifery networks, neonatologists, and pediatric cardiologists
Objective: clinical validation and feedback, and pre-clinical study collaborations
Target research groups: pelvic floor rehabilitation, women’s health and continence research, sensor technology and wearables, human movement sciences/biomechanics
Funds raised to date: <$1M USD
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Naoko Kita and Yuto Shiota
LIFESCAPES
LIFESCAPES
Company Type: Medical Device | Stage: PMDA approved | Location: Tokyo
LIFESCAPES is developing a Brain-Computer Interface for neurorehabilitation, offering a new hope for patients with severe hand paralysis that is considered untreatable. LIFESCAPES is addressing a crucial need: restoring motor function for stroke patients with severe paralysis. Stroke cases have increased by 40% in the past decade, and current treatments are ineffective for severe hand paralysis. Our technology offers new hope for those considered untreatable.
Clinician Targets: Neurologists, Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Physician, and Neurosurgeons
Clinician Meet Objective: PI for Clinical Study, Clinical Validation, KOLs/Advisors, and Investors
Target Research Groups: Neurorehabilitation Research Groups, and Stroke Research Groups
Funds Raised to Date: AUD$3M
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Masaaki Hayashi and Ryota Hirose
PHYSIOLOGAS TECHNOLOGIES
PHYSIOLOGAS TECHNOLOGIES
Company Type: Medical Device | Stage: Clinical Studies | Location: Kanagawa
Physiologas Technologies is developing a waterless hemodialysis system designed for home-use to enhance the quality of life for dialysis patients by providing safe and convenient treatment. Thanks to its patented dialysate regeneration technology, this innovative device enables treatment in the comfort of patients' homes in regions with limited water infrastructure.
Clinician Targets: Nephrologists and HD experts, Epidemiologists
Clinician Meet Objective: PI for Clinical Study, Clinical Validation, Feedback, KOLs/Advisors, and Investors
Target Research Groups: Kidney Research Groups, Patient-oriented research groups, Dialysis registries
Funds Raised to Date: AUD$2M
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Kazuyoshi Tatemoto and Kaz Miyawaki
SONoALS
SONoALS
Company Type: Diagnostic & Therapeutic Biomarker | Stage: Early Prototype | Location: Osaka
SONoALS is pioneering advanced diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for ALS by integrating innovative ultrasound stickers for muscle monitoring with AI-driven fasciculation analysis. While ALS affects 5 in 100,000 people, the lifetime risk is surprisingly high at 1 in 300. This stark contrast highlights the disease’s rapid progression and short survival time. SONoALS enables earlier diagnosis, facilitating faster treatment and improving quality of life.
Clinician Targets: Neurologist, Neuromuscular Specialist, Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists
Clinician Meet Objective: Clinical Validation, Feedback, and KOLs/Advisors
Target Research Groups: ALS and Neuromuscular Research Groups
Funds Raised to Date: Non-dilutive grant funding only
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Saeki Chizu
TACTORIA
TACTORIA
Company Type: Assistive Technology Device | Stage: Early Prototype | Location: Tokyo
Tactoria is developing Feel Vision, a tactile navigation device that uses vibrations to mimic the sensation of being guided by a hand, helping visually impaired individuals navigate independently. This innovative solution addresses the limitations of canes and guide dogs by providing intuitive, real-time directional support in complex environments.
Clinician Targets: Vision Rehabilitation Specialists, Independent Living Specialists, Living Skills Instructors, or Blind Rehabilitation Specialists
Clinician Meet Objective: Clinical Validation, Feedback, and KOLs/Advisors
Target Research Groups: Vision Impairment Research Groups, and Disability Institutes and Research Groups
Funds Raised to Date: Non-dilutive grant funding only
Pitch Deck | Executive Summary | Contact: Honoka Toda
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