AN Venture Partners (ANV), a global biotech venture capital fund, will host the “Science2Startup (S2S) JapanSymposium” on November 12, 2026. Following the success of past years' events, the program continues to accelerate the transition of Japan’s leading life science innovations into real-world applications.
S2S Japan was founded by ANV and is jointly organized with CIC Institute, the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC), and the Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK-J). Adapted from a US-based program, S2S Japan connects academic life science discoveries in Japan with global investors and pharmaceutical companies, aiming to generate practical applications on a global scale.
At the S2S Japan Symposium in 2024, approximately 200 scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors gathered for presentations by the finalists as well as by expert speakers, fostering active networking and knowledge exchange. Attendance increased to more than 250 in 2025. Several 2024 finalists have since established biotech startups based on their research. Notably, Dr. Yoshikazu Nakaoka of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, in collaboration with his mentor, Andrew Levin then at RA Capital Management, has founded Pahr Therapeutics to develop innovative therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
A key feature of the S2S Japan program is the intensive mentorship finalists receive from top-tier US venture capitalists prior to the symposium, allowing them to refine their business plans and slide decks ahead of the final presentation.
“I am delighted to continue connecting Japan’s outstanding science with the global ecosystem through S2S Japan,” said Ken Horne, Managing Partner of ANV. “This year’s finalists represent a diverse range of innovative and promising research, and ANV remains committed to supporting the symposium as a catalyst for the global practical application of these breakthroughs.”
Science2Startup (S2S) Japan 2026 Symposium Overview
- Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Venue: Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Conference, Tokyo, Japan
- Finalists:
Shunsuke Ito, Ph.D. (HiLung Inc.)
Tadafumi Kato, Ph.D. (Juntendo University)
Gen Matsumoto, Ph.D. (Osaka Metropolitan University)
Tomohiro Miyai (RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences)
Daisuke Morishita, Ph.D. (SODAI Therapeutics Inc.)
Michisuke Yuzaki, Ph.D. (Keio University Bio2Q)
For further information about finalists and the agenda, please see S2S Japan LinkedIn page.
To participate in the symposium, please apply through the registration page.About AN Venture Partners (ANV)ANV is a Tokyo and San Francisco-based multi-stage, global biotech venture capital firm specializing in bridging innovative science from Japan with the US start-up ecosystem. ANV Fund I is a USD200 million fund that closed in June 2025. The firm was established in 2022 by a group of experienced venture capitalists from Japan and the United States, who have a wealth of experience building start-ups. ANV is committed to strengthening Japan’s biotech ecosystem and founded initiatives such as Science2Startup Japan to accelerate ecosystem growth. For more information, please visit www.an.vc.
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