INFORMATION
Program Structure
The Tokyo-Silicon Valley MedTech Launchpad is a comprehensive acceleration program aimed at facilitating the expansion of medical technology companies to the US market through Silicon Valley. The program is segmented into two stages, as follows:
STAGE 1: COMPREHENSIVE MENTORING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
During this session, startups will receive dedicated mentoring sessions. The mentoring sessions address the most critical knowledge gaps that prevent Japanese MedTech startups from succeeding in US markets. These intensive sessions combine theoretical frameworks with practical applications, ensuring participants not only understand the US medical landscape but can actively navigate it. Mentoring will cover:
Data Validity & Integrity
Establishing clinical evidence standards and data collection protocols that meet US regulatory requirements
Product-Market Fit Analysis
Developing systematic approaches to validate product demand and competitive positioning in US medical markets.
Regulatory Analysis
Navigating FDA pathways, submission processes, and compliance requirements for medical device market entry
IP Barriers & Freedom to Operate
Analyzing patent landscapes and developing intellectual property strategies for competitive US market positioning
Reimbursement & Insurance
Understanding US healthcare payment systems and developing coding strategies for sustainable revenue models
Funding Strategies
Accessing US venture capital markets and preparing for medical-focused investor engagement.
Additionally, the preparation for stage 2 will include the following elements:
STAGE 2: US BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MARKET ENTRY
Stage 2 transforms the preparation from Stage 1 into concrete business results. The top 5 startups, armed with comprehensive market knowledge and investment-ready materials, will execute their US expansion strategies with hands-on consortium support. This intensive business development phase focuses on generating measurable outcomes: investor meetings, partnership agreements, regulatory submissions, and market validation, that demonstrate real traction in the US medical market and position companies for sustained growth.
The major elements of Stage 2 are:
Two-week immersion in Silicon Valley
During a two-week stay in San Francisco, the startups will participate in targeted meetings. These meetings will be online or hosted at TheraNova's San Francisco offices, providing startups with a professional base of operations and immediate access to the broader medical innovation ecosystem. The pre-arranged meeting schedule maximizes efficiency and ensures each company engages with the most relevant contacts for their specific technology and business model.
San Francisco Pitch Event
Startups will pitch to industry professionals, top-tier VCs, key opinion leaders, influencers, media
Ongoing Support and Business Development
The program will support the startups with continuous deal facilitation, regulatory support, IP portfolio development, and incubator acceptance support. This is in addition to persistent follow up to initial US-based meetings.
And best of all, graduating startups will attain:
Ready to take your med-tech startup to the US?
