In collaboration with leading venture capital firms, OIST Innovation offers startups and entrepreneurial researchers or students the opportunity to connect directly with venture capitalists for one-on-one mentoring and discussion. Each round begins with an open seminar-style introduction, where participants can learn about the VC firm's investment focus and characteristics. This is followed by private, closed-door mentoring sessions between startups/researchers/students and the VC representatives.

The featured VC for this round is D4V (Design for Ventures)

Join us for Innovator’s Toolbox, a new pilot program helping researchers explore pathways from lab to market. Led by trainer Josh Green, sessions cover tech transfer, licensing, team roles, and business basics. Open to the whole OIST research community—no registration required, just come by!

Join farmers, startups, and innovation leaders to explore real issues facing agriculture in Okinawa with simultaneous interpretation in English and Japanse. Local experts will share short, focused insights on the challenges farmers encounter, followed by a panel discussion on how entrepreneurial solutions can address them. Early-stage startups will pitch technologies and ideas. The event concludes with networking, offering a chance to connect, collaborate, and spark new partnerships for the future of Okinawa’s agriculture.

OIST startup EF Polymer invites everyone to join their annual carrot harvesting event!