VC Mentoring Hours: Intrinsic Venture Capital

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 Intrinsic Venture Capital.

Coffee Chat with DEEPCORE Tamaoka san

At OIST Innovation Incubator, some of the best moments happen over a cup of coffee... 

This time, we're joined by Tamaoka-san from DEEPCORE, an AI-focused VC firm. No agenda — just good conversation about AI, and coffee. Come as you are and enjoy the chat!

[Registration Closed] OIST Deeptech Mixer (SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Partner Event) | Powered by Bank of the Ryukyus

Held alongside SusHi Tech Tokyo, the OIST Deeptech Mixer brings together OIST researchers and OIST-born startups visiting from Okinawa, alongside corporate partners and venture capitalists already working with OIST. Through featured presentations, you'll gain insight into where OIST innovation stands today — and where it's headed. Following the sessions, a dedicated networking time will provide fertile ground for new collaborations to take shape.

OIST Testbed Symposium: Advancing Regional Challenge-Driven Demonstration Projects

Through its "Regional Core Innovation Ecosystem Development Program," OIST has been advancing demonstration projects this fiscal year across three key domains: energy, mobility, and drone logistics.

This symposium brings together co-implementing partners, policymakers, local governments, and businesses to share outcomes and explore pathways toward integrated regional solutions. Building on the unique challenges faced by island communities like Okinawa, discussions will focus on accelerating cross-sector collaboration and scaling toward real-world implementation in the years ahead.

Space is limited. Please register in advance for both in-person and online attendance.

VC Mentoring Hours: Beyond Next Ventures

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 Beyond Next Ventures.

Registration is required.
If the number of applicants exceeds the available slots, OIST Innovation will select participants based on the information provided in the registration form and the strategic fit with the VC.

Workshop: Translating Scientific Complexity into Narratives

In this workshop, you'll learn how to transform research, data, and technology into narrative beats that tell the right stories to the right audience. While the workshop centers on climate communication, the methods introduced are applicable to any research that aims to move people through scientific storytelling. If you're interested in delivering your message beyond the scientific community, we'd love to have you join us.

Event: The Potential of Okinawa and Kyushu in Shaping Future Deep Tech

Japan’s next wave of global innovation is emerging from the south. This roundtable session, co-hosted by OIST Innovation and Kyushu University Kyusokai, explores the strategic potential of the Okinawa–Kyushu axis as a powerhouse for national-level Deep Tech.

Join us to discuss how we can leverage our unique geographic and academic strengths to create a sustainable supply base for world-changing technologies. We will move beyond theory into the practical realities of venture capital and domain-specific scaling.

Carrot Harvesting Event by EF Polymer

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

US Market Discovery Program

The US Market Discovery Program is an immersive international experience that helps entrepreneurial researchers explore the commercial potential of their technologies in the United States. Through a combination of virtual preparation and an intensive week in Washington, DC, participants engage directly with customers, partners, and mentors to test and refine their business strategies. Grounded in Lean Startup principles, the program emphasizes real-world learning to validate or reshape market entry approaches. Supported by OIST and PARKS, it is an ideal opportunity for innovators ready to take their research beyond the lab and onto the global stage.

From Field to Startup: Solving Okinawa’s Agriculture Challenges