Call for startups: A 6-Month Hands-On Program to Build a Globally Competitive Life Science Startup

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A 6-Month Hands-On Program to Build a Globally Competitive Life Science Startup
The Masterclass Program by BioLabs

■What is The Masterclass Program by BioLabs?
The Masterclass Program by BioLabs is an acceleration program delivered in collaboration with BioLabs, a leading life science incubator that has supported 500+ life science startups across 16 global locations.
This program provides practical, hands-on support for life science startups from pre-seed to Series A stages, helping them scale and succeed in the global market.

Through expert-led webinars, mentoring, and pitch coaching leveraging BioLabs’ global network—as well as direct opportunities to connect with investors and corporate partners—participants will refine and elevate their business strategies with a clear focus on international expansion.

We welcome applications from ambitious life science startups ready to take on the global market.
 

■Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for those who:

• Are involved in the management of a startup
• Have already expanded overseas or are considering global expansion
• Feel uncertain about building and leveraging international networks
• Want to refine and strengthen their business strategy
• Want to learn about Target Product Profile (TPP) development
• Want to learn how to deliver a compelling and effective pitch

■What You Will Gain?

• Access to a global network, particularly in the United States
• A deep understanding of the differences between Japanese and U.S. startup growth models
• Insights into clinical, regulatory, and business strategies tailored for the U.S. market
• Practical knowledge on investor-ready pitching and fundraising strategies
• Strategic perspectives on team building and business development for global expansion

■Program Components:

• Online webinars: 6 times
• Online mentorings: 8 times
• Online pitch coaching: 2 times
• On-site workshops
• An opportunity to present at a demo day attended by corporations and investors
• Additional exposure opportunities through LINK-J activities (planned)

We welcome applications from life sciences startups aiming for global growth.
 

Apply here

Post-Program Feedback from Cohort 1

Participant Feedback

◇Through a rich series of webinars and mentoring sessions, participants gained insights from multiple expert perspectives on the differences between biotech and medtech, as well as between the Japanese and U.S. ecosystems. These learnings provided valuable guidance for refining business plans and preparing for fundraising.

◇Mentoring by experts across various functions helped participants identify concrete approaches to addressing the challenges they face in their day-to-day operations.

◇Demo Day was a highly valuable experience. In addition to receiving specific and actionable feedback through meetings with major pharmaceutical companies, participants were able to connect with companies in newly emerging fields they are exploring. This offered access to the latest industry trends and behind-the-scenes insights that are often difficult to grasp from academic publications alone.

◇The Q&A sessions at Demo Day, featuring leading professionals from pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms, helped participants clarify future strategic directions and recognize areas for improvement within their own organizations. This was also a strong learning opportunity.

*For a list of participating startups and highlights from Demo Day, please click here.

Application Guidelines

Application Requirements

[Business Area]
Discovery-stage life science startups (Preferred human health technologies – therapeutics, devices, diagnostics)

[Business Stage]

• Established company with 1-10 employees, ready to learn how to scale to global stage
• Startup that has been established for less than 10 years since its founding
• Funding stage: Preferred Pre-seed, Seed, working to raise Series A VC funding
• Own their IP, or exclusive use license from university or other spinout entity

[Language]
Applicants must be able to communicate at a business level in English.
Note: All contents including document screening, pitch screening, lectures, mentoring, and demo day in this program will be conducted in English.

[Other Requirements]
Applicants must be

• able to disclose business details as non-confidential information.
• able to participate in all selection processes leading to the final selection.
• able to participate in all events and programs planned in this program.
• conducting business in Tokyo or have plans/intention to do so in the future.

Application Method and Screening Process

(1) Application Schedule

(*1) The results of the document screening will be notified via email, regardless of the outcome.
(*2) The schedule for the pitch screening day will be separately notified to those who pass the document screening.
(*3) All times are Japan Standard Time.

(2) Submission Documents

Please prepare and submit the following materials in English.

*Please limit the disclosure to non-confidential information.  We cannot be held responsible for any confidential information disclosed.

(3) Document Submission Method

Please upload via the entry form. 
Submit the documents with the file names "TIB_CompanyName_Overview" and "TIB_CompanyName_Aspiration".

(4) Screening Process

Document Screening -> Pitch Screening -> Selection of Companies 
Approximately five companies will be selected.

Important Notes

• If your application includes confidential information or deviates from the application conditions, any resulting compensation, claims, or issues will be the sole responsibility of the applicant. The organizers, co-organizers, and sponsors will not be held responsible for any such matters.
• Applications with incomplete or false information will not be considered for screening.
• We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the screening content.
• The program content may change due to the organizer's circumstances. Please understand this in advance.
• Due to time differences, the program may be conducted outside of regular business hours.

Program Overview

Please refer to the schedule below for the overall program. 
The planned dates are provisional and subject to change.
 

Virtual program

Tokyo Biotech day (In-person program)

Pitch Screening Judges

Profile

Dr. Laura Stevens Sr. Project Manager Business Development, BioLabs Laura Stevens, PhD, is a Senior Project Manager in Business Development at BioLabs, focusing on expansion into North America and Asia. She earned her PhD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and previously worked at Boston-based biotech startups in autoimmune and inflammation research. She is based at BioLabs’ headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Additionally, several judges will join from Mitsui Fudosan and LINK-J.

Application Information Session

Online information sessions will be held for companies considering applying to this program. 
*The content of the first and second sessions will be the same.
 

#1
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 4, from 12:00 to 12:45 PM
Location: Zoom Webinar
Registration: https://evententry.link-j.org/public/seminar/view/34

#2
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 17, from 12:00 to 12:45 PM
Location: Zoom Webinar
Registration:  https://evententry.link-j.org/public/seminar/view/13302
 

Reference Information: Webinar Themes, Speakers, and Mentors for Cohort 1

The webinar themes, speakers, and mentors for Cohort 1 (held in 2025) were as follows.
The content for Cohort 2 will be adjusted based on the participating teams and is therefore undecided at this time.

Webinars

Mentors
Experts who support the growth of startups from multiple angles participated as mentors.
Their areas of expertise encompassed the following domains, providing a broad range of insights.

[Examples of their expertise]

• Executive leadership experience in biotechnology startups
• Business development
• Investment and corporate evaluation
• Consulting
• GxP compliance
• Non‑clinical and pre‑clinical studies
• Research and development
• Licensing
• Open innovation
• Incubation laboratory
   

Organizers

Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK-J)
BioLabs Global, Inc.
 

Contact

LINK-J secretariat
Contact persons: Yasuga, Imoto
E-mail: contact@link-j.org

BioLabs-Related News

BioLabs Decides to Open BioLabs Tokyo,
its First Directly Operated Coworking Wet Lab in Asia,
in Shinkiba, Tokyo, a Neighborhood Where Researchers Gather
Accelerating the Clustering of Researchers by Providing an Incubation Platform Specializing in Life Science Startups

BioLabs Global, Inc. announced that, with the support of Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., a leading global real estate company headquartered in Tokyo, and Life Science Innovation Network Japan Inc. (LINK-J), it will open BioLabs Tokyo at MITSUI LINK-Lab SHINKIBA 2 in Shinkiba, Tokyo, a neighborhood where researchers gather. The new facility is scheduled to open in spring 2026 or later.

BioLabs Tokyo will be BioLabs’ first directly operated coworking lab in Asia. With BioLabs Tokyo’s entry onto the scene, new partnerships and collaborations among startups and diverse players from Japan and abroad are expected to accelerate in Tokyo’s Shinkiba area, driving further expansion in the clustering of researchers. BioLabs, Mitsui Fudosan, and LINK-J will contribute to building an ecosystem for the life sciences domain not only in Tokyo’s Shinkiba area, but also across Japan as a whole, thereby helping to enhance the international competitiveness of research in the life sciences domain.

For more details, please refer to the press release.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact LINK-J.