New startups join the OIST Innovation Accelerator

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is proud to announce the selection of four visionary startups to join the 8th cohort of the OIST Innovation Accelerator, a comprehensive startup support program. These early-stage, deep-tech ventures will receive funding, personalized mentorship, and access to OIST’s world-class research facilities and startup support services to help them scale their solutions from Okinawa to the world.

Meet the Winning Teams

The four selected startups will spend the next 10 months at OIST refining their technology, identifying partners and customers, and preparing to launch in the Japanese and global markets.

CancerFree Biotech
Founder and CEO Po-Han Chen and his team are transforming cancer treatment through liquid biopsy-derived organoids that enable personalized drug testing. Their technology empowers oncologists to tailor therapies with greater precision—reducing side effects and improving patient outcomes.

Perseptive
Led by founder Sara Taghavi Motlagh, Perseptive is developing an advanced dynamic network management system designed to ensure service continuity and infrastructure resilience in the face of large-scale disasters.

Strout Inc.
Founder Kaoru Hirabayashi and his team are revolutionizing aquaculture by merging traditional practices with next-generation technology. Their platform digitizes land-based fish farming, improving fish health, forecasting environmental shifts, and equipping farmers with real-time, data-driven insights.

Tlaloc Blue
Founder Karim Honein and his team are tackling biowaste with an AI-powered vertical ecosystem that upcycles organic waste into high-value outputs—sustainable protein, nutrient-rich compost, and carbon credits.

About the OIST Innovation Accelerator

Launched in FY2018 with support from the Okinawa Prefectural Government, the OIST Innovation Accelerator was established in collaboration with OIST as a program combining entrepreneurship training, an intensive bootcamp, and long-term startup support. Starting in 2023, the program has expanded in scale with support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) through the Program on Open Innovation Platform for Industry-academia Co-creation (COI-NEXT). Selected teams receive up to 10 million JPY in non-dilutive funding, tailored mentorship, investor introductions, and access to OIST’s cutting-edge resources. The program supports science-driven founders who are passionate about bringing impactful technologies to market and building their companies in Okinawa.

Notable alumni include EF Polymer, HerLifeLab, GenomeMiner, Sage Sentinel, Exsure, Circular Powder, Veritus, and Astrek Innovations—startups that have since gone on to raise private investment and launch products globally.

Specialized Tracks: Okinawa Sandbox and Bioconvergence

The accelerator program has two specialized tracks:

• OKINAWA SANDBOX (supported by Okinawa Prefecture): Supporting startups focused on solving the economic, social, and environmental challenges of Okinawa through technology and local engagement.
• BIOCONVERGENCE (supported by COI-NEXT): Targeting technologies aligned with the “One World, One Health” concept, contributing to sustainable solutions for human health and the environment’s health.

From an applicant pool spanning 29 countries, 82 initial applicants were evaluated through a rigorous three-stage process. 25 teams advanced to an online entrepreneurship course, with 12 finalists participating in a two-week onsite bootcamp in Okinawa. The program culminated in a live pitch competition judged by experts from academia, industry, and venture capital.

“OIST is proud to lead the growing innovation ecosystem in Okinawa with our OIST Innovation Accelerator as well as OIST’s startups that we are spinning out in an increased numbers year on year. We are deeply thankful to the Japanese Government, the Okinawa Prefectural Government, the JST COI-NEXT program and METI for their continued partnership,” said Gil Granot-Mayer, Executive Vice President for Innovation and Outreach at OIST. “This year’s selected startups represent the bold, purpose-driven innovation we strive to foster—deep-tech solutions with local relevance and global potential.”

This marks the first cohort to move into OIST Innovation’s brand-new incubator facilities, which will open in the Spring of 2025. The incubators feature shared office and lab spaces, state-of-the-art equipment, and an environment designed to foster collaboration between startups, researchers, and industry partners. The facility is open to both startups and established companies looking to collaborate with OIST.

To learn more about the OIST Innovation Accelerator, please visit: https://www.oist.jp/innovation/accelerator-startup-support-innovation