AN Venture Partners (ANV), a global biotech venture capital fund, will host the “Science2Startup (S2S) Japan 2025 Symposium” on November 13. Following the success of last year’s event, the program continues to accelerate the transition of Japan’s leading life science innovations into real-world applications.

S2S Japan was founded by ANV and is jointly organized with CIC Institute, the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC), and the Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK-J). Adapted from a US-based program, S2S Japan connects academic life science discoveries in Japan with global investors and pharmaceutical companies, aiming to generate practical application on a global scale. This year, six finalists have already been selected.

At the S2S Japan Symposium in 2024, approximately 200 scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors gathered for presentations by the finalists as well as by expert speakers, fostering active networking and knowledge exchange. Several of last year’s finalists have already launched startups and commercialized their research. Notably, Dr. Yoshikazu Nakaoka of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, in collaboration with his mentor, Andrew Levin of RA Capital Management, has founded Pahr Therapeutics to develop innovative therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), raising $ 14 million in seed funding.

A key feature of the S2S Japan program is the intensive mentorship finalists receive from top-tier US venture capitalists prior to the symposium, allowing them to refine their business plans and slide decks ahead of the final presentation.

“I am delighted to continue connecting Japan’s outstanding science with the global ecosystem through S2S Japan,” said Ken Horne, Managing Partner of ANV. “This year’s finalists represent a diverse range of innovative and promising research, and ANV remains committed to supporting the symposium as a catalyst for the global practical application of these breakthroughs.”

Science2Startup (S2S) Japan 2025 Symposium Overview

  • Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
  • Venue: Tokyo, Japan
  • Finalists:
    Eijiro Miyako, Ph.D. (Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
    Hirokazu Arimoto, Ph.D. (Tohoku University, Graduate School of Life Sciences)
    Megumu K. Saito, Ph.D. (Kyoto University, ENIC Immunology)
    Naoki Koabayashi (Japan Institute for Health Security)
    Natsuki Furukawa, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University, Terebra Therapeutics)
    Satoshi Nagamine, Ph.D. (Radena Sciences)

For further details on Science2Startup (S2S) Japan, please visit the official website or its LinkedIn page.

To participate the symposium, please apply through the registration page.

 
About AN Venture Partners

ANV is a Tokyo and San Francisco-based multi-stage, global biotech venture capital firm specializing in bridging innovative science from Japan with the US start-up ecosystem. ANV Fund I is a USD200 million fund that closed in June 2025. The firm was established in 2022 by a group of experienced venture capitalists from Japan and the United States, who have a wealth of experience building start-ups. ANV is committed to strengthening Japan’s biotech ecosystem and founded initiatives such as Science2Startup Japan to accelerate ecosystem growth.

Media Contacts
Email: info@an.vc