Crossing Borders: Challenges and Opportunities for Healthtech Startups Entering Japan and the US

*Hybrid Program

Please join us for a candid discussion with executives from several early-stage Japanese and US healthtech startups, including AI Medical, Echopixel, Cuorips, iO Lifescience, KORTUC, and Kallisio Healthcare who will share their experiences, challenges, and tips for success with international expansion.

Moderated by Mika Nishimura, Operating Partner at Gilde Healthcare, the panel will discuss the critical hurdles healthtech companies face when expanding into the US and Japanese markets, including navigating healthcare regulations, payment systems, establishing partnerships, and managing cross-cultural differences. The speakers will also discuss their motivations for international expansion and how they are seeking to fund this growth.

Whether you’re a healthtech entrepreneur, investor, or industry professional, this session will offer valuable insights on the opportunities and challenges of scaling globally in this rapidly evolving sector. This event will also serve to kick off our annual Japan Healthcare week (Nov. 11-15), which will feature multiple conference events and activities in Tokyo and Kumamoto, Japan.

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Our Amazing Speakers

Moderator: Mika Nishimura | Operational Partner, Gilde Healthcare

Over the last 30 years as a life science executive, Mika has built an exceptional track record of leading businesses from inception to scale across different clinical segments, technologies, and business models.

Mika is an independent director on the boards of SI Bone, Inc., Accuray, Inc., and HOYA Corporation.

Since 2011, Mika has been an Operational Partner with Gilde Healthcare Partners, a life-science-focused venture fund with over $2.7B under management.

Mika has an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and a BA in Economics from Yale University.

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Sergio Aguirre | Founder & CEO, EchoPixel

Sergio Aguirre is the Founder and CEO of EchoPixel, a startup company that developed the first FDA approved medical imaging VR/AR product, True3D. Since then, under Sergio’s leadership EchoPixel has introduce Holographic Therapy Guidance (HTG), which allows doctors to perform minimally invasive surgeries using a digital twin of the patient that they experience as a hologram. Mr. Aguirre has been awarded numerous recognitions in entrepreneurship and technology development from Intel and Mexico’s Science Council. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from ITESM in Monterrey Mexico.

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Kazumasa Maenosono | Senior Vice President Strategy and Operations, AI Medical Service, Inc.

Kaz Maenosono is a seasoned leader in medical technology, with over 20 years of expertise in capital equipment, disposable medical devices, pathology services, and artificial intelligence solutions. As the SVP of Strategy and Operations at AI Medical Service America, Kaz directs U.S. initiatives aimed at advancing healthcare through cutting-edge AI-powered diagnostic platforms. His leadership experience spans both U.S. and Japanese companies, across organizations of varying sizes and stages, from large enterprises to startups, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and driving strategic growth in the medical technology sector.

Previously, Kaz held key executive roles at CDx Diagnostics, ConvaTec, and Fujifilm Medical Systems USA, where he was instrumental in developing and executing comprehensive commercialization strategies that successfully brought innovative products to market. Kaz holds an MBA from Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.

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Kazu Matsuda | Founder and CEO, KORTUC Inc.

Kazu Matsuda is the founder and CEO of KORTUC Inc., a late-stage clinical biotech startup developing a novel radio sensitizer designed to improve the effectiveness of conventional cancer radiotherapy, potentially benefiting 10 million patients worldwide each year.

Originally rooted in Japanese academia, KORTUC has strategically relocated its headquarters from Tokyo to Palo Alto to be at the center of the global radiotherapy ecosystem. The company is currently conducting pivotal clinical trial, with plans to initially launch its drug in the U.S. and EU markets.

KORTUC is poised to become the first Japanese biotech startup to achieve global market entry, overcoming numerous challenges and capitalizing on the unique opportunities afforded by its presence in Silicon Valley.

With over 20 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur, Kazu’s career includes leadership roles at Mitsubishi Corporation and Merrill Lynch (Investment Banking). He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BA in Economics from the University of Tokyo. 

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Hiro Otake, MD, MBA, MSc | Digital Health Startup Advisor, Professor of Medical Innovation, Showa University 

Hiro is a seasoned digital health startup advisor and academic physician with over 20 years of experience as a critical care physician and anesthesiologist. He has played a pivotal role in introducing cutting-edge technology into clinical practice, including the first tele-ICU program in Asia, which significantly improved ICU care quality.

Hiro has held prominent leadership positions at Showa University School of Medicine, where he contributed to hospital redevelopment projects and spearheaded the integration of global technologies into Japanese healthcare settings. His academic background spans prestigious institutions, including MD from the University of Tokyo, MBA from the University of Chicago, and MSc from Stanford University, where he gained expertise in clinical informatics, management, and finance. As a former McKinsey consultant, Hiro is also recognized for his ability to drive innovation at the intersection of medicine, technology, and business development.

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Rajan Patel | CEO, iO Lifescience

Rajan Patel is an experienced leader in the medical device industry, bringing over three decades of expertise in key areas such as diagnostics, critical care, and patient monitoring. With a distinguished career that includes senior leadership roles at some of the world’s most prominent healthcare companies, Rajan has consistently excelled in research and development, manufacturing, and driving technological innovation. As the CEO of iO Life Science and iO Life Ventures, he leads the development and incubation of cutting-edge medical technologies, while managing an impressive portfolio of more than 20 startups. His expertise encompasses not only guiding early-stage ventures through the complexities of product development but also securing essential funding and enabling successful exits for startups. Rajan’s deep industry knowledge and strategic insights position him as an invaluable partner for emerging companies, offering both operational and financial guidance. Under his leadership, iO Lifescience collaborates with global pharmaceutical and medtech firms, ensuring streamlined product development and creating sustainable growth and long-term success on an international scale.

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