On Wednesday, October 29th, we held the "3rd Kansai Startup Pitch: Young People Creating the Future - HealthTech & Wellbeing Challenge Co-created by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises."

On Wednesday, October 29th, the "3rd Kansai Startup Pitch Event for 'Young People Creating the Future' - HealthTech & Wellbeing Challenge Co-created by Small and Medium Enterprises" was held at the Qrossover Lounge Yume on the second floor of Nakanoshima Qross.

The purpose of this event is to promote collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises in the Kansai region, including manufacturing companies in Higashi-Osaka City, and university-based startups, and to promote new business creation, joint research, and capital alliances in the cutting-edge fields of HealthTech and Wellbeing.
This was the third time the event was held, and it was organized by the Future Medical Promotion Organization and the Yumeshima New Industry and Urban Creation Organization as an initiative that aims to simultaneously solve social issues in the fields of medicine, health, and welfare and create new industries.

Opening Session

The event began with opening remarks from Yoshiki Sawa, Chairman of the Future Medical Promotion Organization, and Ryuichi Morotomi, Vice Chairman of Biocommunity Kansai.

Next, Yoshikazu Noda, Mayor of Higashiosaka City, spoke about the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises in Osaka and the significance of collaboration.
In addition, in a special lecture, Chairman Sawa spoke about his vision for the "Osaka Model" of a future medical startup ecosystem.

Part 1: Pitches by university-based startups

In the first part of the event, 11 university-originated startups active in a wide range of fields, including medical AI, regenerative medicine, digital health, and infectious disease control, took to the stage and gave enthusiastic presentations on their innovative technologies and services.
Many of the speakers were physicians and researchers with expertise, and they shared the real challenges they face in the implementation phase.

Part 2: Presentations by government agencies, support organizations, and financial institutions

In the second part, representatives from related organizations such as Higashiosaka City, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and the Future Medical Promotion Organization took to the stage to introduce the support options offered by each organization and the possibility of corporate collaboration.

Part 3: Commentary, Award Ceremony, and Closing Ceremony

In the first part of the event, the startups that took the stage were given a critique and commended, and the following prizes were awarded:

Biocommunity Kansai (Judge: Ryuichi Morotomi)

• Startup Subcommittee Special Trial Speaking Rights: Nanospike Inc. CTO Ken Ito 

Future Medicine Promotion Organization (Judge: Yoshiki Sawa)

• Nakanoshima Qross "Qrossover Lounge Yume" co-working space usage rights: Mr. Tatsuya Yamada, Director of GramEye Co., Ltd. 
• Mentoring rights with Nakanoshima Qross expert supporters: Akihide Konishi, CEO of TCN Prime Co., Ltd. 

Yumeshima New Industry and Urban Creation Organization (Judge: Takako Igaki)

• Certificate of commendation + Encouragement award (5 yen) + Yumeshima Organization membership benefits: Mr. Yoshito Otake, Director of MICBON Co., Ltd.

Afterwards, Takako Igaki, Representative Director of the Yumeshima New Industry and Urban Creation Organization, gave closing remarks and offered words of encouragement to the startup company speakers.

networking

At the end of the event, a networking session was held, where diverse participants, including startups, companies, and government officials, actively interacted with each other.
The dialogue deepened with a view to future co-creation and project creation.