Our Story

Brilliant ideas deserve to move beyond the bench.
Many scientific founders face the challenge of transforming groundbreaking research into a standalone company that can change the lives of patients. Created by Saisei Ventures, Bridge to Biotech aims to close that gap by guiding and supporting Japanese entrepreneurs and scientific founders on their journey from lab to clinic.
 
Participants will receive hands-on mentorship, strategic and operational guidance in order to create a clear, compelling plan that resonates with investors. Upon completing the program, these scientific founders are equipped with the tools they need to move beyond the lab and into the world of biotech entrepreneurship, ultimately accelerating new therapies for patients.

Global Expertise, Local Roots

While rooted in Japan’s academic ecosystem, Bridge to Biotech connects founders with global investors, advisors and industry veterans, ensuring that companies are built to compete on a global stage.

Collaborative Ecosystem for Growth

Startups gain access to Saisei’s networks of pharma partners, government entities, academics and limited partners who can support their long-term growth.

Hands-on Operator Focus

Our team brings decades of drug development expertise and a proven track record of building and leading successful biotech and pharma companies. We go above and beyond by providing practical, operator-level guidance to help founders launch and scale their ventures.

Strengthened by Leading Partners

With support from the Ministry of Health and academic collaboration with institutions such as Kyushu University, Bridge to Biotech stands on a foundation of strong partnerships. These relationships expand the program’s reach and accelerate the translation of Japanese science into therapies that reach patients worldwide.

How it Works

Once you are accepted into the program, you will be assigned a program manager as your primary point of contact. Your manager will coordinate all program activities, answer questions and ensure everything goes smoothly.

Each cohort takes place over several months, and you’ll work directly with your program manager to create a development plan tailored to you and your research. This plan will outline a sequence of checkpoints and program milestones for program completion. 

Throughout the program, your program manager will facilitate engagement with biotech industry veterans who will advise you on important areas such as fundraising and pitching, operations, communications, recruiting and regulatory strategy.

Throughout the program, your progress will be reviewed against the development plan so you can receive actionable feedback from your program manager and subject-matter experts. This ongoing review process helps keep you on track and prepares you to present a compelling, investor-ready plan by the end of the program.