Japan-Brazil BioTech Startup Night 2026
2026/1/22
Remarks from Deputy Consul General Ishihara
Remarks from Consul General Costa
On Wednesday, January 14, Deputy Consul General Takeshi Ishihara attended the Japan-Brazil BioTech Startup Night, held in parallel with the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. The event was organized by the Consulates General of Japan and Brazil in San Francisco, with APEX Brasil, the Brazilian Pharmochemical Industry Association (ABIQUIFI), the Brazilian-American Life Sciences Association (BALSA), the Japan Innovation Campus, and MBC BioLabs as co-hosts.
The event began with opening remarks from Consul General of Brazil in San Francisco Ronaldo Costa Filho, followed by remarks from Deputy Consul General Ishihara. Afterwards, Daniel Meirelles Fernandes Pereira, Director at the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) and Yuta Iwabuchi, Deputy Director of the Bio-Industry Division at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), gave presentations on their respective countries’ health innovation support policies. Then, there was a panel discussion featuring Antonio Henriques, co-founder and CEO of Momentum Therapeutics and co-president of BALSA; Lauren Gehman, co-founder and CEO of Merge Therapeutics; and Ying Kai Chan, co-founder and CEO of Cirrus Therapeutics.
Finally, Brazilian and Japanese healthcare startups took the stage for a series of electric pitches. Brazil side startups included huna, Telavita, BioLinker, and Orby, while Japan side startups included Universal Brain, JUNTEN BIO, Kortuc, and bitBiome. These innovators presented their solutions in mental health tech, cell therapies, cancer and nervous system treatments, and more. JIC Director Hiroyo Akashi and Deputy Consul General of Brazil in San Francisco Mariana Ferreira Cardoso Thiele provided the closing remarks.
The event ended with a networking reception, where an audience of healthcare industry professionals from Brazil, Japan, and the US forged new bonds.
The event began with opening remarks from Consul General of Brazil in San Francisco Ronaldo Costa Filho, followed by remarks from Deputy Consul General Ishihara. Afterwards, Daniel Meirelles Fernandes Pereira, Director at the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) and Yuta Iwabuchi, Deputy Director of the Bio-Industry Division at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), gave presentations on their respective countries’ health innovation support policies. Then, there was a panel discussion featuring Antonio Henriques, co-founder and CEO of Momentum Therapeutics and co-president of BALSA; Lauren Gehman, co-founder and CEO of Merge Therapeutics; and Ying Kai Chan, co-founder and CEO of Cirrus Therapeutics.
Finally, Brazilian and Japanese healthcare startups took the stage for a series of electric pitches. Brazil side startups included huna, Telavita, BioLinker, and Orby, while Japan side startups included Universal Brain, JUNTEN BIO, Kortuc, and bitBiome. These innovators presented their solutions in mental health tech, cell therapies, cancer and nervous system treatments, and more. JIC Director Hiroyo Akashi and Deputy Consul General of Brazil in San Francisco Mariana Ferreira Cardoso Thiele provided the closing remarks.
The event ended with a networking reception, where an audience of healthcare industry professionals from Brazil, Japan, and the US forged new bonds.
Presentation by ANVISA
Presentation by METI
Panel discussion
Presentations by Brazilian startups
Presentation by Japanese startups
Networking
