OIST and Lifetime Ventures open startup pitch applications for 2026 deeptech conference

By AI, Created 5:01 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Lifetime Ventures and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University have opened applications for startup pitch slots at OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate 2026, set for Nov. 4-6 in Okinawa. The event is designed to connect deeptech founders with global investors, researchers and corporate partners through pitches, mentoring and networking.

Why it matters: - Startup Elevate is built to speed up fundraising, research collaboration and strategic partnerships for deeptech founders. - The conference gives startups direct access to international venture capital, corporate venture capital and researchers at a major science campus in Okinawa. - OIST Innovation Day adds a new path for founders to find spinout opportunities and commercialize research from OIST.

What happened: - Lifetime Ventures and Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University will host OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate 2026 at the OIST campus in Okinawa, Japan, from Nov. 4-6, 2026. - Applications for startup pitch participants opened May 13, 2026. - The event is invitation-based, and startup participation is subject to selection. - The conference is organized by OIST Innovation and Lifetime Ventures.

The details: - Selected startups will pitch to international investors through a competitive process. - The program includes up to five startup pitches per day. - Founders will also get investor-focused fundraising and partnership pitches. - Pre-event mentoring by venture capitalists is part of the program. - Startups from pre-incorporation teams to early-stage ventures can apply. - Startups not chosen for the main stage may still join poster exhibitions and investor networking sessions. - Application review and interviews will determine selection. - The application deadline is the end of August 2026. - The event website includes the OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate 2026 EN page and application forms for startups and sponsors.

Between the lines: - The organizers are leaning into Japan’s growing pull for global R&D and patent-driven innovation. - Okinawa Prefecture has been named a “Next Startup Ecosystem Hub City” by the Japanese Cabinet Office, which gives the conference added regional policy relevance. - The event is structured to connect science-heavy startups with capital faster than a standard conference format. - The 2025 inaugural event drew 514 participants from 18 countries and produced 370 investor-startup matching meetings, with 97% attendee satisfaction and an NPS above 60. - Participants described the 2025 conference as “a truly unique environment for meaningful connections, unlike conventional pitch events.”

What’s next: - Startup pitch applications remain open through the end of August 2026. - Organizers expect additional international investors to join as guest speakers. - The conference will split into three themed days: Life Science Day, OIST Innovation Day and Deeptech Day. - OIST Innovation Day will focus on pre-commercial research seeds and intellectual property from OIST.

The bottom line: - OIST-Lifetime Startup Elevate 2026 is positioning Okinawa as a meeting point for deeptech founders, global capital and research commercialization.