Tech4Eva gathered a global audience for the first public Roadshow in Tokyo

This week Tech4Eva launched the first  Roadshow in Tokyo, welcoming FemTech experts, Japanese investors, corporates and start-ups for a joint discussion on the Swiss and the Japanese FemTech ecosystem. 

Tech4Eva keeps expanding its worldwide FemTech community with the first Roadshow that took place in Tokyo on May 18th and May 20th. The 2-day virtual voyage created bridges to support FemTech innovation across both the Swiss and the Japanese innovation communities. 

First one in its series, the 2-day Roadshow provided the opportunity for health and FemTech innovators to explore the resources available for entrepreneurs looking to enter the Japanese market and its investment opportunities. 

On May 18th, Fumi Jokura, Director of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) at the Geneva office point,  explained the support service role of JETRO for foreign companies eager to enter the Japanese market, and provided the audience with a general overview of the world’s third largest economy and its rising trend in  FDI stock valued at 357 billion USD in the second quarter of 2020. Diving deeper into the Japanese Life Science industry (and its 5 most attractive markets, being Pharmaceuticals, Medical equipment, Preventive healthcare, Regenerative medicine, Nursing care services) and the Japanese Innovation Hub, Fumi Jokura illustrates the Japanese governmental incentives and regulatory structures for overseas start-ups, including the 25% income deduction as open innovation promotion tax system. 

Lia Camargo, Global Business Manager at Fermata - the Japan-based Tech4Eva networking partner, and Tomoko Minagawa, Director of the Investment Group – Global Brain Corporation, also joined the conversation giving critical insights on the expanding Japanese FemTech market, supported by the METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), and discussed about glocalization (Think Glocal, Act Local) as the best approach for foreign businesses to expand in this country. 

On the second day,  May 20th, it was the turn for the Japan tech ecosystem to explore the advantages and resources supporting innovators entering Switzerland. Toshihiro Matsuda, Head of Invest Promotion of Swiss Business Hub Japan, presented the Switzerland Innovation Ecosystem and its connections to various Japanese corporations such as NTT, Yokogawa, and Idemitsu, that expanded their businesses in Switzerland for its many advantages, including the country’s neutrality, stable economic system, favorable tax system and supporting government, and strong academic research centre.  Additionally, the event attendees, including investors and corporate representatives, were  delighted to hear the pitches of the 15 Tech4Eva growth-stage start-ups participants and three Japan-based FemTech start-ups, namely LunaLuna, Varinos & Vivola, that showcased their technological solutions. 

The Tokyo Roadshow has been a memorable international touchpoint for the Swiss accelerator program, opening the floor to discussions, networking and potential partnerships to improve female’s health and provide an entry point for innovators in both markets.

The next Roadshow will take place in Zurich on July 1st, 2021 giving the opportunity to all FemTech innovators to discover the Swiss Health Ecosystem and connect with the large Swiss partners network.