Join us at Deep Tech Forum Boston to meet top researchers from Japan as they turn cutting-edge research into real-world ventures. These visionary innovators are seeking investors, partners, and collaborators to bring their technologies to the global market.

📅 Date: February 13, 2025
📍 Location: Boston area, MA

🔹 Discover pioneering technologies from Japan’s leading universities
🔹 Connect with researchers shaping the future of deep tech
🔹 Explore investment and collaboration opportunities

Meet the Innovators

Maya-mind® – AI-Driven Dementia Diagnostics

Dr. Gajanan Revankar, Osaka University

A mobile health platform using AI to identify dementia subtypes and support early intervention.

ROP Prediction Software – Preventing Child Blindness

Dr. Motoshi Sobue, Nara Institute of Science and Technology

A non-invasive software solution predicting the progression of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in newborns.

Thermal Management for an Energy-Efficient Society

Dr. Jun Hirotani, Kyoto University

Developing nanomaterial-based thermal management solutions to improve energy efficiency.

Next-Gen Photodynamic Therapy for Eye Diseases

Dr. Tatsuya Murakami, Toyama Prefecture University

Advancing photodynamic therapy with innovative drug delivery for macular degeneration treatment.

About KSAC – Kansai Startup Acceleration Center

KSAC is a leading platform dedicated to building a world-class startup ecosystem in the Kansai region of Japan. With over 80 institutions from academia, industry, and finance, KSAC fosters university-based startups and supports their global expansion.

(Original post on Medium by Sabrina Sasaki from Monozukuri Ventures)

After a hectic year with activities in Toronto, NYC, Pittsburgh, Kyoto, Boston & the Bay Area, it’s time to recap some of highlights of the event series we co-hosted in Canada, the US & Japan, as we plan the next gatherings in 2025!

Earlier this year, I shared some initial thoughts on the series of events we kicked off in 2024:

Winter

• Jan 15th: Deep Tech Forum Toronto at Tory’s LLP
• Jan 17th: Deep Tech Forum NYC at IndieBio NY
• Jan 19th: Deep Tech Forum Pittsburgh at Robotics Factory

Spring

• March 8th: Deep Tech Forum Kyoto (Japan)
• April 30th: Monozukuri Hub Meetup with J-BRIDGE: Global Robotics Innovation Welcome Reception in Boston with JETRO.

Fall

• Sept 24h: Deep Tech Forum NYC — Climate Tech with HAX/SOSV in Newark, NJ
• Oct 15th: Deep Tech Silicon Valley at Venture Lab Niterra Group in Santa Clara, CA

The only place where we co-hosted two events in less than 10 months was NYC metro area, where our events in January at IndieBio and September at HAX Newark helped to highlight the new wave of innovation happening beyond SaaS/fintech hubs, mainly focused on hardtech, deep tech and climate tech, where physical solutions that will impact carbon emissions actually happen!

https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FFmYz4mmf2q4%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFmYz4mmf2q4&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FFmYz4mmf2q4%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtubeSusan Schofer, Chief Science Officer of HAX, SOSV’s Keynote Address: Can Hard Tech Drive Net-Zero? Innovating for Globally Secure Supply Chains.

This time we chose the new HQ of HAX in Newark, one of the most relevant hardtech accelerators in the world, as part of SOSV, a global venture capital firm providing investments to support deep tech founders. Many hardtech founders in the startup community have mentioned they were not aware of this new hub, since HAX used to be based in Shenzhen, China. More over, SOSV Closed in 2024 a Climate Tech Startup Fund of $306 Million, which will be helping to accelerate the pace of startups disrupting the dirty, dull, dangerous and dear, a.k.a the 4 Ds of robotization (more on this Forbes‘s article).

So why does it make sense to co-host an event in Newark during Climate Week NYC? In order to understand the deep tech startup ecosystem, we must expand our reach beyond Manhattan, where most financial players are based, and consider the entire metro area, where supply chain, logistics and manufacturing players are based!

Many Japanese manufacturing companies I met recently haven’t been aware of how their own industry is currently facing major changes in the way things are done in the US, from supply chain and logistics to procurement, considering new goals on carbon footprint reduction and overall a more sustainable production. And most surprisingly, how the semiconductor and manufacturing industries will need to improve their current processes in order to survive the next wave of automation influenced by advances in AI and autonomous solutions aligned with new decarbonization goals.

NYC: The New Epicenter of Deep Tech Innovation — How Robotics, AI & Automation are Tackling Climate Challenges

In the fast-evolving landscape of climate technologies, New York City is quickly emerging as a central player, bringing together many ecosystem players in deep tech innovation, specially in robotics, AI, automation, thanks to the urban and mobility tech market potential.

The city’s historical importance as a trade and financial hub, alongside robust educational and research institutions and strong governmental support, has positioned NYC at the forefront of what may be the most significant technological shift in urban and environmental sustainability.

But how exactly are these deep tech fields — primarily robotics, AI, and automation — poised to address some of the world’s toughest climate challenges? And what does NYC’s unique ecosystem offer that sets it apart from other tech hubs? These are some of the questions to be further discussed within our next events.

NYC’s Deep Tech Edge: Where Robotics and Climate Solutions Intersect

Climate tech is a term that has gained momentum in recent years, and each corporation or investment firm might have its own interpretations and/or detailed metrics. But at its core and in order to make it simplified for our own conversations, we’d assume it’s a “tech with a focus on reducing waste and carbon footprint”

From minimizing carbon emissions to optimizing resources and waste management, climate tech solutions aim to make every aspect of life more sustainable. Within this realm, robotics and automation play an essential role in enhancing efficiency, reducing energy use, and innovating manufacturing processes, from how raw materials are sourced, transported and transformed into final products, which in turn will be distributed via logistics centers across the globe.

One example brought at the panel discussion was Standard Bots, a company designing and manufacturing robotic arms entirely within the United States. By localizing production, they not only reduce the environmental impact associated with overseas manufacturing but also help create a supply chain less reliant on global logistics — a critical step in reducing carbon footprints and making tech solutions more sustainable.

Advanced Manufacturing for Sustainability: The New Industrial Evolution

Manufacturing has traditionally been a major source of carbon emissions and environmental degradation. However, with NYC’s deep tech focus, the industry is shifting toward advanced, decentralized manufacturing that aims to support sustainability targets in urban areas.

Robotics and automation are at the heart of this transformation, enabling more efficient production processes that cut down on waste and energy use.

Yet, despite these advances, onshoring production still faces challenges. New business models, cutting-edge technology, and innovative supply chain strategies are essential to making onshoring feasible, sustainable, and cost-effective. The push for onshoring is partly driven by government policies, such as the Investing in America plan and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which encourage clean energy investments and infrastructure upgrades.

Investment and Corporate Appetite in Climate Tech

NYC’s position as a climate tech epicenter isn’t only due to robotics and innovation. A thriving investment landscape, backed by city, state, and federal incentives, is fueling climate-focused startups. Recent trends show a transition from simply creating enabling technologies to integrating solutions that address concrete environmental issues. This shift has garnered substantial interest from corporations eager to engage with early-stage startups and implement climate tech solutions in their own operations.

Government initiatives like I-Corps offer additional support, providing companies with resources and guidance to take their ideas from labs to real-world applications.

Moreover, spaces like HAX’s new Newark location and newLab at Brooklyn Navy Yard, provide startups with the infrastructure they need to iterate rapidly and make meaningful progress, positioning the region as a powerhouse of climate innovation.

NYC’s Educational Powerhouse Fuels Climate Tech Progress

No innovation hub is complete without a strong educational and research foundation. NYC’s numerous universities and institutions, located within a 30–40-mile radius, play a vital role in developing the talent and knowledge necessary for climate solutions. From NYU to Columbia and CUNY, these institutions foster a pipeline of skilled individuals and research partnerships that directly impact the success of climate tech startups.

The presence of such a robust educational ecosystem also facilitates knowledge transfer and workforce development. By connecting with industry leaders and tapping into research hubs, NYC’s climate tech ecosystem benefits from a continuous influx of fresh ideas, technical expertise, and entrepreneurial talent.

Collaboration and Ecosystem Cohesion: Key to NYC’s Climate Tech Success

In the deep tech and climate tech industries, collaboration is crucial. Cross-sector partnerships between robotics, AI, mobility, and other sectors enable a more cohesive ecosystem where diverse technologies can be integrated and optimized. For instance, robotics and automation can pair with mobility solutions to reduce urban traffic emissions or collaborate with AI to monitor and manage energy consumption across a city.

Policy changes, too, play a pivotal role in scaling climate solutions. Encouraging companies and their supply chains to stay local fosters an environment where rapid execution is possible, supported by an ecosystem of partners who are all working toward the same goals.

Final Thoughts: NYC as a Model for the Future of Climate Tech Innovation

As climate tech evolves from enabling technologies to real-world solutions, NYC stands out as an epicenter of innovation, collaboration, and investment. Its unique combination of governmental support, corporate interest, educational infrastructure, and talent pool has created an environment ripe for tackling climate challenges.

NYC is setting a powerful example of what it takes to build a sustainable future through robotics, AI, automation, and deep tech innovation. As the need for climate solutions becomes more pressing, cities around the world may look to NYC’s approach as a blueprint for integrating technology, sustainability, and community to make a lasting impact on the environment.

By harnessing its strengths and investing in a collaborative ecosystem, NYC is not only becoming a leader in deep tech but also paving the way for a future where urban innovation and climate responsibility go hand in hand.

Join the Conversation: if you’d like to join our Deep Tech Forum series to drive impactful discussions, foster cross-border partnerships, and build the future of manufacturing, let’s meet in NYC on Jan 22th for our next Deep Tech Forum event: https://lu.ma/ftlf7565?

Don’t Miss Our Events on the East and West Coast this Fall!

Join us for two exciting Deep Tech Forum events this fall, bringing together top innovators, investors, and industry leaders on both coasts of the U.S. Whether you’re interested in the latest in climate tech or exploring collaboration opportunities between CVCs and VCs for breakthrough innovations, our forums in Newark, NJ, and Silicon Valley, CA, have you covered.

Deep Tech Forum – Fall 2024

• 9/24 NY Metro (Newark, NJ)
• 10/15 Silicon Valley (Santa Clara, CA)

Deep Tech Forum NYC: Climate Tech with HAX/SOSV

• Date: September 24, 2024
• Location: Newark, NJ (In the New York Metro Area)

Dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of Climate Tech at our NYC forum. Hosted in collaboration with HAX/SOSV, one of the leading deep tech accelerators, this event is designed for startups, investors, corporate venture capitalists (CVCs), and government stakeholders who are passionate about sustainable technology and innovation.

What to Expect:

• Expert Panels and Keynotes: Learn from industry experts and thought leaders on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in climate tech
• Startup Pitches and Demos: Discover the next big thing in climate innovation with live pitches and product demonstrations from emerging startups supported by HAX/SOSV.
• Networking Opportunities: Engage with like-minded professionals, investors, and corporate partners who are driving the future of sustainable technology.

Why Attend?

• Gain insights into the latest climate tech innovations and investment trends.
• Connect with key players in the deep tech and sustainability ecosystem.
• Explore potential partnerships, investments, and collaborations.

View Details and Request to join for NYC Event

Deep Tech Forum Silicon Valley: CVC & VC Collaboration for Innovation

• Date: October 15, 2024
• Location: Santa Clara, CA

Explore the power of collaboration between Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) and Venture Capital (VC) firms at our Silicon Valley forum. Located at the heart of tech innovation, this event will bring together some of the most influential CVCs, VCs, startups, and industry leaders to discuss strategic partnerships and collaborative models for driving deep tech innovation.

What to Expect:

• High-Impact Panel Discussions: Hear from top CVC and VC leaders about their collaboration strategies, investment focus areas, and success stories in deep tech.
• Interactive Workshops: Participate in workshops designed to foster meaningful conversations and partnerships between investors and startups.
• Pitch Sessions and Networking: Meet cutting-edge startups and engage with potential partners and investors who are shaping the future of technology.

Why Attend?

• Learn how CVCs and VCs can collaborate effectively to accelerate innovation.
• Network with top-tier investors, corporate executives, and deep tech entrepreneurs.
• Discover new opportunities for funding, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.

View Details and Request to join for Silicon Valley Event

(Original post on Medium by Sabrina Sasaki from Monozukuri Ventures)

After Deep Tech Forum 2024 series in Toronto, Pittsburgh and NYC (winter edition), Spring was a good time to catch up with a few selected hubs in the East Coast to follow up with deep tech ecosystems. As a half-year review, this recap brings together what I’ve seen in in this first semester of 2024.

As a first stop in Boston, where we co-hosted our first ever Monozukuri Hub Meetup in the US with the support of JETRO NY (J-Startup), we were able to gather over 12 Japanese corporations for a networking session. I arrived in the city one week before our event to get a sense of the local ecosystem in the Spring.

As Spring kicked off in Boston a bit later than in Japan, I had the chance to enjoy sakuras (cherry blossom trees) from Kyoto (in late March) to Boston (in late April) — not necessarily the best experience for someone suffering with severe hay fever!

I landed in Boston straight from Japan, arriving when TechCrunch Early Stage took place. This type of industry broad event tends to attract generic investors with agnostic thesis, like in most hubs. But not in Boston!

• Early Stage Deep Tech Happy Hour: by AlleyCorp, Anzu Partners, Argon VC, Aurelia Foundry, Converge Ventures, Cybernetix Ventures, First Star Ventures, Glasswing Ventures, Hyperplane Ventures, and SkyRiver Ventures, a happy hour with deep tech founders, operators, and investors. It was one of the best networking events I’ve ever been to. Very curated specialized professionals with a vast expertise in the fields of robotics, AI, computer science, physics, chemistry and many engineering fields. Boston really has a best in class community, and most investors have been either founders or operators, with a different perspective on what it takes for a startup to succeed.

• HAX Deep Tech Boston: first ever HAX meetup in Boston was hosted at the Engine (MIT-related hub). HAX, a hardtech accelerator previously based out of Shenzhen, China is now positioned as the ‘startup development program in Newark, NJ from SOSV Fund to support hard tech founders working on health and climate startups’. It’s not a concidence that SOSV is interested in the Boston region, as many of the key verticals are related to the hub. IndieBio program is also specialized in biotech startups with offices in NYC and SF, and brought their team to Boston to meet students, engineers, scientists and climate leaders.

Robotics Summit Expo

As warm up for the Robotics Summit, Device Talks & Digital Transformation, we co-hosted Monozukuri Hub: JETRO/J-BRIDGE CONNECTS for Global Robotics Innovation in Boston focused on attendees in the Robotics, AI & Automation in Manufacturing!

Over 120 attendees, including over 12 Japanese corporations, joined our initiative supported by Cybernetix Ventures and Pittsburgh Robotics Network, both hubs relevant for the emerging technologies in the startup ecosystem.

Robotics Invest by Cybernetix Ventures

Robotics Invest 2024 was definitely one of the most relevant opportunities to meet the top investors, advisors, operators, customers and founders in the ecosystem. The two day event featured sessions on investment trends, AI’s impact on robotics, climate tech, and the robotics acquisition landscape.

Keynote speakers included famous local entrepreneur celebrities who attracted a global audience of fans and followers.

• Day one: Dean Kamen, serial entrepreneur, inventor and philantropist, invention of the Segway and iBOT, world-known products in the mobility and robotics space.

https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FaQykTmY-LJ4%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DaQykTmY-LJ4&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FaQykTmY-LJ4%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube

• Day two: Marc Raibert, Boston Dynamics founder who started as a professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and an associate professor of Computer Science and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. Not a coincidence that both schools are globally recognized as top institutions in the fields of robotics and automation as hubs for innovation!

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Roundtables on financing, scaling strategies, and spinning out companies from academia, as well as networking opportunities and 1:1 curated meetings. The event aims to provide insights into the future of robotics and foster innovation and collaboration in the industry.

As of today, the most relevant industry curated events I joined have been by far these ones in Boston.

Why do we focus on the East Coast/Great Lakes areas of North America?

Part of our role as an institutional VC specialized in early stage deep tech startup startups has been to help Japanese corporations create better strategies for their Open Innovation journey, with frameworks that might guide them on more strategic CVC investments towards concrete M&A plans.

Manufacturing, in that sense, is one the key industries that Japanese corporations could stand out in the new context between “slowbalisation” and deglobalization, when geopolitical concerns come up while the green transition kicks off.

And the recent agreement signed in April 2024 by President Biden during his visit to Japan marks a significant milestone in this strategic bilateral alliance between the US and Japan, particularly for the manufacturing sector, with a shared commitment to tech advancement, innovation, and global competitiveness related to deep tech in manufacturing, where physical products are built to allow AI and other added services.

But the reality is that with limited teams actively engaged in America (mainly in the West Coast) and with a vast territory to be covered from Coast to Coast, Japanese current resources haven’t been able to achieve their goals when it comes to working alongside startups. After meeting so many expats in the US representing their Japanese HQ, I came up with this conclusion from their concerns and questions which seem like they’re unaware of US local startup hubs potential for engagements in their own industry. Adding to that the Japanese yen’s historical depreciation, the costs for Japanese companies to maintain their business overseas became higher than their International budget allows them to do , adding a new layer of challenges to Japanese CVC offices operating in the US.

Industrial hubs have been historically concentrated in the East Coast/Midwest regions of the US, where Japanese corporations have limited access to startup hubs with a pace of advanced manufacturing innovations that have been hard to follow up with!

So Why Is Boston A Top Global Deep Tech Hub For Robotics, AI, And Automation In Manufacturing?

Among the top 5 US cities for startups, Boston has been a constant and relevant hub when it comes to deep tech early stage funding (pre-seed/seed), with Friends & Family, Angel Groups and other microfunds, as latest data shared by Carta’s Head of Insights Peter Walker.

Another report from Carta shows the growth of funding to hardtech startups with physical devices in the last 5 years, with Boston as a #3 key startup ecosystem in which many companies are building products related to the robotics industry!

• Top 2 in Energy and Biotech
• Top 3 in Hardware & Medical Devices (#3 in Healthtech)

Boston, a city celebrated for its rich history and academic excellence, has also emerged as a global leader in several cutting-edge industries including robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation in key deep tech segments related to manufacturing. This transformation is underpinned by an unique ecosystem of innovation, academic institutions, and specialized hubs that support the transition of advanced research into real-world applications.

A very unique set of ecosystem players in the deep tech space coming from everywhere in the US and even from other countries that like myself also think of Boston as a key place for the innovations of the future.

At the heart of Boston’s surge in advanced manufacturing technologies is of course its dense concentration of universities and research institutions, which its undeniable roots at MIT, Harvard, Tufts and Boston University, among others, that are not only feeding the industry with fresh talent but are also training pioneer leaders in cutting-edge research.

MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL): at the forefront of robotics and AI research, driving developments that are directly applicable to manufacturing.

Sustainability and Automation in manufacturing isn’t just about robotics; it encompasses integrated systems that can autonomously monitor and control production processes. Boston’s tech companies are at the vanguard of creating such systems, enabling higher throughput with less waste and lower costs. Moreover, the focus on sustainable and green manufacturing processes, powered by automated solutions, is positioning Boston as a leader in responsible industrial practices.