JETRO Collaborates with Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate to Support Five Japanese Digital Health Startups in Accessing Medical Data and Developing AI Models

Jan 28, 2025

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

JETRO, in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Platform (operated by the world-renowned U.S. medical institution Mayo Clinic), is pleased to announce the selection of five startups to participate in the second phase of the "HealthTech Gateway 'AI Medical in the US'" acceleration program, starting in January 2025. The key points of this announcement are as follows:

Five startups have been selected to participate in the second phase of the "HealthTech Gateway 'AI Medical in the US'" program, which is conducted in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Platform. This phase will begin in January 2025 and will provide approximately 30 weeks of support.
In Phase 2, participants will have access to the Mayo Clinic Platform's medical data platform, enabling them to leverage data crucial for U.S. and global expansion. Additionally, support for product development and validation, mentoring opportunities, and other resources will be provided. In April 2025, participants will travel to Minnesota, USA, for a Demo Day event, including a five-minute pitch and networking with the Minnesota ecosystem stakeholders. These programs aim to comprehensively support market entry into the U.S.
Phase 1 of the foundational program included 16 startups, who participated from October to December 2024. This phase provided knowledge acquisition and strategy formulation support for market entry, as well as assistance in forming local connections.

This program - supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry - is an acceleration program designed to support the U.S. expansion of Japanese digital health startups, including those utilizing AI. It is the first JETRO startup acceleration program to collaborate with a medical institution.

Phase 1 of the foundational program, conducted from October to December 2024, included 16 startups. With the cooperation of Kicker Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in the U.S. healthcare sector, the program provided knowledge acquisition and strategy formulation support for market entry, as well as assistance in forming local connections through visits to the Mayo Clinic’s Minnesota campus.

Starting in January 2025, the second phase of the medical data utilization program will include five AI-driven digital health companies selected through a rigorous review process by the Mayo Clinic Platform. This 30-week virtual program will provide access to a medical data platform with millions of anonymized data points, support for AI model development and validation, 1-on-1 mentoring by experts, feedback from clinical teams, and participation in pitch events for the Minnesota ecosystem and investors, comprehensively supporting market entry into the U.S.

Selected Companies for the Medical Data Utilization Program:

Smart Opinion Inc.
Develops AI diagnostic support software for breast ultrasound images for breast cancer. Offers online medical consultation platforms and patient support programs.
Splink Inc.
Engages in brain healthcare and medical data infrastructure businesses. Develops software as a medical device (SaMD) for the central nervous system, provides a simple cognitive function test "CQ test," and an AI program for brain health screening "Brain Life Imaging."
Ubie Inc.
Offers services centered around its proprietary AI medical interview engine for consumers, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical companies. Provides "Ubie," which helps users identify potential diseases and nearby medical institutions, and "Ubie Medical Navi," a service package to improve the quality of medical care.
YStory Inc.
Develops digital healthcare services for menopause using AI technology and medical science. Offers "JoyHer," a menopause healthcare app providing personalized care tips based on daily symptoms and activities, aiming to create a comprehensive platform for menopause awareness, diagnosis, and treatment.
Yuimedi Inc.
Provides software and services for the utilization of medical data. Develops "YuiQuery," an AI assistant for efficient data extraction, knowledge integration, and data governance for medical teams and data scientists.

Program Details: https://www.jetro.go.jp/services/j-starx/b215.html

About JETRO

JETRO aims to contribute to the further development of Japan's economy and society through trade and investment promotion and research on developing countries. Utilizing its extensive network of over 70 overseas offices, headquarters in Tokyo, Osaka headquarters, the Institute of Developing Economies, and approximately 50 domestic offices, JETRO actively supports innovation, exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, and the overseas expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises. In recent years, JETRO has been strongly promoting the overseas expansion of startups in line with the government's five-year startup development plan.

Contact Information:

JETRO Innovation Department, Startup Division
Contact: Hatazaki, Mori (Aya)

Telephone: 03-3582-5770
E-mail: su-support@jetro.go.jp

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