Mayo Clinic Platform and JETRO announce cohort of 15 Japanese healthcare startups joining J-StarX US Healthcare Breakthrough program

Program supports development of select startups preparing for market readiness in the U.S.

 

TOKYO and ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Platform and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) have selected 15 Japanese healthcare startups seeking to expand in the U.S. through the J-StarX US Healthcare Breakthrough program, implemented with the support of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). 

 

Through this program, JETRO collaborates with Mayo Clinic Platform Accelerate and Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange. The program supports companies in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), medical devices and digital health by supporting business development, pilot projects and collaborative opportunities in the U.S. market. 

 

"As part of this program, Mayo Clinic Platform Accelerate helps health technology startups focus on validation and clinical readiness of responsible AI-driven solutions," says Jamie Sundsbak, director of the Accelerate program.

 

The J-StarX US Healthcare Breakthrough program was launched in 2024 as an accelerator to support the U.S. market entry of digital health startups, including those using AI technologies. In its third year, the program builds on its existing foundation course by introducing a new business development course. The new course is designed to provide more targeted support for market readiness, customer and collaboration engagement, as well as business growth in the U.S. Together, the two-course structure offers support from business development through market readiness.

 

"Through this initiative, JETRO aims to accelerate the global growth of Japanese healthcare startups, helping them enter the U.S. market and develop into globally competitive companies," says Akira Kawachi, director, Startup Support Division, Innovation Department.

 
Foundation course 

The foundation course is designed to provide practical support for healthcare startups seeking international expansion. Participating companies gain critical knowledge and capabilities, including understanding region-specific regulatory requirements, developing market-entry strategies and generating clinical and commercial evidence necessary for overseas growth. The program aims to nurture globally competitive healthcare startups capable of succeeding in international markets. 

 

For the 2026 cohort, 10 companies were selected for the foundation course from a wide range of healthcare fields, including medical AI, rehabilitation, cardiovascular care, neurotechnology and home healthcare. 

 

List of selected companies for the foundation course

• AIBTRUST Inc. is a healthcare technology company dedicated to advancing Japanese medicine through the circulation of medical data.
• Almaprism Inc. is developing a medical device that measures how children think and work through problems, using a short video game session.
• CaTe Inc. will conduct research and develop a cardiovascular disease management software as a medical device that achieves both high usability and efficacy and safety.
• CellFold, Inc. is developing an innovative angiogenic therapy using its proprietary Injectable Cell Scaffold (ICS).
• HICKY, Inc. is a medical device startup developing a novel therapy for central sleep apnea in patients with heart failure.
• KuχAI's goal is to develop an AI-powered, real-time intraoperative analysis system to optimize and standardize catheter ablation therapy.
• MY ROBOTS K.K. develops an AI-powered surgical intelligence platform that captures, structures and analyzes surgical videos, audio and related clinical data.
• Neubond Ltd. develops wearable devices for stroke mobility rehabilitation that autonomously deliver therapy during daily activities, maximizing exposure to the recommended daily therapy.
• Physiologas Technologies Inc. is developing a "water-less" next-generation, miniaturized home hemodialysis device.
• Ruten Inc is a medical device company focused on the research and development of invasive brain-machine interfaces aimed at restoring bodily functions lost due to illness or injury.

Business development course 

The newly established business development course is designed for companies seeking to achieve market readiness and business growth in the U.S. Participating startups will receive tailored, hands-on support from experts in areas such as regulatory pathways, reimbursement strategies, business development and investor engagement. 

 

For each company, a customized roadmap will be developed to support the creation of initial market traction. 

 

For the 2026 cohort, five companies were selected for the business development course. 

 

List of selected companies for the business development course

• Cardio Intelligence Inc. analyzes long-term ECGs instantly with its AI medical device SmartRobin.
• GramEye Inc. is developing Mycrium, an AI- and robotics-powered device that automates Gram staining and supports image interpretation with AI.
• MNES Inc. operates LOOKREC, a 100% cloud-native, multi-modal medical imaging platform.
• Quadlytics Inc. is developing a medical device that uses wearable ECG and proprietary AI to detect preictal signs and alert patients and caregivers preceding seizure onset.
• SmarTrial Inc. is developing an AI agent for clinical trial execution.

 

 
The J-StarX US Healthcare Breakthrough program is a JETRO initiative delivered in collaboration with Mayo Clinic Platform and Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange, as well as Kicker Ventures, a U.S.-based venture capital firm. 

 

 

 

###

 

About Mayo Clinic Platform
Mayo Clinic Platform is a strategic initiative of Mayo Clinic that enables collaboration, data-driven innovation and responsible AI development to transform healthcare globally. Mayo Clinic Platform is reimagining healthcare as an ecosystem — one where data, digital solutions, and expertise flow seamlessly between innovators and care teams to improve care for patients everywhere.  

 

 

Kicker Ventures 
Kicker Ventures is a U.S.-based venture capital firm backing early-stage startups shaping the future of healthcare. With more than two decades of experience, Kicker partners closely with founders developing transformative science and evidence-based solutions — accelerating growth and amplifying global impact. 

 

Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange 
Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange is a pioneering platform dedicated to addressing healthcare's most pressing needs by refining and accelerating transformative ideas into scalable solutions. Guided by the Mayo Model of Care — a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach — the Exchange ensures that innovations align with real-world challenges and are prepared for funding, validation, testing and implementation.  

 

About JETRO 

JETRO aims to contribute to the further development of Japan’s economy and society through trade and investment promotion as well as research on developing countries. Utilizing a global network of over 70 overseas offices, headquarters in Tokyo and Osaka, the Institute of Developing Economies, and approximately 50 domestic offices, JETRO dynamically and efficiently supports innovation creation, exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, and overseas expansion for small and medium-sized enterprises, while contributing to Japanese corporate activity and trade policy through research and surveys. 

In recent years, JETRO has been strongly advancing support for startup overseas expansion in alignment with the government’s five-year startup development plan.

 

Media contact:

• Caroline Auger, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

JETRO Startup Division (Contacts: Chikako Kondo, Maki Oda) 
Email: su-support@jetro.go.jp