Overseas Collaboration in the Health and Medical Fields (American States)

Yokohama City established the Yokohama City Americas Office in November 2018, in New York City, United States of America, which promotes business and tourism, business support for city companies, promotion of university exchanges, etc. Was established in
Through the network in the United States owned by the Yokohama City Americas Office, we provide business support for local companies, such as matching with local companies.

The Yokohama City Americas Office has expertise in specialized fields and a wide network in the United States that can support startups that are transitioning to the United States, especially those who support the spirit of Give First and who can cooperate as individuals, become life science supporters and support startups and other startups in the US market.
Life science supporters will not only cooperate with seminars and round-table discussions, but will also respond to individual consultations from startups. We hope that startups will gain useful information and connections, and that will lead to success in the United States, foster a mutual trust network and community, and a beneficial cycle for life science supporters.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the sister city partnership with San Diego, an advanced region in the life science industry, Yokohama signed a memorandum of understanding with BIOCOM (now Biocom California: Biocom California) in April 2017 to promote mutual economic revitalization through innovation centered on the life sciences field.
Through Biocom California, we support companies aiming to expand in the United States. In cooperation with cluster, we have implemented matching between companies in both regions.

Established in San Diego in 1995 in 1995, it is one of the world's largest bio-related organizations at the regional level. The number of member companies is more than 1,300. Mr. Joseph Panetta, chairman and chief executive. Working closely with the National Bio-Industry Association, which hosts the BIO exhibition, Bio-cluster in San Diego. ※We are promoting networking and other activities.
BIOCOM, which expanded its offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area on the west coast of the United States, changed its name to Biocom California in 2021.
(※) A region where biotechnology-related companies and research institutions are concentrated. In the United States, in addition to San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area and Boston are famous.

In April 2019, CONNECT (established in 1985) and San Diego Venture Group (established in 1986), two major support organizations in the startup community in San Diego, USA. Through the know-how and achievements derived from each organization, and a wide network, we conduct programs and events to support corporate growth, expansion, and financing to create excellent companies, and foster entrepreneurs and startups in the San Diego region.

The sister city of Yokohama, San Diego, California, is one of the leading startup-supported regions in the United States with annual venture capital investment of more than 160 billion yen.
From 2019 to 2022, Yokohama City organized the SpringboardTM Program in Yokohama, a program that fosters and supports small and medium-sized startups in the health and medical fields in collaboration with CONNECT, an entrepreneur support organization in San Diego, USA.
Participating companies in this program brushed up their business plans with mentors, refined their pitch skills, and then reported their results to VCs and related companies in the United States via Demo Day after completing the program.

In developing markets in the United States, we are implementing a U.S. market development support program by a local support organization dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises in the life science field that seek local information and networks. Until now, through mentoring and workshops, we have enhanced our networking capabilities in the United States and provided support for arranging business interviews. In the FY2022 project, we received the following comments from participating companies.

-Voice of each program participant ~

・I am grateful to have many opportunities to support startups. In particular, I think it's wonderful that you listen to the opinions and needs of the startup side, and then create and provide flexible programs on top of that. I understand the faces of the people of the event program, so it is easy to consult if there is anything, and it is encouraging to be able to provide close support and encouragement to us. You will feel the desire to support startups. We look forward to your continued support in the future.

・Thank you very much for your participation in this life science boot camp. I strongly feel that these programs are a very effective way to increase the trust and value of a company, as well as achievements within the program. During the program period of this life science boot camp alone, we have made significant progress in our company, including adoption of AMED projects and the first paid introduction of products. Going forward, we will continue to actively participate in these opportunities and aim for further growth.