* Only available in English

and Japanese languages

Applications for IPHatch® Sendai are exclusively collected through our partner, the F6S platform.

Apply Now

ACTIVITIES

IPHatch® Japan

Piece Future has developed a unique programme to help start-ups to leverage on an Open Innovation concept.

Scroll Down

Upcoming Activities

* Activities are subject to changes.

IPHatch® Japan 2025 Seminar

Seminar at Kitakyushu Work and Role
Organised by Kitakyushu City Government

28 March 2025, Friday
15:20 - 16:20 JST

About this event

Venue: Kitakyushu International Conference Centre | Event Hall

3-9-30 Asano, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 802-0001

"WORK AND ROLE" has been held as an event originating from Kitakyushu City since 2023. The theme this time is "sustainability". There will be pitches by 26 companies (individuals) selected for a total of five programs, including startup support projects, talk sessions with special guests, and networking events. In addition, there will be exhibition booths, sponsored sessions, and exchange spaces. Experience the vitality of Kitakyushu City by interacting with startups and Generation Z.

"WORK AND ROLE" KITAKYUSHU25

View official page >>

--------------------

IPHatch® Japan 2025

>> Click here to download the IPHatch® e-leaflet

Featured speakers

Jason Loh

Piece Future

Hitoshi Amano

Hokkaido University

Akira Seki

Panasonic Holdings

Presentation Session:

Topic: “Matching IP and Startups for a Stronger Future”

Focus: Overview of IPHatch® programme, selection criteria, and the benefits of IP transfer.

Presenting by: Jason Loh, Founder & CEO | Piece Future

~ 10-min presentation (incl. translation time)

Topic: "Open Innovation Activities at Hokkaido University"

Focus: Open Innovation Activities based on IP (patents) at Hokkaido University

Presenting by: Hitoshi Amano, Professor, Director, Patent Attorney, MBA, Satellite Office for Business Collaboration & University-Industry, Global Development Office, Institute for the Promotion of Business-Regional Collaboration | Hokkaido University

~ 8-min presentation

Topic: "Panasonic Holdings Open Innovation Activities"

Focus: Open innovation activities based on IP (patents) at Panasonic

Presenting by: Akira Seki, Patent Attorney and Registered SME management Consultant, in charge of Open Innovation | Panasonic Holdings

~ 8-min presentation

* Masao Sano, Japan Liaison from Piece Future will introduce each speaker before presentation.

Panel Discussion:

Topic: "Exploring How Robotics Startups can Leverage MNC Patents to Grow, Succeed, and Expand Globally" including Q&A

Panelists:

Piece Future - Jason Loh, Masao Sano

Hokkaido University - Hitoshi Amano

Panasonic Holdings - Akira Seki

~ 30-min discussion

Past Activities

* Activities are subject to changes.

IPHatch® Panel Session on

How Intellectual Property (IP) Can Spice Up Your Funding Journey with VCs

12 April 2024, Friday
18:30 - 19:30 JST

Watch Recorded Session

This seminar will be conducted in English

About this event

This session will focus on exploring IP's pivotal role in attracting and securing venture capital investment, where we will provide insights into the complexities of IP management, what investors look for, and strategies to enhance your company's valuation and appeal.

This is an ideal opportunity for start-up founders brainstorming an effective strategy for their round of fundraising or for established businesses considering expansion. We are hopeful that such knowledge sharing can equip startups with the fundamental understanding and tactics to leverage intellectual property effectively.

Featured speakers

Lead of Innovation & Ecosystem Development
Piece Future

Ee Jin

IP Senior Expert
Panasonic IP Management Co., Ltd

Yoshinori Nakagawa

Partner
True Vine Capital

Bryan Chung

Head of Asia IPR Business Development
Nokia Technologies

Jari Vaario

Moderator

IPHatch® X Patentcloud Webinar

How Japanese Startups Can Use The IP Intelligence Tool Effectively for Patent Landscaping

17 May 2024, Friday
15:00 - 16:00 JST

This seminar will be conducted in Japanese

About this event

This webinar aims to provide startups with a high-level overview of how IP intelligence tool can help them navigate the IP landscape, especially in the following areas:

Due Diligence
Patent Quality Insights
SEP Declaration
Design Search
Patent Search
Patent Vault

Featured speaker

Senior Consultant
ScienBiziP Group

William Lee

William is a seasoned IP consultant at ScienBiziP Consulting, with extensive experience in the field of intellectual property. His previous roles include serving as an Account Project Manager at Foxconn Industrial Internet (Fii) and a Field Application Engineer (FAE) at Tokyo Electron Taiwan (TEL). William holds a Master of Science degree from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and completed a one-year exchange at Waseda University GITS. He pursued his master's degree in law at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Law (NYCU Law) through the Multi-Discipline Management of Technology Program (MMOT).

William's certifications include Patent Prosecution Management from the Taiwan Intellectual Property Training Academy (TIPA), Certified Consultant for the Intellectual Property Management System (TIPS), and Level 3 certification from the Japan Intellectual Property Management Skills Test (IPMST). His strong educational background and professional experience make him a valuable asset in the field of intellectual property consulting.

Supported by

IPHatchathon® Sendai

3 hour 1-on-1 mentoring workshop
Venue: Tokyo (GLOBAL LIFESCIENCE HUB)

10 July 2024, Wednesday
13:30 - 16:30 JST

Venue: GLOBAL LIFESCIENCE HUB

3-2-1 Muromachi, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022
Nihobashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower 7F Conference Room

About this event

Are you a tech entrepreneur wondering how to build a more robust and sustainable business strategy to attract funding and investment from an early stage?

We have just the right workshop for you!

Join our FREE virtual IPHatchathon®, a 3-hour 1-on-1 mentoring workshop where our seasoned mentor(s) will validate your business model and offer actionable advice on how you could integrate readily available patents / technologies we have to offer.

Why Attend?

Immerse yourself into engaging workshops led by multidisciplinary industry experts
Have your business ideas validated by seasoned multidisciplinary professionals
Interactive networking sessions
Exciting challenges to test your skills and creativity
Opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals and potential collaborators

Featured mentor

Jason Loh

Founder
Piece Future

Jason is an innovator dedicated to driving company growth through intellectual property. As an expert in brand and growth strategies, he integrates IP with business strategies. Jason is the Director of the International IP Commercialisation Council Singapore, Executive Adviser for Asia to the UK's Institute of Innovation Knowledge Exchange, and Managing Partner of i2P Ventures and True Vine Capital Partners.

Previously, he led IP group for Panasonic Singapore R&D Center for 16 years and founded Piece Future, an Asian IP investment bank. Jason created IPHatch®, the world’s first IP start-up incubation platform, which has invested in nearly 70 start-ups across Asia and UK since 2017.

Norishige Hayakawa

CEO
Hagaminomori

Norishige Hayakawa is a B.A. in Economics at Waseda University, School of Political Science and Economics. He is the Representative Director at Hagamino Mori Co. and also specially appointed Professor at Graduate Institute for project design. Furthermore, he is also a councilor of Moonshot Project 5, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, and many other current positions.

He has served as a consultant for individual projects related to new businesses and M&A for leading Japanese companies such as Panasonic, Fuji Electric, Mitsubishi Estate, Asahi Kasei and Mitsui & Co. He also serves as an advisor to small and medium-sized venture companies and hospitals seeking IPOs to map out their growth strategies.

In the field of intellectual property, he established IP Bridge, an intellectual property fund, with the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), and helped launch the fund as its executive officer and chief strategy officer.

Raymond Woo

Chief of Staff
Piece Future

Raymond is Chief of Staff of Piece Future, and Advisor for Kyoto University Innovation Capital (Kyoto iCAP), the university's official VC arm. Prior to that, he was the Value Creation Lead for the Japan Portfolio at Pavilion Capital, a PEVC (private equity and venture capital) firm with a focus on East and Southeast Asia and fully-funded by Temasek Holdings. Before his PEVC career, he spent a decade in management consulting and financial advisory across different countries including Japan.

Raymond studied and worked in Japan for 13 years, and has had extensive experience in working with Japanese investors, corporations and government throughout his career and speaks Japanese fluently, alongside Mandarin Chinese, Malay and Cantonese. Raymond obtained a LLB (Bachelor of Laws) from Osaka University under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, and an MPA (Master of Public Administration) from Cornell University under the Fulbright Scholarship.

IPHatch® Seminar

Open Innovation Activities
Venue: Tokyo (GLOBAL LIFESCIENCE HUB)

10 July 2024, Wednesday
10:30 - 11:30 JST

About this event

Venue: GLOBAL LIFESCIENCE HUB

3-2-1 Muromachi, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022
Nihobashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower 7F Conference Room

Lecture agenda:

Tohoku University's Open Innovation Activities
“IP Involvement toward Promoting the Creation of University Startups” | Naofumi Nishimura
Introduction of Open Innovation activities by Panasonic Holdings Corporation | Akira Seki
Importance of Patents from an Investor's Perspective by Cool Japan Fund | Ryoji Nishimura
Overview of the IPHatch® Programme by Piece Future | Jason Loh

Featured speakers

Founder
Piece Future

Jason Loh

Director,
Investment Strategy
Cool Japan Fund

Ryoji Nishimura

Patent Attorney,
Open Innovation
Panasonic Holdings Corporation

Akira Seki

Director of Intellectual Property Department
Tohoku University

Naofumi Nishimura

IPHatch® Seminar

Open Innovation Activities
Venue: Osaka Nishi-Sanso (Panasonic EX Lab)

11 July 2024, Thursday
14:00 - 15:00 JST

About this event

Venue: Panasonic EX Lab

1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka 571-8508, Japan

Lecture agenda:

Tohoku University's Open Innovation Activities
“IP Involvement toward Promoting the Creation of University Startups” | Naofumi Nishimura
Introduction of Open Innovation activities by Panasonic Holdings Corporation | Akira Seki
In which start-ups a VC shows its interest by QB Capital LLC | Tsuyoshi Sakamoto
Overview of the IPHatch® Programme by Piece Future | Jason Loh

Upon request (15:30 - 16:00):

Tour of the Konosuke Matsushita History Museum

Featured speakers

Founder
Piece Future

Jason Loh

General Partner
QB Capital LLC

Tsuyoshi Sakamoto

Patent Attorney,
Open Innovation
Panasonic Holdings Corporation

Akira Seki

Director of Intellectual Property Department
Tohoku University

Naofumi Nishimura

Sendai Pitch Day

[Hybrid Sytle] Venue:
NTT Urbannet Building Sendai - Meeting Room
4-4-19 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi

11 September 2024, Wednesday
14:00 - 16:30

Private Session

About this event

Shortlisted startups will get the chance to pitch to our panel judges include

IP Originators
Funding Partners
Incubator Partners
Government Representatives

Judging Panel for this year

IP Originators:

Tohoku University

Naofumi Nishimura

Director, Intellectual Property Department

Seiji Morishima

Director, Startup Incubation Center

Dr. Yurie Lino

Assistant Director, Intellectual Property Department

Panasonic Holdings Corporation

Miura Shinji

General Manager, Panasonic IP Management

Seki Akira

Open Innovation, Panasonic Holdings

Judging Panel:

JETRO

Kayoko Sawada

Former Director, Startup Division

Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings

Etsushi Tsuru

Manager

IPHatchathon® Sendai

3 hour 1-on-1 mentoring workshop
Virtual Workshop : Zoom Meeting

08 August 2024, Thursday
13:00 - 16:00 JST

About this event

Are you a tech entrepreneur wondering how to build a more robust and sustainable business strategy to attract funding and investment from an early stage?

We have just the right workshop for you!

Why Attend?

Immerse yourself into engaging workshops led by multidisciplinary industry experts
Have your business ideas validated by seasoned multidisciplinary professionals
Interactive networking sessions
Exciting challenges to test your skills and creativity
Opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals and potential collaborators

Featured mentor

Jason Loh

Founder
Piece Future

Raymond Woo

Chief of Staff
Piece Future

IPHatch® Sendai

What is the importance of IP for startups Part II
How can we make it stronger? Here are some points that even IP beginners can understand.

Virtual Seminar

02 August 2024, Friday
15:00 - 16:00 JST

This seminar will be conducted in Japanese

Featured speaker

Yoshito Nakanishi

Kobe University Center for Advanced Medical Engineering Research & Development, Visiting Professor

Strategic Intellectual Property Services, Sorette, President and Japanese Patent Attorney

IPHatch® Japan

Upcoming Activities

IPHatch® Japan 2025 Seminar

Seminar at Kitakyushu Work and Role Organised by Kitakyushu City Government

28 March 2025, Friday 15:20 - 16:20 JST

About this event

Featured speakers

Jason Loh

Piece Future

Hitoshi Amano

Hokkaido University

Akira Seki

Panasonic Holdings

Past Activities

Sendai Pitch Day

[Hybrid Sytle] Venue: NTT Urbannet Building Sendai - Meeting Room 4-4-19 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi

11 September 2024, Wednesday 14:00 - 16:30

About this event

Judging Panel for this year

Seminar at Kitakyushu Work and Role
Organised by Kitakyushu City Government

28 March 2025, Friday
15:20 - 16:20 JST

[Hybrid Sytle] Venue:
NTT Urbannet Building Sendai - Meeting Room
4-4-19 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi

11 September 2024, Wednesday
14:00 - 16:30