Living Best and the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) have unveiled an initiative aimed at facilitating the entry of international longevity, agetech, and health-tech companies into the Japanese market. The Living Best Japan Gateway will debut at the Kyoto Smart City Expo on October 8-9, 2026, where selected companies can showcase their innovations and engage with potential Japanese corporate partners through ATR’s business-matching network. Additionally, participants may be considered for ATR’s KGAP+ business-development accelerator, with the next cohort beginning in December.
This initiative is centered around Living City Keihanna, an innovative hub focused on longevity, created through collaboration between ATR and Living Best. The platform aims to connect international ventures with researchers, Japanese businesses, investors, care providers, and local communities, moving beyond mere introductions or short-term pilot projects. Living Best will support participants in evaluating market demand, identifying implementation and funding partners, validating products with users, and developing evidence to support broader commercial expansion.
Since 2021, Living Best has assessed more than 2,000 ventures from over 40 countries. Their evaluation process has included insights from over 17,000 assessments by Japanese consumers, with additional input from clinicians, care operators, investors, and policy experts. Dominic Carter, CEO and co-founder of Living Best, emphasized that the partnership is designed to assist international companies at every stage of entering the Japanese market, from market validation to implementation, funding, and eventual expansion.
ATR’s Senior Executive Vice President and Representative Director, Hiroyuki Suzuki, highlighted Keihanna’s unique combination of research capabilities, infrastructure, and networks spanning industry, academia, government, and local communities as a means to connect overseas innovation with practical applications in Japan. The Gateway is currently accepting applications from international ventures in longevity, agetech, and health-tech that have market-ready products or are at an advanced development stage. The deadline for the October 2026 venture intake is September 25, 2026.
For more information, interested parties can visit Living Best’s website or schedule an introductory call. Contact Adam Claydon-Platt at Living Best/The Carter Group for further inquiries.
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