MedTech Actuator LLC

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Company Overview

Parent company headquarters:Australia
Japan Office Establishment: 2024
Address: 9th Floor, JAM BASE (Grand Green Osaka North Building) 6-38 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
Business Activities: Supporting startups in the medical and healthcare sectors
Website: MedTech Actuator LLC

Interview

MedTech Actuator LLC is a startup support organization in the medical and healthcare sectors. Founded in 2018 in Melbourne, Australia, the company has been dedicated to fostering innovation in these fields.

In October 2024, MedTech Actuator established its first East Asian base in Osaka.
The organization provides non-profit support for the global expansion of startups through accelerator programs, assistance with participation in international pitch contests, and coordination with overseas medical institutions and investors.

For this interview, we visited MedTech Actuator’s Osaka office and spoke with General Manager Junichi Azuma about the company’s expansion into Kansai, the appeal of the region, the public support leveraged during the expansion process, and his message for businesses considering entering the Japanese market.

Expansion into Kansai

In Japan, particularly in the Kansai region, there is a wealth of outstanding medical startups. However, many face challenges in successfully commercializing their innovations and achieving sustainable growth.

We originally established our organization in Melbourne to address a similar challenge—preventing high-potential medical startup technologies from being lost. Seeing the same situation in Japan, we decided to expand into the Japanese market to foster the growth of these startups.

We chose Osaka as our base because we saw it as the perfect location to build a visible and well-connected ecosystem.

In the medical field, seamless human connections are essential, and Osaka’s manageable size allows for smooth collaboration with various institutions. Moreover, the Kansai region, which includes cities like Kyoto and Kobe, boasts top-tier universities, research institutions, and medical facilities, making it a hub for innovation.

Another major factor was the upcoming EXPO2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. With healthcare professionals from around the world expected to gather in Osaka, we believe that having a medical accelerator with deep knowledge of the Japanese market will play a vital role in driving global collaboration and innovation.

The Attractiveness of Kansai

The warmth and friendliness of the people. Even as a foreign company, we’ve never felt like outsiders. When we introduce ourselves as an organization supporting "superheroes in the medical field," people immediately connect with our mission.

Although we've only recently established our Japan office, we've already been featured in several newspapers, which has made us feel genuinely welcomed in this environment.

This welcoming and open-minded environment makes Kansai an extremely appealing destination for foreign companies. In particular, Osaka has the potential to develop into a truly international city.

Public Support Utilized During Our Expansion

The opening ceremony

The warmth and friendliness of the people. Even as a foreign company, we’ve never felt like outsiders. When we introduce ourselves as an organization supporting "superheroes in the medical field," people immediately connect with our mission.

Although we've only recently established our Japan office, we've already been featured in several newspapers, which has made us feel genuinely welcomed in this environment.

This welcoming and open-minded environment makes Kansai an extremely appealing destination for foreign companies. In particular, Osaka has the potential to develop into a truly international city.

Public Support Utilized During Our Expansion
Establishing a business base in Japan is a complex process, requiring all documentation to be completed in Japanese and numerous forms to be submitted in paper format. To navigate these challenges, took advantage of various public support services.

JETRO Osaka(*): Access to temporary office space and introduction to English-speaking tax accountants and CPAs
(*)Please check the JETRO website for details.
O-BIC: Introduction to legal professionals, (administrative scriveners etc.)
KECC: Consultation on labor-related procedures
Osaka Business Development Agency: Support with recruitment

Handling all these procedures independently would have required a significant amount of time. However, with these support, we managed to complete the process in just about two months.

When searching for office space, we also received valuable guidance from JETRO Osaka and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As a result, we decided to establish our office in JAMBASE (Grand Green Osaka North Building), a facility that brings together information, people, and technology to address social issues and drive new industry creation.

Message to Companies Considering Expansion

CEO Buzz Palmer

Finding a hub organization that can provide support early on is essential. Without the right supporters, making progress can be challenging, so it's important to take full advantage of the support available.

When establishing our Japan office, we carefully evaluated various regions, including Tokyo, Sendai, and Hiroshima. We believe that actual visiting different areas and building connections with public institutions and advisors in each region is a critical step toward successful expansion.

Contact Information

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Kansai Bureau
International Investment Promotion Division
Address: 1-5-44 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-8535
Phone：+81-6-6966-6033
E-Mail：invest-japan-kansai@meti.go.jp