Team

Taira Kobayashi Taira Kobayashi

Venture

He graduated from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo and then worked at the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, the International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Toyota Central R&D Labs, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company before joining JAFCO in October 2020. He is in charge of investments in all technology areas of university and technology development in the Industry-Academia Life Science Investment Group in the Venture Investment Division. Since around 2023, he has narrowed down his field of investment to the life sciences, leveraging his advanced expertise, and has particularly focused on investing in pharmaceutical and therapeutic medical device businesses based on strategies to prove their clinical value. PhD in life sciences.

As I accumulated practical experience in a wide range of fields, from basic science to technology application, business development and clinical science, I keenly felt the importance of proving the business value of “science” and growing it as an industry through the efforts within our own country. With that in mind, I let go of my position as a scientist and chose the path of an investor, betting on a glimmer of hope. Investment decisions are based on three criteria: “scientific value,” “industrial viability,” and “whether it will benefit patients.” I prioritize working together with founders to develop business strategies and share goals even before investing, and in many cases, it takes several years before investing. In addition to financial support, I am committed to achieving objectives by employing all necessary means, including company establishment, business strategy development and national projects, as well as information analysis, lectures and writing without limiting myself to a specific approach.