On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Hodaka Kokeguchi, Co-Founder of Stellar Science Foundation (SS-F), spoke at the Venture Café Global Gathering held at Toranomon Hills Forum.
The theme of the session was “Bridging Science to Impact: A Global Collective Approach.”
The session brought together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and support organizations from diverse backgrounds to discuss, from a global perspective, how cutting-edge research can be translated into real-world impact. Alongside international partners from SRI International, Renaissance Philanthropy, and RI Bio, the panel engaged in a dynamic discussion that crossed boundaries between science and business, academia and startups. It was a highly substantive session in which participants candidly shared the challenges and opportunities they encounter in their respective fields.
From SS-F’s core “People-Centric” perspective, Kokeguchi emphasized that what truly matters in connecting research to society is not only institutional design or funding schemes, but focusing on the individuals who take on bold challenges. He highlighted the importance of recognizing each researcher’s aspirations, vision, and determination to cross boundaries, and underscored that supporting them through trust-based networks forms the foundation for sustainable innovation.
The discussion also connected with the vision of the Cabinet Office’s “Global Startup Campus Initiative,” exploring the significance of designing ecosystems that bridge Japan and the global community with a people-centered, rather than organization-centered, approach.
During the Q&A session, participants raised concrete questions about how best to support researchers and how to operationalize global collaboration. The session provided practical insights into generating societal impact through science.
Event Overview
Event Name: Venture Café Global Gathering 2026
Date & Time: Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 16:00–16:40
Venue: Toranomon Hills Forum, Hall B (Breakout Room A)
Format: In-person
Language: English
Panelists:
Hodaka Kokeguchi (Stellar Science Foundation, SS-F)
Miwa Sasaki (Renaissance Philanthropy)
Chris Cowart (SRI International)
Moderator:
Glenn Robertelli (RI Bio)
