[Grand Prize Winner] Awarded the Grand Prize at "Biotech Grand Prix 2026"

We are pleased to announce that Gel Coat Biomaterials, Inc. was awarded the Grand Prize at the "Biotech Grand Prix 2026" held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Center of Garage (Sumida-ku, Tokyo).

The "Biotech Grand Prix" is a pitch contest held as part of TECH PLANTER, organized by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. It is a program that aims for the social implementation of technological seeds in fields such as biotechnology, healthcare, medicine, drug discovery, medical devices, and research tools, supporting collaboration and commercialization between researchers/startups and partner companies.

On the day of the event, 12 finalist teams in the biotech field, selected from 341 teams that applied to TECH PLANTER 2026, gave presentations. Among them, Gel Coat Biomaterials, Inc. took the stage under the theme "Protect with Water: Stabilization of Biopharmaceuticals."

We are working to improve storage stability of biomolecules, including enzymes and proteins, etc. utilizing our proprietary cell membrane-mimicking hydrogel technology.

In this pitch, we introduced our biomolecule stabilization technology utilizing Gel Coat™, along with its potential applications for biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and enzyme preparations. In particular, we presented its potential to reduce reliance on cold chains that require refrigeration and freezing, lower transportation and storage costs, and solve the challenge of vaccine delivery to low- and middle-income regions globally.

This Grand Prize was selected through screening by 9 partner companies. In addition, we also won first place in the general voting by partner company attendees (excluding the judges) and the other finalist teams.

We take this Grand Prize award as a testament to the novelty and feasibility of our technology, as well as the expectations for our future business development. Furthermore, the Grand Prize includes a cash prize of 300,000 yen and the right to receive a business investment of 5 million yen.

Moving forward, we will further accelerate the practical application and commercialization of Gel Coat™ through technical evaluations, joint research and development, and business alliances with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, food-related companies, and research institutions.

■ Event Overview

・Event Name: Biotech Grand Prix 2026

・Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

・Venue: Center of Garage (1-16-3 Yokokawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)

・Organizer: Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.

・Presenters: Presentation screening by 12 finalist teams

・Award: Grand Prize

■ About Biotech Grand Prix

Biotech is a field where technologies gather to "solve social issues using mechanisms that support life phenomena." Today, as human activities extensively cover the Earth, we cannot sustain this society unless we more deeply understand and effectively utilize the power of living organisms. Among the proteins, sugars, lipids, and countless other molecules produced by organisms, many can be utilized as functional materials, medicines, catalysts, energy resources, and more. To draw out such potential and connect it to industry, it is necessary to overcome barriers such as stable performance, mass production, and cost reduction, tailoring them into products and services that provide value to society.

In this field, we aim to build the foundation of the next society by establishing technologies and businesses that solve social issues utilizing the functions and properties that support life.

■ About TECH PLANTER

TECH PLANTER is Asia's largest deep-tech venture ecosystem that solves unresolved "deep issues" with "deep tech," an aggregation of science and technology. Centered around venture companies and researchers aspiring to start businesses, it is a deep-tech ecosystem where all players aiming to solve social issues—major corporations, local factories, mid-sized and small-to-medium enterprises, as well as experts like venture capitalists, lawyers, patent attorneys, accountants, judicial scriveners, and certified social insurance labor consultants, along with research support institutions and local governments—participate with "passion" transcending national borders.