Chika Hashimoto has extensive experience in the biotechnology and life sciences industries in both the United States and Japan, spanning research and development, business development, company formation, strategic partnerships, and business and technology assessment.

In Silicon Valley, she worked with several biotechnology companies across R&D, business development, and company formation. This experience provided her with a perspective that bridges science, business, and entrepreneurship in the biotechnology industry.

She later founded Gallasus and currently advises major corporations and startups in the biotechnology, life sciences, and healthcare sectors. Her advisory work focuses on new business development, technology sourcing and strategic partnerships, investment and M&A, business and technology assessment, and global expansion, particularly between Japan, the United States, and Europe.

Drawing on her industry experience, she also contributes to Japan’s public-sector initiatives supporting drug discovery, biotechnology startups, and the commercialization of academic research. She currently serves as a Program Officer for drug discovery programs at the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), and is involved in startup and commercialization programs at the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Through these activities, she works across industry, startups, academia, and the public sector, with a particular interest in connecting innovative science and technologies with business opportunities and global development.

Christoph Broja is a Partner in the EQT Life Sciences team since 2022.

Prior to joining EQT, Christoph was a Principal in the investment team at Gurnet Point Capital based in Boston, where he was involved in a number of investments in biopharma, medical devices, and molecular diagnostics. Prior to that, Christoph worked at B-Flexion Capital in London.

Christoph started his career as investment analyst at private equity firm Franz Haniel & Cie. in Germany. He holds a degree in Business Administration and is a CFA Charterholder.

Amanda is a Partner at the venture capital firm Kurma Partners, and is based in Paris. Her focus is biotech, early-stage and new creations. Earlier Amanda was investor with the Roche Venture Fund and Seventure Partners, and a business development executive at Roche, in-licensing external innovation from biotech and academia. Earlier she was a postdoctoral fellow in Switzerland (ISREC, Lausanne; IRB, Bellinzona). Amanda holds a PhD in Immunology (University of Sydney) and an MBA (IE Business School).

Hirokazu Shimoda joined the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI, Japan) in 1999, and he was engaged in promoting various industries, including IT, cybersecurity, biotechnology and cell and gene therapy, healthcare, and the service sector. From 2016 to 2020, he served as Senior Director of the San Francisco Office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), concurrently holding a position as a Fellow at the World Economic Forum’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
After returning to Japan, he held key positions at METI, including Director of the Information Systems Division and Director of the Bio-Industry Division, where he was responsible for biotechnology industry policy. Since July 2025, he has been serving as a Senior Director at the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), overseeing the practical application of research outcomes and the promotion of the drug development ecosystem.