Why this longevity startup raised in Japan, not Silicon Valley | TWiST Tokyo | E2315

July 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Bilal Karouni didn't raise his longevity startup in Silicon Valley. He built it in Japan—and not just in Tokyo, but also in Okinawa, home to the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). His company, EK Labs (ekelabs.com), generates high-resolution, low-cost epigenetic data for drug development. The decision to locate in Japan was deliberate: the country has the world's most aging population, a regulatory framework that fast-tracks cell and gene therapies, and a cost structure that lets a startup accomplish far more per dollar than its American peers. Karouni raised about $1 million in seed funding from Japanese VCs, angels, and—uniquely—startup loans from regional banks, which offer low-interest, long-term capital backed by government guarantees. The result: a lean, focused company that can stretch its runway further than a typical U.S. biotech.

What EK Labs actually does

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Episode Open & Founder University Japan** - Jason introduces the live studio audience in Tokyo for the second cohort of Founder University Japan, a pre-accelerator program.
2 (04:08) **Guest Intro: Bilal Karoni & EK Labs** - The founder of EK Labs (EKE Labs) introduces his longevity startup.
3 (05:57) **Defining Epigenetics & The Product** - Explanation of the core technology and why customers can’t build it themselves.
4 (07:27) **Business Model: Discovery & Manufacturing QC** - How the company gets paid today.
5 (08:18) **AI’s Role in Drug Development** - The intersection of AI and biology.
6 (11:09) **Longevity Landscape: Supplements, Stem Cells & Tourism** - Discussion of the current state of anti-aging interventions.
7 (13:56) **Warning Signs: Safety & Efficacy of Off-Menu Treatments** - Bilal’s honest assessment of unregulated longevity treatments.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

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Today's show:

French ex-martial artist Bilal Kharouni is building his longevity startup from Okinawa, one of the world's "blue zones." (These are regions with the most people living long, healthy lives.) In this TWiST taping from Founder University in Tokyo, Jason investigates why a $200K raise in Japan can out-build a $2M raise in San Francisco, and why the best moat for biological AI isn't the model; it's the data no one else has.

Plus a tactical and practical discussion of product market fit, why Ekei killed a growing side business to maintain focus, Japan's fast-track for regenerative medicine, and hitting the upper limits for consumer longevity gadgets. Plus a live Q&A with Founder U attendees.

Guest

Bilal Kharouni on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilal-kharouni/

Ekei Labs: https://www.ekeilabs.com/

Relevant Links

Okinawa Institute of Science and Tech (OIST): ****https://www.oist.jp/

Life Biosciences: https://www.lifebiosciences.com/

NewLimit: https://www.newlimit.com/

Centivax: https://www.centivax.com/

Medical Daily: "First Human Trial to Reverse Aging Gets FDA Clearance": https://www.medicaldaily.com/first-human-trial-reverse-aging-just-got-fda-clearance-what-epigenetic-reprogramming-actually-476076

Tim Friede snake venom article from Science: