Where does Hikaru Saito work?

Hikaru Saito is Partner at Saisei Ventures.

What check size does Hikaru Saito write?

Hikaru Saito typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.

Where did Hikaru Saito go to school?

Hikaru Saito studied at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biomolecular Engineering); The University of Tokyo (Biochemistry and Sructural Biology); The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).

Hikaru Saito

Investor

Partner at Saisei Ventures

Palo Alto, California

Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M

Find your path to Hikaru

104 people in our graph share verified history with Hikaru — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Taro HizumeunlockedHikaru: together at The University of Tokyo (2009–2010)

×2Hikaru: together at The University of Tokyo

×3Hikaru: together at TScan Therapeutics

Hikaru: together at Akatsuki Therapeutics Inc.

About

Hikaru Saito is a Partner at Saisei Ventures with a background spanning academic research and pharmaceutical development. He earned a Ph.D. focusing on multidrug resistance in anti-tumor agents, collaborated on patented compound screening with Nihon Chemiphar, and spent six years as a scientist at Astellas developing small molecule formulations and biologics. He subsequently transitioned to business development and venture capital, serving at Astellas Venture Management in Silicon Valley where he evaluated opportunities across RNA, cell, and gene therapy, led deal processes globally, and established partnerships with venture capital funds and research institutions.

Experience

Saisei VenturesPartnercurrent2023 — presentTokyo, Japan
Surzen BiotherapeuticsFounding team and directorcurrent2025 — presentTokyo, Japan
Akatsuki Therapeutics Inc.Founding team and directorcurrent2025 — presentTokyo, Japan
Senno Therapeutics Inc.Co-founder and Board of Directorscurrent2024 — presentTokyo, Japan
United Immunity, Co., Ltd.Board of Directorscurrent2023 — presentTokyo, Japan
ProcellCure, IncMember Board of Directorscurrent2023 — presentKobe, Japan
eNK Therapeutics, Inc.Member Board of Directors2023 — 2025Tokyo, Japan
Astellas PharmaSenior Manager, Transaction, Business Development2022Tokyo, Japan
Catamaran BioBoard Observer2020 — 2022
Twentyeight-Seven TherapeuticsBoard Observer2020 — 2022Watertown, Massachusetts, United States
Astellas Venture Management LLCSenior Investment Manager2017 — 2022Menlo Park, California, United States
Cleave Therapeutics, Inc.Board Observer2019 — 2021San Francisco, California
TScan TherapeuticsBoard Observer2019 — 2021Waltham, Massachusetts
Pykus TherapeuticsBoard Observer2018 — 2021Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Astellas PharmaSenior Manager, Innovation & Incubation Research Labs.,Drug Discovery Research2017Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki
Astellas PharmaSenior Manager, Innovation Management2015 — 2017Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Astellas PharmaResearcher at Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Labs2013 — 2015Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Astellas PharmaResearcher at Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Labs2010 — 2013Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceResearch Fellow2008 — 2010Tokyo Institute of Technology

Skills & more

Bioengineering3Cell engineering1Biomanufacturing2Molecular BiologyBiotechnologyManufacturing Process DevelopmentFormulation Development製剤学2Viral vector developmantPharmaceutical Research

Languages 日本語 · 英語

第1種放射線取扱主任者（License for Type-I radiation protection supervisor) — 文部科学省

From Hikaru's professional profile.

Colleagues at Saisei Ventures

Hikaru Saito

Partner at Saisei Ventures

Jonathan Yeh

Managing Partner at Saisei Ventures

Ryosuke Yao

Director at Angel Bridge Co.,Ltd.

Sonny Dhawan

Associate at Saisei Ventures

Sven Kili

Partner at Saisei Ventures

Tomohiro Kobayashi

Director at Angel Bridge Co.,Ltd.

Yusuke Wada

Senior Associate at Saisei Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Hikaru Saito?: Hikaru Saito is a Partner at Saisei Ventures with a background spanning academic research and pharmaceutical development. He earned a Ph.D. focusing on multidrug resistance in anti-tumor agents, collaborated on patented compound screening with Nihon Chemiphar, and spent six years as a scientist at Astellas developing small molecule formulations and biologics. He subsequently transitioned to business development and venture capital, serving at Astellas Venture Management in Silicon Valley where he evaluated opportunities across RNA, cell, and gene therapy, led deal processes globally, and established partnerships with venture capital funds and research institutions.
Where does Hikaru Saito work?: Hikaru Saito is Partner at Saisei Ventures.
What check size does Hikaru Saito write?: Hikaru Saito typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
Where did Hikaru Saito go to school?: Hikaru Saito studied at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biomolecular Engineering); The University of Tokyo (Biochemistry and Sructural Biology); The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).