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                <p><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1617869884925-f8f0a51b2374?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80" alt="people walking on street during night time">
<br>With a proven record of innovation, Japan remains a global tech pioneer. Apart from its historic success in building legendary companies such as Sony and Panasonic, the country also recognizes the importance of startups. However, the shift from building massive industrial consumer electronics and automobile companies to startups is a difficult one. Nevertheless, Japanese corporations are increasingly adopting open innovation and actively seeking collaboration with startups. This commitment is exemplified by initiatives such as the <a href="https://onlab.jp/en/programs/open-innovation/">Open Innovation Lab</a>, which plays a key role in bridging startups and established corporations.<br></p>
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<p><br>Like other economies in the region, a risk averse mindset is a challenge for the growth of Japan’s startup economy, in addition to a need for improved English skills to allow entrepreneurs to target international markets. This is reinforced by the abundance of high-quality corporate jobs, which creates a scarcity of talented and motivated entrepreneurs. With an aging population, Japan could benefit from attracting more foreign talent.<br></p>
<p><br>Japan’s low number of unicorns could signal a lack of investment in the startup ecosystem. Interestingly, a daring and globally recognized VC venture is based in Japan: Softbank, led by Masayoshi Son, has made a massive impact on the global startup landscape, with investments in companies ranging from Uber and ByteDance, to WeWork or FTX. In an effort to increase and attract startup capital, the government has taken an active role with plans to introduce a five year residency visa for angel investors and venture capitalists. This shows that Japan is nurturing its startup ecosystem with more investment and promoting entrepreneurship, signaling an understanding of the importance of successful and innovative entrepreneurs. But Japan also needs to develop structures that will allow businesses the flexibility to compete in the global economy among rapidly changing industries. The Integrated Innovation Strategy 2022: Making Great Strides Toward Society 5.0 aims to address this by including focus areas on the promotion of advanced and emerging technology, and offers 120 trillion yen in R&amp;D investment to create Society 5.0. Another initiative aimed at increasing global competitiveness of Japanese startups, the <a href="https://www.j-startup.go.jp/en/about/">J-Startup Program</a> promotes local startups to the global market. <br></p>
<p><br>Japan has a rich network of support organizations across multiple national hubs. One such organization, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), helps startups globalize with the Startup City Acceleration Program. In addition, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Startup Fukuoka City, Open Yokohama, Startup City Sapporo, the Kyoto Startup Ecosystem Promotion Council, and Shibuya Startup Support are all committed to boosting entrepreneurship. Japan’s clear strategy of creating competitive startup ecosystems shows that the country is moving in the right direction. Japan’s Startup Visa is already being implemented in a number of locations, such as Fukuoka City, Kyoto, and Kobe City. Japan also hosts several startup events that connect different stakeholders, such as the <a href="https://growth.forstartups.com/">Growth Industry Conference</a>, <a href="https://www.y-ship.yokohama/en">Y Ship</a>, and the <a href="https://yoxo-o.jp/en/yoxofestival/">Yoxo Festiva</a>l. <br></p>
<p><br>The Japanese government has been active in Japan’s startup economy development with the promotion of Tokyo, Yokohama, Fukuoka, Kyoto, and Kansai as leading startup cities, in addition to state-sponsored funding and accelerator programs for startups. The country’s strong relations with the US have produced a partnership that could boost Japan’s startup ecosystem even further with initiatives such as the U.S.-Japan Competitiveness and Resilience (CoRe) Partnership and the <a href="https://jp-innovation-campus.org/">Japan Innovation Campus in Palo Alto</a>. With fintech and healthtech showing a lot of promise in Japan, we hope to see the country’s startup ecosystems attract more global recognition in the future. Japan startup ranking, Japan innovation ecosystem, Japan tech innovation, Japan startup funding opportunities.<br></p>

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![people walking on street during night time](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1617869884925-f8f0a51b2374?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80)
<br>With a proven record of innovation, Japan remains a global tech pioneer. Apart from its historic success in building legendary companies such as Sony and Panasonic, the country also recognizes the importance of startups. However, the shift from building massive industrial consumer electronics and automobile companies to startups is a difficult one. Nevertheless, Japanese corporations are increasingly adopting open innovation and actively seeking collaboration with startups. This commitment is exemplified by initiatives such as the [Open Innovation Lab](https://onlab.jp/en/programs/open-innovation/), which plays a key role in bridging startups and established corporations.<br>

==read-more==

  

<br>Like other economies in the region, a risk averse mindset is a challenge for the growth of Japan’s startup economy, in addition to a need for improved English skills to allow entrepreneurs to target international markets. This is reinforced by the abundance of high-quality corporate jobs, which creates a scarcity of talented and motivated entrepreneurs. With an aging population, Japan could benefit from attracting more foreign talent.<br>

  

<br>Japan’s low number of unicorns could signal a lack of investment in the startup ecosystem. Interestingly, a daring and globally recognized VC venture is based in Japan: Softbank, led by Masayoshi Son, has made a massive impact on the global startup landscape, with investments in companies ranging from Uber and ByteDance, to WeWork or FTX. In an effort to increase and attract startup capital, the government has taken an active role with plans to introduce a five year residency visa for angel investors and venture capitalists. This shows that Japan is nurturing its startup ecosystem with more investment and promoting entrepreneurship, signaling an understanding of the importance of successful and innovative entrepreneurs. But Japan also needs to develop structures that will allow businesses the flexibility to compete in the global economy among rapidly changing industries. The Integrated Innovation Strategy 2022: Making Great Strides Toward Society 5.0 aims to address this by including focus areas on the promotion of advanced and emerging technology, and offers 120 trillion yen in R&D investment to create Society 5.0. Another initiative aimed at increasing global competitiveness of Japanese startups, the [J-Startup Program](https://www.j-startup.go.jp/en/about/) promotes local startups to the global market. <br>

  

<br>Japan has a rich network of support organizations across multiple national hubs. One such organization, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), helps startups globalize with the Startup City Acceleration Program. In addition, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Startup Fukuoka City, Open Yokohama, Startup City Sapporo, the Kyoto Startup Ecosystem Promotion Council, and Shibuya Startup Support are all committed to boosting entrepreneurship. Japan’s clear strategy of creating competitive startup ecosystems shows that the country is moving in the right direction. Japan’s Startup Visa is already being implemented in a number of locations, such as Fukuoka City, Kyoto, and Kobe City. Japan also hosts several startup events that connect different stakeholders, such as the [Growth Industry Conference](https://growth.forstartups.com/), [Y Ship](https://www.y-ship.yokohama/en), and the [Yoxo Festiva](https://yoxo-o.jp/en/yoxofestival/)l. <br>

  
<br>The Japanese government has been active in Japan’s startup economy development with the promotion of Tokyo, Yokohama, Fukuoka, Kyoto, and Kansai as leading startup cities, in addition to state-sponsored funding and accelerator programs for startups. The country's strong relations with the US have produced a partnership that could boost Japan's startup ecosystem even further with initiatives such as the U.S.-Japan Competitiveness and Resilience (CoRe) Partnership and the [Japan Innovation Campus in Palo Alto](https://jp-innovation-campus.org/). With fintech and healthtech showing a lot of promise in Japan, we hope to see the country’s startup ecosystems attract more global recognition in the future. Japan startup ranking, Japan innovation ecosystem, Japan tech innovation, Japan startup funding opportunities.<br>

SoftBank Robotics Holdings

GROOVE X

VACAN

PayPay

Timee

DM2C Studio

The country has some notable startup success stories including , PayPay.

Japan has 11 cities in the
      top 1000 and is one of the leading startup hubs in East Asia.

Since 2024, Japan lost 3 spots
    in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index, having now positioned itself as 21st worldwide.

Japan’s startup ecosystem ranks 3rd in East Asia and 21st globally. Japan’s startups raised 6518229 US dollars on average. Find the most promising startups, unicorns, and notable exits in Japan.

Startup Ecosystem of Japan | Startupblink

Our startup ecosystem map for Japan includes a sample of  3576 tech companies. We have identified as unicorns 5 startups that have passed the USD 1 billion valuations. Contributing to the vitality of this startup ecosystem are the 9 pantheon member entities.

With a large variety of accelerator programs and initiatives, Japan's startup scene stands out from that of other countries in East Asia. Japan offers a number of funding
opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups. Below is a list of some of Japan's most prominent support initiatives:

An inspiring ecosystem that is steadily due to its growing use of digital technologies, rapid urbanization and planned investments

WADAAG TECHNOLOGIES

FGS Bill Tracker

Sostec

Zaad

Wadaag Investment

A growing regional and global startup leader 

ShopBack

Reebelo

Love, Bonito

Glints

BandLab

bitget.com

A vibrant and strong startup hub attracting international recognition and investment

Autolab

Picap

Cubbo

Addi

Platzi

Bold

Regus - Bogota, Tierra Firme Santa Barbara

Regus - Bogota, La Noventa

Regus - Bogota, Aeropuerto Buró 26

Foody

Rappi

Habi

A leading regional startup hub owing its succes to the creative and innovative spirit of its people 