With over 10,000 startups present in the country, the startup ecosystem in Japan is now front and center in attracting corporate and government attention. The acknowledgment of the need for a robust startup ecosystem has grown, and the startup support structure in Japan has been enhanced in recent years. The expanding momentum from corporations' collaboration with startups is one of the elements driving Japan's venture boom, with corporations investing in and promoting accelerator programs in support of open innovation.
In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of all incubator and accelerator programs in Japan, along with a short overview of their programs to help you determine a suitable program. The incubators and accelerators in this list have been subdivided into applicability for startups in their 'ideation', 'launch', or 'growth' stages.
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FULL LIST OF STARTUP INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS IN JAPAN
Ideation Stage Startup Incubators in Japan
Full list of ideation-stage startup incubators in Japan:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: IoT
ABBA, standing for Atom to Bit and Bit to Atom, is a seed accelerator that supports entrepreneurs who are building a little future with IoT software and services. ABBALab will assist teams in the process of prototyping, refining prototypes, utilizing crowdsourcing to gauge market reaction, and creating models for mass production.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: EduTech
SZIV is the startup accelerator initiative from SHO-zemi, Japan's leading tutoring network. Their Incubation Lab works with research partners to co-create and promote cutting-edge scientific research and development that provides fresh insights into how people think, learn, and perceive the world.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Machine Learning
Machine Learning Solutions offer business incubation that invests in and supports startups with strengths in machine learning technology. They provide funding support for research and development as well as working capital for startups at their early stages.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Science and Technology
Leave a Nest is involved in activities that advance science and technology and harness its potential for the betterment of society. They collaborate with institutions, academics, and corporations and bring them together to launch new enterprises.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Founded in 1995, Interwood have cultivated a sizable list of successes and know-hows, which they use to help develop startups and new businesses. They provide business development consultation and assistance in generating new markets (customers) and business prospects (opportunities) to boost business value.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
GOB Incubation Partners offer a comprehensive range of services for emerging enterprises; systematizing the know-how required for launching new businesses and assisting in the establishment of new businesses. Accompanied by their in-house entrepreneurs, first-time founders are assisted and provided practical support in the strategy, operation, and execution of their business ideas.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Archetype is a business incubator that assists the development of new companies from idea through commercialization. With extensive expertise in the market, they offer customized growth path and startup support relevant to each firm's requirements.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, Impact Hub Tokyo is a community where founders from various backgrounds may convene and build relationships to improve their businesses. They offer various programs that enable entrepreneurs and startup teams to engage in critical discussions and learn from fellow startup founders.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Creww provide a wide range of services to fulfill the different requirements of enterprises, startups, and individuals, including Japan's top-tier open innovation program and a startup studio. Creww's startup studio is a platform for people who wish to start a new business and find project collaborators and members.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
The Aoyama Startup Acceleration Center (ASAC) is an incubation center that focuses on advancing startup businesses by providing acceleration programs, free use of co-working spaces, event spaces, and offices, advice on fundraising, and access to a network of corporations, VCs, media, and senior entrepreneurs.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: No
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Antler is a worldwide early-stage venture capital firm that invests in people who are dedicated to transforming their big ideas into revolutionary enterprises. The Antler Japan team assists entrepreneurs by connecting them with industry experts, successful founders and mentors, and access to funding to help them launch and expand their businesses.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Bornrex offers business services and a comprehensive assistance package for the formation of new businesses, from strategy and business model development through implementation.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Social Impact
Scala Partners helps build new businesses that tackle social problems by providing incubation services to startups. They actively communicate with new founders who have ideas and unique technologies and provide assistance in business plan formation, market research, capital policy formulation, and entrepreneurship support.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
TECHFUND is the world's first platform that helps new enterprises through "technology investment," providing the Hi STARTUP acceleration program that boosts the value of companies by leveraging technology, assisting entrepreneurs in various technological fields such as AI and Web3.0.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Mainichi Mirai Sozo Lab is comprised of 3 companies: Mainichi Shimbun, Japan's oldest newspaper, Media Do Holdings, distributor of e-books and digital content, and Broadband Tower, an internet infrastructure provider. Their acceleration program provides value in "co-creation" that goes beyond business know-how and funding, encouraging company development through collaboration with external partners and enterprises.
Launch Stage Startup Incubators and Accelerators in Japan
Full list of launch stage startup incubators and accelerators in Japan:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Consumer Products & Services, Mobility, Smart Building, Sustainability & Climate Change, Connectivity & Infrastructure, Social Innovation
SmartCityX is a global open innovation initiative in which huge organizations from various sectors and startups from across the world work to co-create high-value services and apps from the perspectives of customers. They accept ideas, prototypes, demos, and commercialized products at various stages of development.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Food Tech, Next-gen Food, Food Science, Data-driven Food Services, AgTech, CPG/Consumer Services, Food Processing, Food Security and Sustainability
With the goal of improving and streamlining the food development ecosystem, Food Tech Studio helps connect food entrepreneurs with leading corporations and industry thought-leaders, assisting them in realizing top-line growth opportunities in Japan, the United States, and globally.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sectors
Founded in 2010, Open Network Lab (Onlab) is one of the first accelerator programs in Japan to promote internationally active entrepreneurs. Using their accumulated expertise, they construct a global incubation stream and facilitate merging between major corporations' know-how and fresh startup ideas to speed further startup globalization.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sectors
Scrum Studio promotes and provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to establish successful new businesses by leveraging their collaborations with global enterprises from Japan. Their initiatives bring together worldwide communities of startups and renowned Japanese firms to work on technical advancements across a wide range of sectors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
With the purpose to "build companies and improve societies," Dream Incubator is involved in a range of business production services, including incubation for startup companies in Japan and abroad.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Google for Startups is Google's initiative that connects startups with Google resources to promote their growth. They form a worldwide network of premier tech hubs, accelerators, and diversity-focused organizations; providing programs meant to assist Japanese businesses in learning best practices in technical, product, and leadership.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Social Impact
Gaiax is a startup studio with the mission to empower people to connect and solve social issues via the use of social media, sharing economy, Web 3.0, and DAO. They provide comprehensive support from the pre-startup phase, from concept development through growth, including business development, engineering, and back-office funding.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Energy
ENECHANGE Insight is a program by ENECHANGE, a technology-focused multi-national energy firm. Developed by a group of energy entrepreneurs, analysts, researchers, and specialists, the program enables international collaboration and commercial growth of startups in the energy sector.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Energy & Natural Resources, Discrete Industries, Financial Industries, Consumer, Public Services, Service, AI/ML, Blockchain, Robotic Process Automation, IoT, AR/VR, Intelligent Enterprise, Industry 4.0, Experience Management, Sustainability Management, Social Impact
Housed in SAP's Experience Center in Tokyo, SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo offers a number of programs to support startups and provide connections to SAP, a multinational software company. Their programs will provide you with targeted mentoring, technical guidance, and access to their network of customers and investors for you to build relationships, integrate your product, and go-to-market.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Improved Convenience, Comfortable Movement and Transportation, Technology, Regional Activation, Social Impact
The JR East Start Up program seeks to address societal concerns by working in collaboration with startups and creating value through refining and commercializing brilliant ideas.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Investment/Management/Marketing/Brand Strategy, Design/Business/Product Development/ Various Creative Direction/ Art Direction/Business Matching
Studies is a design accelerator that identifies and accelerates startups and provides support in areas such as management strategy, marketing strategy, business development, design, and copywriting. They also investts in Pre-Series A startups.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
NTT DoCoMo Ventures is a global venture capital firm that offers incubation services that will connect your innovative ideas with the NTT Group's experience and provide extensive assistance, development initiatives, cooperation opportunities, and spaces to flourish.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Plug and Play Japan is an innovation platform that connects Japan to its global innovation ecosystem. With our numerous initiatives, they collaborate with big corporations and facilitate connections to startups, providing unprecedented access to markets.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Reality Accelerator will help you to complete your company's zero-to-one phase as fast as possible and ensure your firm takes off. They will help you tackle difficulties on-by-one with their expertise and best practices, assisting with all on-site activities such as sales, marketing, development, recruiting, and finance, among others.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
UPDRAFT is an acceleration program by StartupGoGo that aids in the seamless commercialization of products and services and the development of strategies until product-market fit. The program is mentorship-heavy and will provide the expertise, network, and funding required for entrepreneurs to accelerate their startups.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
G-STARTUP is launched by GLOBIS, the largest business graduate school in Japan, with the aim to produce 100 unicorn businesses by partnering with startup entrepreneurs. The program will support founders in expanding their entrepreneurial horizons, connecting with Japan's greatest entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and securing the next round of financing.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
TSI is a global business development service provider that offers comprehensive commercialization assistance and venture capital investment for early-stage tech startups.
As a proponent of the START initiative of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), they provide support in business model development and locating corporate partners.
Growth Stage Startup Accelerators in Japan
Full list of growth-stage startup accelerators in Japan:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Platform Models, Consumer Goods, Media & Entertainment Technologies
ANEW Holdings is a worldwide incubation and venture consulting firm that provides financial and business support to both domestic and international firms in entering and scaling their respective industries through strategy advancement and disruptive innovation.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Transportation Distribution & Warehouses, Real Estate Construction, Department Stores, Supermarkets & Shopping Centers, Advertising & Promotion, Digital Marketing, Credit Cards, Points and Financing, Education & Culture, Smart Home, Smart Life, Tourism, Hotels & Hostels, Entertainment, Sports, Healthcare, Security, Electrical & Gas, Communication
Tokyu Alliance Platform goes beyond an acceleration program, providing a viable platform for open innovation to facilitate collaboration and co-creation of participating businesses. They support the proofs-of-concept and test introductions, commercialization and full-scale introductions, and relationship-building and capital raising of startups in the mid to later stages.
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
X-HUB Tokyo is a global acceleration program and platform that brings together local and international entrepreneurs along with major enterprises and venture capitalists from across the world looking to collaborate. The program will provide insights for capturing overseas markets, as well as opportunities to receive mentorship, network, and pitch to companies and venture capitalists for Tokyo-based startups.
Closing Thoughts on Startup Incubators and Accelerators in Japan
Japan is well-known for its innovative culture and cutting-edge technology; making it an excellent place for any aspiring entrepreneur to start and build their businesses. From a favorable legislative environment and ample government assistance to numerous corporate startup initiatives, Japan provides many opportunities for startups to grow and flourish. Given Japan's increasingly thriving startup environment, you'll find access to a range of startup support programs including business consultancy, free workspaces, access to diverse networks, and fundraising assistance.