J-Startup

J-Startup — 5th selection

Supports Japanese startups through public-private matching for global market exposure and business development.

J-Startup is Japan's flagship public-private startup support programme, launched in June 2018 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and operated jointly with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The programme identifies and intensively supports startups with the highest potential to develop new technologies, create innovative business models, and compete on the global stage. The fifth selection round was announced on 13 March 2025, adding 31 newly selected companies and bringing the cumulative total to 239 J-Startup companies selected since the programme's inauguration. The fifth cohort spans deep-tech sectors including space (ArkEdge Space, ElevationSpace, Pale Blue, Orbital Lasers, SPACE ONE, Innovative Space Carrier), fusion (Helical Fusion), AI (Sakana AI), biotech (Toregem BioPharma, Logomix, xForest Therapeutics), robotics (ugo), agritech (HarvestX), and climate tech (Pirika).

J-Startup is a non-cash programme; there is no direct grant disbursement. Instead, selected companies receive a concentrated support package covering: subsidised exhibition booths at major overseas and domestic events, local facilitation for international expansion, enhanced access to government procurement bidding, regulatory reform engagement, and business-matching with the network of J-Startup Supporter corporations and investors. Selection is conducted by the METI secretariat based on nominations submitted by outside experts — specifically, well-proven venture capitalists and new-business leaders at large Japanese companies. Direct applications from startups are not accepted.

Startups aiming for a future J-Startup selection round must first build relationships with Japanese VCs or J-Startup Supporter corporations who can nominate them. Selection guidelines and cohort lists are published in Japanese only, making a domestic partner effectively mandatory for non-Japanese-speaking founders. The programme runs annual cycles; a sixth round is expected in FY2026, though no date has been confirmed. Eligible applicants must be for-profit companies registered and operating in Japan.