Thursday Gathering # 320_Go-to-Market Japan: The State of Japan’s Startup Ecosystem

Road 2 Global Gathering 2025 Session
venturecafetok...
主催 | Organizer：Venture Cafe / Founder Institute Japan / Co-Capital.co / Openfor.co
言語. | Language: English | 英語
概要 | Descriptions：
Join us in this co-workshop with Venture Cafe Global to welcome 10 selected startups in Japan, which are open to anyone who is registered for free. Dive into the heart of Japan’s startup ecosystem in this hands-on workshop designed to provide entrepreneurs with a practical understanding of Japan’s business landscape. Whether you’re exploring Japan as a market for expansion or seeking to understand its unique startup culture, this session offers actionable insights to help you succeed. Explore Japan’s startup ecosystem, tackle entry challenges, build partnerships, secure PoCs and funding, connect with accelerators, VCs, and corporates, and discover strategies to scale and grow in Japan and beyond. Motto: Learn the fundamentals of thriving in Japan’s unique startup landscape.
Agenda:
Welcome and Introduction
Workshop Discussion on key topics: - Uniqueness of the Japanese startup ecosystem - Key challenges startups facing - Cultural aspects to prepare for when entering the Japanese market - Market statistics and trends - Insights on ecosystem players: Accelerators, VCs, CVCs, Corporates
Q&A Session
Networking Session Moderator & Speaker: - Erdinc Ekinci, Co-Founder, and CEO of Openfor.co & Co-capital.co and Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan/Korea/Taiwan.
Who Should Attend?
Startups looking to expand or enter the Japanese market
Entrepreneurs interested in understanding Japan’s unique business culture and dynamics
Teams seeking to uncover new opportunities within Japan’s startup ecosystem
Investors and advisors looking to gain insights into Japan’s startup scene
Founders exploring strategies for market entry and growth in Japan
What You Will Learn:
Key factors shaping Japan’s startup ecosystem and business landscape
Strategies for entering and expanding in the Japanese market
Insights into Japan’s unique business culture and market dynamics
Opportunities within emerging industries in Japan
Practical tips for navigating challenges and seizing growth opportunities
Key resources and networks available to startups in Japan About the Ecosystem
Organizations:
- Venture Cafe Tokyo: A global community where various innovators, including entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and students, gather, connect, and create innovation in society through a variety of programs.
- Openfor.co: A “Global Partnership Accelerator” originated in Silicon Valley that combined with an online platform and marketplace for learning, building, launching, monetizing, and growing partner ecosystems and collaborative community around you for achieving effective marketing, sales, community building, GTM, fundraising, and many more.
- Founder Institute: The Founder Institute is the world’s largest startup accelerator, helping entrepreneurs around the globe turn ideas into impactful technology companies. With over 8,000 alumni and $BN raised since 2009, there are programs in 200 cities in the world. FI’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs to build meaningful technology businesses.
- Co-Capital: Co-Capital is a VC that supports startups, investors, and governments by providing extensive networks, programs, and strategic guidance, helping them gain international traction, and funding opportunities through a collaborative ecosystem focusing on creating synergies among EdTech, Wellness, FinTech, and Deep Tech to foster a cohesive ecosystem where each sector supports and enhances the others with it’s regional focus on East Asia to Silicon Valley.