Startupbootcamp Scale Osaka is an equity- and fee-free remote program for growth-stage startups to accelerate their market entry and business development in Japan. It has opened the applications for startups to pilot their technology with multi-billion dollar companies and receive hands-on support in Osaka, Japan’s second largest city.
Startupbootcamp Scale Osaka is sponsored by 7 leading Japanese corporations: Hankyu Corporation, Dentsu, JR West, JT, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sakura Internet, and SMBC; all household names in Japan who are seeking high-quality scaleups to collaborate on PoCs across various sectors under the broad theme of “Smart Cities & Living”.
These companies are currently seeking innovative solutions from around the world to collaborate on within the Japanese market. Interested startups can find more information and sign up via the Startupbootcamp Scale Osaka’s website linked here.
Please feel free to reach out to the team via osaka@startupbootcamp.org if you have any further questions.
FAQs
Why join the program?
No equity taken: Unlike other accelerators, Startupbootcamp Scale Osaka doesn’t take equity in your business. Hold on to your equity and focus on selling and scaling your product into the Japanese market as there are no fees to join the program.
3-Month Remote Program: A tailored 3-month program designed for scaleup companies to support their market entry and business development in the world’s 3rd largest market. In order to facilitate ease of participation, the program is designed to benefit from regular touch points virtually, with ongoing support provided remotely throughout the program.
Perks & Discounts: The program provides 500,000 USD in exclusive partner deals from leading technology providers such as Amazon, Cisco, F6S and others.
Regional and Global Access Network: Unmatched access to our Japan and global network of mentors, corporate partners, financial services industry experts, and alumni across 40+ countries, including carefully selected Japan specialists and mentors who provide hands-on support and valuable introductions.
Corporate Partners: Collaborate deeply with leading corporates operating across various sectors to secure projects, partnerships, and customers to grow your revenue.
Specialized Business Development Support & Masterclasses: Hands-on advice & support with business development for your business in Japan. Expert-led sessions and customized workshops covering Japanese culture & business etiquette, local regulations, legal, funding and expansion.
Coworking Space: Free desks for your entire team in a dynamic coworking space available upon request for the duration of the 3-month program in the heart of Osaka, Japan.
Investor Access: Direct access to meet the most active venture capitalists and corporates investing in your industry from Japan and around the world.
About the Partners
Hankyu Corporation is a Japanese railway operator and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Group. The HHH Group conducts business in the seven core segments of urban transportation, real estate, entertainment, information and communication technology, travel, international transportation and hotels. They are striving to drive innovation to improve people’s lifestyles by providing “safety and comfort” and “dreams and excitement”.
Dentsu is in the top 5 largest advertising networks globally. Their influences ranges across many different business spheres and holds large potential. They are looking to explore foodtech, adtech and sportstech within Osaka/Kansai and hope to bring about innovative ideas for the future development business in Osaka/Kansai.
JR West INNOVATIONS is the CVC arm of JR West Group, which operates a railway business based in western Japan, including Osaka and Kyoto, and serves approximately 5 million passengers a day. In addition to railway business, the group is developing real estate, retail, hotel, travel, and credit card businesses with total assets of approximately US$30B. We would like to support companies that will be able to work together to create value and revitalize local communities by leveraging our management resources including our businesses development with a central focus on railway and stations.
The Yomiuri Shimbun is a leading Japanese media group issuing the world’s largest circulation daily newspaper. As well as their news and media outlets, The Yomiuri Shimbun also owns a series of different branches in video and web production, sports, travel and entertainment, which are eager to adopt and develop new innovation.
JT Group is currently engaged in tobacco, pharmaceutical and food businesses, with operations in over 130 countries.
Sakura Internet is Japan’s largest Web Hosting provider, leading as a data center business with high capacity backbone, a high-speed internetwork and technologically advanced facilities. They are looking to support innovative ideas to help them grow.
SMBC is one of Japan’s largest financial institutions with an extensive domestic and global footprint. They are hoping to assist innovative ideas and help companies build a network that would support them in the future.
Why Japan?
Osaka, and Kansai is based in the heart of Japan, centrally located, enabling great access to the whole country. The Kansai region consists of six prefectures and prospers as pillars of Japan’s politics, economy and culture. During Japan’s rich history, the capital had been based in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara during various periods. In addition to the over 20 million population in the 100km radius of central Kansai, the area is one of the world’s leading metropolitan areas with a GDP comparable to the Netherlands. With such a rich history, and strong GDP, Osaka is an ideal stage for companies from all around the world to approach and engage in the thriving market in Japan. With the G20, Rugby World Cup, 2020 Olympics and 2025 World Fair, Japan, Kansai and Osaka have enabled many large-scale projects aimed at creating the next generation of cities to come to fruition.
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