Helping International Startups Succeed, Starting in Shibuya
From building a business in Japan to meeting the right partners, discover how Shibuya Startups helps international founders take their next steps.
Japan’s market holds considerable appeal for startups from around the world. Yet language barriers, complex administrative procedures, and unfamiliar business practices can make it difficult to gain traction. For some, those challenges ultimately lead them to leave the market.
Founders also face practical hurdles as they establish their lives and businesses in Japan. Attracting talented entrepreneurs and helping them stay takes more than any single organization or municipality can provide. What they need is an ecosystem: a welcoming hub where founders can find support, connect with one another, and move into the Japanese market with confidence.
End-to-End Support, from Startup Visa to Business Growth in Japan
We work to create an environment where startups can take root in Shibuya, playing a role in advancing the ward’s startup initiatives.
At the heart of this effort is Shibuya Startup Support (SSS), an initiative led by the Shibuya City Office to help startups from Japan and abroad launch and grow. Working alongside SSS, Shibuya Startups helps build an ecosystem open to the wider community through support such as:
- Assistance with opening personal and corporate bank accounts
- Hands-on support for launching a business, including company incorporation and fundraising advice
- Access to proof-of-concept (PoC) opportunities, working with local governments to create places where startups and Japanese companies can test new ideas
- Coordination across the ecosystem, from PR strategy to on-the-ground operations, so support continues beyond a single interaction
Obtaining a Startup Visa is an important milestone for an international founder entering Japan. Our support extends well beyond that point. We help startups build the foundations to operate independently and expand in the Japanese market, providing practical assistance and specialist insight when they need it.
Hands-On Support for the Challenges Startup Visa Holders Actually Face
In our day-to-day conversations with international founders, we hear the practical concerns that can stand in the way of progress:
“Opening a bank account as a foreign resident is difficult.”
“I want to understand where to find funding in Japan and how to approach investors.”
“I need more opportunities to pitch and build my confidence.”
We respond with more than general advice. Drawing on a broad network and specialist knowledge, we provide hands-on support tailored to each founder’s situation. By combining the strengths of the public sector with Shibuya Startups’ ability to turn ideas into action on the ground, we help international entrepreneurs get their businesses off to a strong start.
A Global Community Where Founders Support One Another and Grow Together
As these efforts have grown, Shibuya has become home to one of Japan’s largest communities of Startup Visa holders. It is more than a workspace or a place to ask for help. Founders share knowledge, encourage one another, and build momentum together in a welcoming, energetic community.
We create opportunities for that community to connect with the wider ecosystem. Alongside gatherings for members, we hold practical events every Wednesday that welcome people from outside the community.
Snack & Connect
A casual meetup for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the latest developments in the startup ecosystem. Speakers include entrepreneurs supported by Shibuya Startups and people active across the industry. The format changes from week to week, with opportunities for pitches and close conversation with fellow participants.
Growth Hub
A monthly roundtable where participants can hear directly from international founders who have established companies in Japan, investors, and people working in regulated industries. Discussions focus on practical topics such as hiring, investor expectations, working with suppliers, and the challenges international business leaders commonly encounter.
Past guests have included leaders from LinkedIn, SBI Investment, and PARTNERS FUND, as well as founders, investors, and corporate leaders active in Japan and abroad. Together, they have shared practical insights on fundraising, sales, legal matters, international expansion, AI adoption, and other topics essential to startup growth.
An Ecosystem in Action: Collaboration and Real-World Results
Startups we have supported are already using this ecosystem to achieve tangible results in Japan.
- Building Visibility on the Global Stage: Takeoff Tokyo and SusHi Tech
We support startups in exhibiting at major events, giving them opportunities to showcase products adapted for the Japanese market and connect with Japanese companies and investors.- Takeoff Tokyo 2026: Six startups supported by SSS exhibited at this event, which brought together people across industries, generations, and borders. OneInbox was selected as a finalist in the pitch competition, highlighting the potential of a global startup growing from Shibuya.
- SusHi Tech: Nine Startup Visa holders showcased their products over the three-day event. Parakeet also took the stage, creating another opportunity to raise its profile in the Japanese market.
- Testing New Ideas Through Municipal Partnerships: SORA TECHNOLOGY
Working through a partnership between Shibuya City and Sapporo City in Hokkaido, SORA TECHNOLOGY conducted a proof of concept. Shibuya City also has partnerships with Kobe and Yokohama, helping startups explore opportunities to test their solutions across Japan.
- Finding Talent Through Community Connections: HELLO WORLD!
HELLO WORLD! used Shibuya Bridge, a coworking and event space where Startup Visa holders and others gather, for engineering recruitment and hiring events. Connections with other startups in the space also led to hires, showing how relationships within the community can create opportunities beyond its events and programs.
The founders who gather here have come from around the world with a determination to build something in Japan, despite differences in language and culture. Through everyday exchanges and mutual support, they are finding their footing in the Japanese business environment.
If you are interested in open innovation with Japanese companies or exploring new business possibilities, we invite you to visit this diverse, welcoming community. We look forward to meeting you in Shibuya.