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Japan startup and venture ecosystem
Where startups are forming across Japan: the cities, accelerators and investors, and how you get close to them.
The ecosystem
Speeda reports ¥761.3 billion in Japanese startup funding for 2025, excluding debt, and counted 2,700 funded companies. It reports a ¥62.4 million median funding amount and a ¥310 million average deal size for the year.
StartupBlink ranked Japan 18th globally and fourth in Asia Pacific in its 2026 index, with country scores adjusted for population. WIPO ranked Japan 12th in its 2026 Global Innovation Index, while Startup Genome Japan placed Tokyo 12th globally in its 2026 report.
Sectors and strengths
WIPO ranks Japan first for production and export complexity, third for patent families, and third for business-performed research and development in its 2026 results.
As of . Official information. Source: Global Innovation Index 2026 results
Hubs and regional differences
StartupBlink attributes 75.8% of Japan’s city-level startup activity to Tokyo. WIPO ranks the Tokyo-Yokohama innovation cluster second globally in its 2026 results, while Startup Genome Japan reports Tokyo ecosystem value of US$59 billion for H2 2023 through H2 2025, up 23% against H2 2018 through H2 2020.
As of . Official information. Source: Best Startup Ecosystems in Asia Pacific; 「Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026」で、東京世界12位にランクインーエコシステム価値の拡大続くも順位は3年連続の後退; Global Innovation Index 2026 results
The Cabinet Office says it selected 13 cities and regions for intensive startup ecosystem support.
As of . Official information. Source: J-Startup City Project Japan
Capital providers
Speeda reports ¥297.3 billion in venture-capital investment in 2025, down 8% year over year.
As of . Official information. Source: Greater Selectivity and Prolonged Private-Stage Financing in Japan’s 2025 Startup Funding Market
For founders
For location comparisons, distinguish country-level measures from city and cluster results: StartupBlink attributes 75.8% of Japan’s city-level startup activity to Tokyo, while WIPO’s innovation-cluster result covers Tokyo-Yokohama. The Cabinet Office’s selected-city initiative provides a starting point for exploring other locations.
As of . Official information. Source: J-Startup City Project Japan; Best Startup Ecosystems in Asia Pacific; Global Innovation Index 2026 results
For investors
Speeda’s 2025 figures provide reference points for total funding excluding debt, VC investment, funded-company count, median funding, and average deal size. Keep the VC investment and overall funding totals distinct when interpreting these figures.
As of . Official information. Source: Greater Selectivity and Prolonged Private-Stage Financing in Japan’s 2025 Startup Funding Market
Constraints and recent changes
WIPO cautions that annual Global Innovation Index comparisons require methodological and data context.
As of . Official information. Source: Global Innovation Index 2026 results
Startup ecosystem standing
Where Japan ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bloomberg Innovation Index | 2020 | #12 | Down 3 | B | Innovation, Research |
 Global Innovation Index | 2025 | #12 | Up 1 | A | Innovation, Competitiveness, Research, Talent |
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (countries) | 2025 | #18 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
 Doing Business (Ease of Doing Business ranking) | Doing Business 2020 | #29 | Up 10 | B | Business Climate |
 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking | 2026 | #30 | Up 8 | B | Competitiveness, Business Climate, Performance |
263 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Japan
Investors 193
Investor
InvestorDriving Japan's deep-tech innovation for a sustainable future.
InvestorTransforming industries through digital innovation.
The 3 most prominent of 193. Browse all investors
Incubators 32
IncubatorEmpowering entrepreneurs for social change.
IncubatorHands-on incubation for startups and business development support.
IncubatorFostering innovation in materials and chemicals.
The 3 most prominent of 32. Browse all incubators
Accelerators 22
AcceleratorEmpowering business creation in Japan.
AcceleratorPlug and Play Japan is an accelerator that connects startups with corporate partners, investors, and governments to foster innovation. It is part of a…
AcceleratorEmpowering student entrepreneurs in Japan.
The 3 most prominent of 22. Browse all accelerators
Venture studios 16
Venture studioEmpowering talent-driven ventures in APAC.
Venture studioBuilding and acquiring B2B SaaS companies.
Venture studioInnovating through collaboration and business development.
The 3 most prominent of 16. Browse all venture studios
Based here, most-ranked first
Universities in Japan
UniversityListed in 3 rankings
UniversityListed in 3 rankings
UniversityListed in 3 rankings
UniversityListed in 2 rankings
UniversityListed in 2 rankings
UniversityListed in 2 rankings
UniversityListed in 2 rankings
UniversityListed in 1 ranking
Pick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in Japan
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
- Startup Grind TokyoInvestor
- New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)Investor
- All investors
Finding startups in Japan
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
- 01Booster Inc.Accelerator
- ETIC (Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities)Incubator
- All accelerators
Scouting in Japan
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
Start scoutingCity guides
Cities in Japan
The largest 4 of 13 published city guides.
Questions about Japan
How does Japan rank as a startup ecosystem?
Its best position is #12 in Bloomberg Innovation Index (2020). It appears in 5 published rankings; the table above lists each one.
How many startup investors are based in Japan?
193 investors based in Japan have a profile here, including Startup Grind Tokyo, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and 株式会社 Speee. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Japan?
Yes. Japan has 22 accelerators, 32 incubators and 16 venture studios on record, including 01Booster Inc., ETIC (Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities) and HCCR.
Which universities are in Japan?
9 universities have a profile: Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Kyoto University and Nagoya University and more.
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Superscout documents Japan ecosystem information independently from canonical records and linked sources. Missing facts stay missing.
Sources and known limits
Last reviewed .
- J-Startup City Project Japan
- Best Startup Ecosystems in Asia Pacific
- 「Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026」で、東京世界12位にランクインーエコシステム価値の拡大続くも順位は3年連続の後退
- Global Innovation Index 2026 results
- Greater Selectivity and Prolonged Private-Stage Financing in Japan’s 2025 Startup Funding Market
- Bloomberg Innovation Index, 2020
- Global Innovation Index, 2025
- Global Startup Ecosystem Index (countries), 2025
- Doing Business (Ease of Doing Business ranking), Doing Business 2020
- IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, 2026
Organizations are placed by where they are headquartered. Only those with a profile here are counted, so the real number is higher.
The population figure has no date attached, so treat it as approximate.
Superscout is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the organizations documented here.