Go-to-Market Japan: The State of Japan’s Startup Ecosystem

Japan's startup ecosystem is evolving rapidly, driven by shifting market dynamics, growing global interest, and a sharper focus on execution and go-to-market strategies. This session is part of the Road to Global Gathering 2026 series, highlighting key markets shaping global startup growth. This co-workshop with Venture Cafe Tokyo is open to anyone with free registration. 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.

❯ Agenda:
- Welcome and Introduction
- Workshop Discussion on key topics:

• Uniqueness of the Japanese startup ecosystem
• Key challenges facing startups in Japan
• 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:

• Erdinc Ekinci - Founder, Investment Lead of Co-capital.vc Co-Founder, CEO of Openfor.co Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan/Korea/Taiwan.

❯❯ This is an in-person event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/387156/meetup to secure your spot and receive further details.