Top Japanese Startups To Watch in 2022
Japan is one of the most exciting and advanced countries in the world, particularly for startups. The strong work ethic found in the nation on average, entrepreneurial spirit and the availability of VC funding mean that there are many top startups in Japan. Japanese startups have a great ecosystem, which is consistently valued to be higher than the global average- which also contributes to the great success seen in the country. Government intervention through strategy to improve the startup ecosystem has also seen great results for startup founders in Japan.
1. Izumi Finance
Year Founded: 2020
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Jimmy Yin
Izumi Finance is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company provides a liquidity mining protocol to provide Uniswap staking rewards across a variety of different price ranges. This improves the efficiency of incentive distribution for those that provide rewards on Uniswap.
Since the business was founded, it has seen success in securing outside investment for growth and development. The company has gone through two rounds of funding and secured the support of 22 investors during these funding rounds. This has resulted in the company making a total of $5.6 Million in investment.
2. I’mbesideyou
Year Founded: 2020
HQ: Setagaya, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Shozo Kamiya
I’mbesideyou is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2020 and is currently based in Setagaya, Japan. The company a SaaS solution for online communication that utilizes Artificial Intelligence technology related to video analysis. This helps to improve online communication for businesses and to make communication more meaningful online.
Since the business was founded, it has seen outside investment to help it to reach the next level. The company has gone through a single round of funding, which has opened the door for two investors to get involved. These investors have collectively pooled a total of 115 Million Yen.
3. primeNumber
Year Founded: 2015
HQ: Meguro, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Yamamoto Kenta, Yuki Tanabe
PrimeNumber is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2015 and is currently based in Meguro, Japan. The company provides a SaaS solution that allows for better data integration, saving time for engineers by automating the process of data acquisition- which allows them to focus on more important tasks and improve the overall efficiency of the business.
PrimeNumber has seen some success in terms of attracting outside investment to help the business grow. Since being founded, the company has gone through a single round of startup funding, which has allowed two investors to support the company with a figure of 130 Million Yen collectively.
4. Finatext
Year Founded: 2014
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Masashi Toda, Ryota Hayashi, Watanabe Tsutomu
Finatext is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2014 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The business aims to help financial services companies by providing vital cloud infrastructure and data analysis tools. With the wealth of data available in the financial market and in the increasing importance of proper analysis, the company has found a market for its services.
Since being founded, Finatext has seen a lot of outside investment. The business has gone through four separate rounds of funding, which has attracted a total of five investors to the business. These investors have put a total of $67.1 Million behind the business, which has also helped it to make its own investments and acquisitions.
5. Saleshub Japan
Year Founded: 2014
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Manabu Eda
Saleshub Japan is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2014 and is currently based in the city of Tokyo. The company helps people to find short-term work with a variety of different companies that they can get paid for. The process of finding a side job can be very difficult and Saleshub Japan makes this process a lot easier for workers and businesses that need short term workers.
Since the company was founded, it has done well in securing outside support for growth and development. Specifically, the company has seen investment from four sources across three separate rounds of funding. This has ultimately resulted in the business raising a figure of 96 Million Yen in funding.
6. Aidemy
Year Founded: 2014
HQ: Hongo, Japan
Size: 51-100
Founders: Ayataro Nakagawa, Yoshifumi Seki, Yoshitaka Okayama
Aidemy is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2014 and is currently based in Hongo, Japan. The company provides an online education platform to help developers with learning the complex but increasingly necessary skills that are involved in the programming of artificial intelligence. Such skills are in increasing demand and learning them can lead to a great career and source of income.
Since Aidemy was founded, it has gone through a total of five rounds of funding. These rounds have attracted a large group of twenty-six total investors to the company’s cause. As a result of these investors, the company has managed to raise a figure of $4.1 Million to further the growth and development of the business.
7. Sprocket
Year Founded: 2014
HQ: Setagaya, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Koji Fukada, Minoru Nakata
Sprocket is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2014 and is currently based in Setagaya, Japan. The company provides an online platform that can be accessed on the web related specifically to customer development. This platform provides the latest digital marketing information and helps businesses to better manage their customer lists and profiles.
Since being founded, Sprocket has gone through an impressive five rounds of startup funding. Across these five rounds of funding, the company has managed to secure investment from thirteen sources. As a result of these investors, the company has managed to raise a total of $11.9 Million in startup funding.
8. HIKKY
Year Founded: 2018
HQ: Akasaka, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Yasushi Funakoshi
HIKKY is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2018 and is currently based in Akasaka, Japan. The company provides businesses with the opportunity to organise expo events and conferences through the use of Virtual Reality companies. With the COVID-19 pandemic, this presents a great opportunity for those who want to hold these events in a safe manner.
Since being founded a few years ago, the company has successfully managed to secure funding to help the business to grow and develop. The company secured investment from a sole source in a single funding round and this has resulted in HIKKY gaining a total of 6.5 Billion Yen.
9. Voice Ping
Year Founded: 2019
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Akinori Nakajima
Voice Ping is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2019 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company provides a virtual office environment for remote teams, which allows for instant audio communication, translation and transcription in real-time, which improves the efficiency of remote teams.
Voice Ping has gone through one round of startup funding since being founded, with two investors being involved in this funding round. As a result of this funding round, the company has managed to secure $2 Million in funding.
10. Kyoto Fusioneering
Year Founded: 2019
HQ: Kyoto, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Richard Pearson, Taka Nagao
Kyoto Fusioneering is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2019 and is based in Kyoto, true to its name. The company makes its money by providing parts related to the development and creation of fusion reactors, the next step in energy generation technology. The company is helping to take human energy use and generation to the next level.
Since being founded, the company has already secured a large amount of startup funding. Two investors have backed the company through three rounds of startup funding and this has allowed the business to generate startup funding worth 341.3 Million Yen in the short amount of time it has existed.
11. Linc’well
Year Founded: 2018
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Kazuma Kaneko, Yamamoto Ryosuke
Linc’well is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2018 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company is a healthcare startup that provides SaaS solutions to the medical industry in an effort to improve the efficiency of the sector through the use of advanced technology. This is particularly important as the COVID-19 pandemic is still placing strain on healthcare services across the globe.
The business has gone through two rounds of funding since being founded, with a total of five investors backing the company through these funding rounds. As a result of this, Linc’well has managed to successfully raise a total of 8.4 Billion Yen to help the business to continue its growth.
12. Good Vibes Only
Year Founded: 2018
HQ: Akasaka, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Takashi Noda
Good Vibes Only is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2018 and is currently based in Akasaka, Japan. The company uses advanced digital technology to provide digital PR and marketing services, along with digital transformation and Direct-to-Consumer consulting services.
Surprisingly for a digital agency, Good Vibes Only has secured a large amount of funding for growth and development, specifically, raising $86.1 Million. This was achieved through a pair of investors in a pair of funding rounds.
13. Tanaakk
Year Founded: 2013
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Masayoshi Aoki, Shoichiro Tanaka
Tanaakk is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2013 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company provides growth-as-a-service solutions and equity finance services supported by law firms to help global technology startups grow and secure their legal standing with regard to equity.
Since being founded, Tanaakk has gone through four separate rounds of startup funding. During these funding rounds, the company has managed to secure investment from two sources. It should be noted that the company has also been successful in acquiring other companies, with the $2.8 Million received from investors likely helping this.
14. INNOPHYS
Year Founded: 2013
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Hiroshi Kobayashi
INNOPHYS is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2013 and is currently headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The business is behind the design, manufacturing and deployment of exoskeleton robotic technology which allows the wearer to complete heavy-duty tasks with less risk of injury. This solution can help workers across a variety of different industries and is cheaper than alternatives.
Since being founded, the company has gone through a total of five rounds of startup funding. Across these rounds, the company has seen an impressive twenty-nine investors put their money behind it. As a result of this, INNOPHYS has raised a total amount of $44.3 Million in funding.
15. Tsukulink
Year Founded: 2013
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Akinobu Yumoto, Hiroyuki Kasai, Tatsuo Uchiyama
Tsukulink is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2013 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company provides a job platform to help the construction industry within the country. The way it works is that the platform matches available jobs with the best candidates, which helps companies to fill roles more quickly whilst providing opportunities for workers.
Since being founded, the company has gone through four rounds of startup funding. This has allowed the business to get the attention of a total of eleven investors who have decided to support Tsukulink. This has ultimately resulted in the company receiving funding worth 114.7 Million Yen.
16. SpeakBUDDY
Year Founded: 2013
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Tateishi Tsuyoshi
SpeakBuddy is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2013 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company provides learning solutions for the English language through the web, or using the company’s app. English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and having a great way to learn can help people’s future prospects.
SpeakBuddy has gone through numerous rounds of funding since it was founded, with the business going through seven rounds in that time. As a result of these funding rounds, the company has managed to secure support from eleven investors. These investors have combined to provide the business with 760.4 Million Yen in funding.
17. Pathee
Year Founded: 2012
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Makoto Hirose, Terada Shinsuke
Pathee is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2012 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The business itself operates a search engine that finds specific information for its users, starting from their current location- which helps to give them more relevant results for the things that they are looking for.
Pathee has had a successful time in securing outside investment, with the business securing the support of eleven investors across four rounds of funding. These investors have pooled their money together, allowing the company to raise $9.7 Million since being founded.
18. AccuRNA
Year Founded: 2015
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Shiro Akinaga
AccuRNA is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2015 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company is behind the development of a new drug delivery system related to nucleic acid therapeutics to help with the effective treatment of refractory diseases all across the world.
Since the company was founded, it has gone through three rounds of startup funding. From these rounds, AccuRNA has received support from four investors. This has resulted in the company raising a total of $7 Million since being founded.
19. Coiney
Year Founded: 2012
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Naoko Samata, Shinnosuke Io, Yusuke Sato
Coiney is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2012 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company provides credit card payment services that can be accessed through the customer’s smartphone. This makes it easier for people to pay and easier for businesses to make money by doing so.
Since being founded nearly a decade ago, Coiney has gone through five rounds of startup funding. As a result of these funding rounds, the company has managed to attract the attention of ten investors. From these investors, the company has managed to raise a total of $23.2 Million in startup funding.
20. Smiloops
Year Founded: 2012
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 1-10
Founders: Nakako Takuya
Smiloops is a Japanese startup that was founded in 2012 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The business makes its money by the planning, development and operation of services on the internet.
Since it was founded, the company has gone through two rounds of startup funding. These two funding rounds have allowed the company to get support from two investors. These investors have collectively given the company $5.4 Million in startup funding.
21. Gracia Japan
Year Founded: 2017
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Size: 11-50
Founders: Nakauchi Rei, Takuyasu Saito
Gracia Japan is a startup in Japan that was founded in 2017 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company has created an e-commerce platform that helps people to find gifts for the people that they love.
Since being founded, the company has gone through four rounds of startup funding which has been supported by a total of seventeen investors. This has resulted in the company raising a total of 1.7 Billion Yen.
FAQs
How Many Startups are There in Japan?
Figures from October 2019 show that Japan has more than 10,000 startup businesses- although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is currently unclear.
What is the Average Investment in Japan?
The average investment in Japanese companies depends on the location, although in Tokyo, average Seed Funding stands at $565,000 and the average for Series A Funding stands at $2 Million.
What Are The Strongest Industries in Japan?
In terms of startup industries, the country has the strongest presence in terms of advanced manufacturing and robotics, fintech and the life sciences.
