By Chloe Takahashi, Program Manager at Techstars

On December 16, 2024, we opened the applications for the Techstars Tokyo class of 2025! Before diving into the exciting opportunities that 2025 has in store, let's take a moment to look back at the remarkable milestones we achieved in 2024!

Our inaugural year was filled with impactful accomplishments, collaborative growth, and the creation of meaningful relationships. Join us as we reflect on the key moments that defined our journey!

Achievement Overview

At the core of our achievements is the successful completion of our inaugural program, highlighted by a Demo Day that welcomed 500 registered guests, including 150 investors from top venture capital firms such as Incubate Fund, Eight Roads, Headline Asia, and Global Brain.

We directed investments into 12 new companies, comprising five startups from Japan, three from the U.S., three from South and Southeast Asia, and one from the E.U. The sectors span a diverse range, including entertainment (gaming, manga, animation), insurance, femtech, robotics, B2B enterprise SaaS, B2B data analytics, and B2C multi-player browsers.

Events and Workshops That Shaped Us

In 2024, we actively participated in prominent events such as GCV Asia Congress, Plug and Play Japan, and SusHi Tech Tokyo, serving as speakers and pitch judges and engaging with approximately 3,000 attendees.

Driven by our mission to unite Japan’s startup ecosystem, we collaborated with influential local partners like Google Japan for Startups, Shibuya for Startups, NVIDIA Japan for Startups, and A16Z to host a mix of online and in-person workshops and roundtables.

Mentorship Pool

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the mentors who have been instrumental in our journey. In our inaugural year, our mentorship network expanded significantly, with 88 mentors setting a high standard for what’s to come in the years ahead.

A special thank you to some of our outstanding mentors, and EIRs: Tom Moss, a multi-exited entrepreneur and former COO and CEO APAC at Skydio; Barry O'Neill, a multi-exited entrepreneur and Partner at Value Create; and Ro Gupta, an exited entrepreneur and Head of Corporate Business Strategy at Woven Planet. Your support means the world to us, and we deeply appreciate your contributions!

Highlights of Company Growth

The inaugural class of Techstars Tokyo delivered strong results overall. As anticipated, some companies experienced rapid growth and closed funding rounds, while others are progressing at a steadier pace.

Given the program's timing, most fundraising rounds will occur in 2025. We remain actively involved, providing hands-on support to founders with their fundraising efforts.

Key factors for all founders’ success include sustained assistance during the Q1 and Q2 2025 fundraising period, as well as ongoing problem-solving and mentorship from the Techstars team, our network of mentors, the global Techstars community, JETRO, Mitsui Fudosan, and, most importantly, from one another.

Looking Ahead

Building on the successes of 2024, we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. The momentum we’ve created together is a testament to our collective dedication to this thriving ecosystem.

As we move into the future, let’s continue to embrace the spirit of innovation and collaboration that unites us!

Featuring Techstars Tokyo:

• Nikkei, Mitsui Fudosan Announces Startup Accelerator with Techstars; Published on Feb. 12, 2023

• Nikkei Asia, U.S. Techstars CEO eyes Japan as Asia's hub for accelerating startups; Published on Feb. 17, 2024

• Nikkei and Nikkei Asia, U.S. startup investor Techstars debuts Japan accelerator program; Published Aug. 20, 2024

• NHK, Tokyo is a diamond gemstone. Global investors are turning their keen attention to Tokyo.; Aired Nov. 23, 2024

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