The Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI Kansai) has announced the selection of 19 high-potential startups for the J-Startup KANSAI 2025 program, a regional initiative designed to accelerate globally competitive startups originating from the Kansai area. This marks the first cohort under the renewed J-Startup KANSAI framework, which places stronger emphasis on scaling high-impact companies rather than broad ecosystem expansion.

The selected startups were chosen based on recommendations from 53 expert nominators, including entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, accelerators, and industry specialists. The cohort reflects Kansai’s geographic and industrial diversity, with eight companies headquartered in Kyoto, six in Osaka, four in Hyogo, and one in Shiga. The startups span a wide range of sectors such as AI, digital optics, life sciences, manufacturing technologies, and enterprise solutions, highlighting Kansai’s strength in deep tech and industrial innovation.

Under the program, selected startups will receive priority access to national J-Startup support measures, as well as Kansai-specific assistance provided through public-private partnerships. These include business matching with major corporations and local governments, participation in domestic and international exhibitions, PR support, and opportunities to engage with global investors and ecosystem partners.

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