Newsletter Signup
Join Our Community!
Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive insights, and more.
Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive insights, and more.
To see how we may use your information, take a look at our privacy policy.
Largest Startup Hub Aims to Connect Ecosystems
In Japan, where population decline is a pressing issue, startups are seen as the key to the country's economic growth. In 2023, The Tokyo Metropolitan Government established "Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB)," Japan's largest startup support hub. Within its first year, TIB has welcomed approximately 100,000 visitors and hosted over 500 events, steadily increasing its presence. I interviewed Mr. Nishigawa, the division manager, about TIB's current status and future prospects.
Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your background?
Hello everyone, I'm Nishigawa. As a Tokyo Metropolitan Government official, I've worked in the Bureau of Urban Development, the Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, and metropolitan hospitals. I'm currently in my second year as the division manager of Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB), where I oversee facility management and various project planning and operations.
You weren't originally in the startup support sector?
That's right. I've worked in completely different fields: urban development, the Olympics, and hospitals. Some of my colleagues have experience in industrial policy and small business support through their work in the Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs.
What kind of work do you do as TIB's division manager?
While my main office is at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, I spend about half of my week at TIB. Many operating companies are involved as players at TIB, and we meet on a daily basis to discuss operational improvements and new projects.
What are TIB's distinctive features?
While many facilities focus on incubation and acceleration, TIB's concept is different. Tokyo already has various startup ecosystems: IT in Shibuya, finance in Nihonbashi, AI around the University of Tokyo, and others. These distinctive ecosystems are dispersed throughout the city.
We established TIB to connect these ecosystems together. By coming here, you can meet players from various fields and access diverse support opportunities.
We also aim to be a gathering place for startups and stakeholders from across Japan. For example, we want to create opportunities for startups from regional areas to meet Tokyo-based investors and companies at TIB, leading to investment and collaboration.
I hear you also support networking?
Yes. Most of our events include networking opportunities, and our third-floor salon space features community managers who create opportunities for connections.
We also focus on community building, placing the highest value on human connections. We believe that the new relationships formed at our events are highly significant.
In fact, we've adopted "NODE" (connections, connecting) as TIB's concept. This expresses our desire to serve as a "junction point" that links various people and organizations together.
After one year of operation, what are your future plans?
In this first year, we've made progress in building a platform that brings together diverse players, with about 100,000 visitors. We plan to continue creating new programs and initiatives, and from next year, we'll expand by utilizing the entire first floor as part of TIB, broadening our activities both physically and qualitatively.
Is there support for foreigners considering entrepreneurship in Japan?
TIB has a "Business Concierge Tokyo" service that provides comprehensive support to foreign individuals and companies looking to expand to Tokyo, covering both business and lifestyle aspects.
Another characteristic of TIB is the participation of many companies. The Tokyo area has an unparalleled concentration of large corporations globally, offering abundant open innovation opportunities. We believe this is highly attractive for foreign entrepreneurs.
Especially for foreign entrepreneurs coming to Japan alone, connections with supporters are crucial. We hope TIB can function as a place for such encounters.
How does TIB collaborate with other local governments?
At TIB, we aim to function as a bridge, connecting startups from regional areas with supporters in Tokyo through collaboration with local governments nationwide.
Specifically, we've held events gathering startup policy representatives from all 47 prefectures, and at SusHi Tech Tokyo, we set up exhibition booths for local governments to strengthen nationwide collaboration.
What specific programs do you offer for entrepreneurial support?
Currently, we aim to expand the startup ecosystem by establishing the "Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center" at TIB, which unifies administrative procedures related to establishing a business. We also run the "TIB STUDIO" program, which provides support from business plan development to fundraising.
Are there any industries or fields you're focusing on?
The target varies by support program. For example, TIB STUDIO supports business development in a wide range of fields from AI and mobility to pet businesses, while our "TIB CATAPULT" program creates collaborative projects between startups and established companies or universities in specific areas such as space and life sciences.
Finally, do you have a message for those planning to start a business, including foreigners considering entrepreneurship in Japan?
As I mentioned earlier, I hope people will use TIB as a place to meet various individuals. Even those who haven't started a business yet are welcome to participate in the events and meetups. I hope they'll communicate with experienced entrepreneurs and supporters to foster their growth.
For foreigners, TIB aims to be a gateway to Japan's startup ecosystem and can provide various types of support, so I hope they'll visit TIB first when they come to Japan.
TiB: https://tib.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en
What impressed me about TIB's initiatives was their clear role awareness of "connecting ecosystems." Tokyo already has diverse startup ecosystems, such as IT in Shibuya and finance in Nihonbashi. However, when these function independently, support and investment opportunities become limited. TIB aims to become a "junction point" connecting these ecosystems together and creating new possibilities.
They also focus on collaboration with local governments, implementing concrete initiatives such as holding events with representatives from all 47 prefectures and setting up a Japan Pavilion at SusHi Tech Tokyo.
However, Japan's startup ecosystem still has low global recognition, and its funding capacity remains at about 1/50th of the United States, indicating many remaining challenges. One year since its establishment, TIB's challenge has just begun.
.png)