Tokyo : Building Cross-Border Collaborations in the Heart of Japan
Tokyo's startup ecosystem is evolving fast, and Middle Bridge was on the ground to witness it firsthand.
During a packed week in Japan, Magdalena connected with some of the region’s most thoughtful founders, investors, and ecosystem builders. A key highlight was a panel at CIC Japan, where Charlini De Almeida and André Bose do Amaral from Habitto, along with Kaori Rei from Leia.ai, led a compelling conversation on fintech, financial wellbeing, and the psychology behind money decisions. Japan’s distinctive approach—localised iteration, product simplicity, and long-term trust-building offers crucial lessons for any founder entering the market.
Fintech and financial wellbeing session at @CIC Tokyo
Beyond the stage, the week was rich in strategic insights. A coffee chat with André offered more than just caffeine—it was a masterclass in navigating Japan’s unique fintech landscape. André spoke candidly about the challenges and intricacies of building products that not only comply with Japan’s regulatory environment but also meet the cultural expectations of its users. It’s not about rapid disruption but about building trust over time, crafting elegant solutions to deeply specific problems, and aligning with societal values. This perspective is essential for any foreign founder looking to enter the space.
Later in the week, a deep-dive meeting with Whiplus Wang from Headline and IVS revealed a mutual interest in bridging ecosystems. Our conversation ranged from co-investment opportunities to talent mobility and the need for more structured pathways for international founders to scale in Japan. There was clear alignment around one idea: Japan is hungry for innovation, but it must be framed in a way that resonates locally. With the right intermediaries, the bridge between Silicon Valley, Riyadh, or Warsaw and Tokyo can be more than symbolic - it can be operational and profitable.
At Venture Café Tokyo, we saw CIC Japan in action as a hub for global dialogue. The Thursday Gathering, hosted by Ryusuke Komura and Toshimasa Hijikuro, brought together innovators from every corner of the ecosystem—a clear signal that Tokyo is not just looking inward, but actively seeking new ideas, perspectives, and partnerships. Startups, VCs, corporates, and enablers mixed fluidly, showcasing the city’s growing appetite for cross-border collaboration.
Japan’s startup ecosystem has experienced significant growth over the past decade. Investments in startups have increased tenfold, reaching approximately JPY 850 billion (USD 6 billion) in 2023. This surge is supported by the expansion of venture capital funds, corporate trends towards open innovation, and government initiatives aiming to foster entrepreneurship. Notably, 16 startups raised over JPY 5 billion (USD 36 million) in single funding rounds in 2023, with 8 of these exceeding JPY 10 billion (USD 71 million), indicating a shift towards larger-scale funding and ambition within the ecosystem. The government's Five-Year Plan aspires to create 100 unicorns by 2027, reflecting a national commitment to nurturing high-growth companies. Moreover, the number of university-affiliated startups has more than doubled over the past decade, reaching 4,288 in 2023, highlighting a growing culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among the younger generation.
For Middle Bridge, this trip was more than market research. It was a confirmation of our role as a platform for bridging West and East by connecting visionary founders, investors, and operators across regions that often speak different business languages. We saw firsthand the value of cultural fluency, not just in communication, but in product design, partnership-building, and long-term engagement. Japan is open, but success requires patience, context, and the right local alliances.
We return with sharpened insights, new relationships, and a stronger belief in our mission: to make cross-border growth not just possible, but transformative.
Japan is ready. So are we.
Coffee Chat with André Bose do Amaral from Habitto
Amazing meeting with Whiplus Wang from Headline and IVS
Magdalena, with Charlini De Almeida and Kaori Rei from Leia.ai
