ROUTEX
Japan Market Entry Support for Overseas Startups and Companies
Entering Japan takes more than a market study. We build your entry strategy around Japan’s market, regulation and business customs, then act as your team on the ground: designing meetings with Japanese corporations, municipalities and investors, supporting negotiations, and preparing PoCs (proofs of concept) and your Japan office. We draw on our experience supporting more than 30 overseas startups entering Japan, and on our network across Japanese corporations and government.
Who this is for
- You are interested in Japan but don’t know where to start
- You want to partner with Japanese corporations or municipalities but can’t see how their decisions get made
- You are unsure how to prepare Japanese-language materials or handle Japan’s business customs
- You have no partner on the ground in Japan to carry you through to a PoC or a local office
How we work: four steps
Japan entry strategy
We research market size, competitors, regulation and business customs in Japan, then decide which industries to target and in what order.
Localizing your proposal
We rebuild your pitch materials and proposal in Japanese, in a form that lands with Japanese corporations and government.
Matching with Japanese companies and government
We identify candidate corporations, municipalities and investors, design and arrange the meetings, and join you at the table.
PoC and local set-up
We work with you from structuring partnership terms and managing the PoC to preparing your Japan office.
Why RouteX
Experience bringing overseas startups to Japan
We have supported more than 30 overseas startups entering Japan, including startups from Russia in partnership with the Russian embassy in Japan, and a pitch event for seven Sri Lankan startups backed by the Embassy of Sri Lanka (2020).
Inside Japan’s innovation ecosystem
We have worked with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TOKYO SUTEAM partner, GLOBE-X), SusHi Tech Tokyo (ambassador 2024–26), JETRO J-StarX, and corporate open innovation programs. Our CEO also advises founders at Startup Hub Tokyo, handling about 100 consultations a year.
We have built companies abroad ourselves
We set up and ran subsidiaries in Paris and Moscow, covering incorporation, local hiring, legal and tax, sales and liquidation. We understand both sides of a cross-border move.
Selected track record
| 2024–26 | SusHi Tech Tokyo Ambassador (three consecutive years) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Selected as a Tokyo Metropolitan Government TOKYO SUTEAM partner |
| 2024 | Judge and speaker, JETRO J-StarX |
| 2023 | Official partner for the Japanese edition of Startup Genome GSER 2023 |
| 2022 | Explained Japan’s ecosystem at MRANTI (Malaysia) “Global Market Fit in JAPAN” |
| 2020 | Pitch event for seven Sri Lankan startups entering Japan, backed by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan |
FAQ
Do you work with startups at an early stage?
Yes. We can start with a market assessment before you commit to entering Japan, and help you decide whether and how to enter.
Can you join meetings with Japanese companies?
Yes. We design and arrange meetings, attend them with you, and follow up with meeting reports.
Which languages do you work in?
We work in English and Japanese.
Talk to us about entering Japan
Tell us about your product and your goals in Japan. We will start by mapping the right entry path with you.