What Open Network Lab does

Open Network Lab (Onlab) is Japan's first seed accelerator, launched in April 2010 by Digital Garage Group and incorporated in 2011 as Kabushiki Kaisha Open Network Lab. It supports early-stage startups globally through a 3-month intensive seed program providing capital, structured mentorship, milestone-based progress tracking, and investor introductions via Demo Days. The program operates a portfolio of tracks: the core Seed Accelerator (Tokyo/San Francisco), regional programs (HOKKAIDO in Sapporo and FUKUOKA), thematic verticals (BioHealth, Resi-Tech, web3 in Shibuya, ESG), and an Open Innovation stream connecting startups with corporate partners. Over 15 years it has supported 164+ startups, achieving a 63% post-program funding success rate, a 14.4% exit rate, 3 IPOs (giftee, SmartHR, WHILL), and 20+ exits.

The business model combines three revenue streams: carried interest from equity stakes in portfolio companies, management fees on associated fund vehicles (notably the DGI Sapporo Innovation Fund and the DG Incubation fund merged into Onlab in 2023), and corporate partnership fees from technology sponsors including OpenAI, AWS, Notion, and Transpose. Distribution is direct-to-founder (biannual open applications), partner-mediated (corporate referral channels, regional innovation hubs), and event-driven (pitch competitions, hackathons such as Series T – Post AGI from Kyoto). The technology stack is non-product in nature: Onlab's "core technology" is its proprietary acceleration methodology (the published Pitch Method curriculum covering idea validation through fundraising) and its curated mentor and alumni network, supplemented by founder productivity infrastructure provided through partners (AWS credits, Notion licenses, OpenAI API credits).

Onlab's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with program applications serving as the primary acquisition funnel and Demo Days and sponsored pitch contests serving as the bottom-of-funnel investor showcase. Recent strategic moves have tilted the program toward AI-native deal flow, including a flagship 2026 partnership with OpenAI ($1M in API credits for the Kyoto Series T contest) and the Builders Weekend 2026 AI hackathon. The organization is led by founder Hayashi Yui (Group CEO) and co-founder Ito Joi (MIT Media Lab veteran), with dedicated program directors for each regional and vertical track. As a 1–10 employee subsidiary of publicly listed Digital Garage, Onlab is positioned as the Group's flagship startup ecosystem platform rather than a standalone operating business.

Name

Open Network Lab

Legal name

株式会社 Open Network Lab

Website

https://onlab.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Japan's first seed accelerator since 2010, operated by Digital Garage. Supports early-stage startups with seed funding, mentorship, and a global network across Tokyo, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and San Francisco, plus thematic tracks in BioHealth, Resi-Tech, web3, and ESG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)

Keywords

• Seed accelerator programs
• Startup incubation services
• Venture capital funding
• Startup mentorship programs
• Open innovation partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns (Carried Interest): Open Network Lab generates returns through equity investments in portfolio companies. As a seed investor with 14.4% exit rate and 20+ exits including 3 IPOs, the organization earns carried interest on successful exits.
2. Fund Management Fees: The accelerator and its associated funds (DGI Sapporo Innovation Fund) generate revenue through management fees charged to fund investors, typically a percentage of assets under management.
3. Corporate Partnership Program Fees: Corporations and technology companies (OpenAI, AWS, Notion, Transpose) partner with Open Network Lab to access startup innovation, providing sponsorship and credit allocations that support program operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Open Network Lab operates Japan's first seed accelerator program, providing early-stage startups with seed capital investment, structured 3-month mentorship, milestone-based acceleration, and access to a global network of investors and corporate partners. Selected startups receive equity-funded program participation along with office space, Demo Day investor introductions, and connections to corporate innovation partners such as OpenAI, AWS, Notion, and Transpose, in exchange for an equity stake. The accelerator runs a core program in Tokyo/San Francisco alongside regional (HOKKAIDO, FUKUOKA) and thematic (BioHealth, Resi-Tech, web3, ESG) tracks.

Product overview

Open Network Lab (Onlab) is Japan's first and longest-running seed accelerator program, operated by Digital Garage since 2010. It operates a portfolio of acceleration programs: the core Seed Accelerator provides 3-month intensive support for global-minded startups in Tokyo/San Francisco, while specialized tracks address regional innovation (HOKKAIDO, FUKUOKA), sector-specific opportunities (BioHealth, Resi-Tech, web3, ESG), and corporate open innovation partnerships. Complementary services include free business consultation (Open Office Hour), the Pitch Method educational methodology, and the Onlab Journal content platform. The ecosystem has supported over 164 startups with a 63% funding success rate, producing 3 IPOs and 20+ exits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Onlab Seed Accelerator: Core seed accelerator program for globally ambitious startups
• Onlab Open Innovation
• Onlab FUKUOKA
• Onlab HOKKAIDO
• Onlab BioHealth
• Onlab Resi-Tech
• Onlab ESG
• onlab web3

Products and services

• Onlab Seed Accelerator Japan's first seed accelerator program supporting startups to go global. Provides 3-month intensive mentorship, funding, office space, and access to a global network of investors and mentors. Based in Tokyo with connections to San Francisco.
• Onlab Open Innovation Program connecting startups with large corporations for open innovation projects. Focuses on social implementation with corporate partners rather than traditional startup growth acceleration.
• Onlab HOKKAIDO Hokkaido-focused seed accelerator promoting regional innovation, particularly in primary industries, tourism, and leveraging Hokkaido's regional assets. Based in Sapporo with support from D2 Garage and Sapporo Innovation Fund.
• Onlab FUKUOKA Smart city implementation program in Fukuoka, co-hosted with Fukuoka D.C. and Fukuoka Growth Next. Supports open innovation between startups and partner companies with focus on social implementation.
• Onlab BioHealth Biotechnology and healthcare-focused accelerator program supporting startups in the medical, pharmaceutical, and health tech sectors.
• Onlab Resi-Tech Real estate technology accelerator supporting startups working on property tech, construction tech, and housing-related innovations.
• onlab web3 Web3 and blockchain-focused program based in Shibuya, supporting startups building global blockchain ecosystems and decentralized applications.
• Onlab ESG ESG-focused investment and consulting program integrated within the Seed Accelerator, providing ESG management guidance and sustainability-focused startup support.
• Open Office Hour (事業相談会) Free online business consultation service for startups and entrepreneurs. Provides advice on business development, fundraising, and program applications regardless of startup stage.
• Pitch Method Startup education methodology covering idea validation, pitch development, user interviews, hypothesis testing, MVP development, product-market fit, growth, business models, marketing, HR, fundraising, and entrepreneurship stories.
• Onlab Journal Media platform featuring startup tips, graduate interviews (Meet with Onlab grads series), program updates, and industry insights for startup founders and operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 63% of portfolio companies successfully raise subsequent funding rounds
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Crypto GaragecoreTechnology or IntegrationCrypto Garage is a crypto asset custody and trading platform operated by Digital Garage Group that provides blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure services and expertise to Open Network Lab portfolio companies exploring Web3 opportunities.
• OpenAIflagshipTechnology or IntegrationOpenAI partnered with Open Network Lab for the Series T, Post AGI from Kyoto pitch contest, providing $1M in API credits as prizes to participating and winning startups to support AI development.
• AWScoreTechnology or IntegrationAWS provides cloud infrastructure credits to Open Network Lab's accelerator programs and portfolio companies to support technical infrastructure needs and reduce startup burn rate during acceleration.
• NotioncoreTechnology or IntegrationNotion provides productivity and collaboration tool credits to Open Network Lab's accelerator programs and portfolio companies to support team productivity and documentation workflows.
• TransposecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTranspose, a Silicon Valley-based VC firm, partners with Open Network Lab for hackathons and startup competitions, providing mentorship, investment expertise, and connections to the US venture ecosystem for Japanese startups.
• D2 GaragecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerD2 Garage is a co-creation space and innovation hub in Hokkaido that collaborates with Open Network Lab to support startups in the regional innovation ecosystem, providing workspace and local mentorship connections.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Techstars: Techstars operates a global network of mentorship-driven seed accelerators with Demo Days and corporate partnerships. Like Onlab, it combines equity-based seed investment with structured cohort programming and corporate innovation partnerships.
• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the world's most prominent seed accelerator, running biannual cohorts that provide seed funding, mentorship, and Demo Day investor access. It is the global benchmark that Onlab's program model is structurally comparable to, although Onlab focuses on the Japanese and Asia-Pacific founder market.
• Plug and Play: Plug and Play is a global accelerator and venture fund with deep corporate partnerships and vertical-specific programs (fintech, health, brand & retail). Its corporate-innovation-led model closely mirrors Onlab's Open Innovation and themed vertical programs.
• Antler: Antler is a global early-stage venture firm that runs cohort-based founder residency programs offering pre-seed capital and mentorship. Its global multi-city structure with APAC hubs is directly comparable to Onlab's Tokyo/SF/Fukuoka/Hokkaido footprint.
• Samurai Incubate: Samurai Incubate is a Japan-based seed accelerator and venture capital firm operating both domestic and Southeast Asian programs. It is one of the closest direct competitors to Onlab in the Japanese early-stage acceleration market.
• KDDI Mugen Lab: KDDI Mugen Lab is a corporate-operated startup accelerator run by Japanese telecom major KDDI, providing seed funding and corporate pilot opportunities. It competes directly with Onlab's Open Innovation program for corporate innovation mandates in Japan.
• 500 Global: 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) runs seed accelerator programs globally with strong APAC presence, providing seed capital and mentorship. Its regional expansion strategy into Japan and Southeast Asia directly overlaps with Onlab's market.

Broad incumbents

• Global Brain: Global Brain is one of Japan's largest independent venture capital firms operating across seed to growth stages with a strong corporate partnership practice. As a broad incumbent in the same market, it competes for both deal flow and corporate LP capital.
• JAFCO Group: JAFCO is Japan's largest publicly-listed venture capital firm with broad seed-to-growth coverage. As an established incumbent, it competes with Onlab for early-stage deal flow and institutional LP capital in Japan.
• CyberAgent Ventures: CyberAgent Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Japanese internet major CyberAgent, running seed programs and investments. It operates a hybrid accelerator/VC model comparable in structure to Onlab within Japan's internet ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OpenNetwork_Lab
• Facebookfacebook.com/OpenNetworkLab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments40 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Open Network Lab