What Shibuya Startup does

Shibuya Startup Support is a municipal government initiative operated by the Shibuya City Office in Tokyo, Japan, established in 2020 to support international founders and domestic startups establishing or scaling businesses in Shibuya. The program serves as a concierge-style public service rather than a commercial enterprise, offering four core programs: the Startup Visa (a special resident status granting up to two years of residency for foreign entrepreneurs preparing to launch scalable businesses), Testbed City Shibuya (a demonstration project launched in June 2020 connecting startups with city facilities and a 2,500+ resident monitor base for proof-of-concept validation), the S-Startups certification system, and the Shibuya Innovation Institute. Adjacent services include the Shibuya Bridge co-working space (free for two years for visa holders), a Life Support Concierge with interpretation support, an Entrepreneur Share House, a Service Directory connecting startups with curated providers, and a Digital Nomad Program pilot launched in 2024.

The organization functions through a three-team structure (Visa, PR, and Community) and is staffed by civil servants alongside personnel dispatched from partner organizations such as Tokyu Corporation. All programs are provided free of charge to eligible participants, funded entirely through Tokyo metropolitan government budgets, with no commercial revenue model. As of March 2025, Testbed City has adopted 100+ companies from a pool of 400+ applicants, and the program maintains relationships with ecosystem partners including Global Brain (Japan's largest independent VC with ¥400B+ AUM), Stripe Japan, AWS Activate, Mizuho Bank, and MathWorks. SSS actively participates in major conferences such as SusHi Tech Tokyo and Takeoff Tokyo and is led by Director of International Urban Strategy Akiko Miyamoto, supported by an advisory board featuring alumni of SoftBank Vision Fund, Zynga, 500 Startups, Apple, and Sony's VAIO division.

The business model is structurally non-commercial: there is no pricing, no cap table, no funding rounds, and no shareholders. The entity is wholly owned by the Shibuya City Office and operates as a public service program. Customer segments are hybrid — primarily foreign startup founders (Startup Visa), with secondary segments in S-Startups certified companies, startups seeking proof-of-concept in Japan, and international startups seeking Japan market entry. Go-to-market is community-led (concierge model) and event-driven (regular Wednesday networking at Shibuya Bridge, large conference participation). Distribution is direct-to-founder via website contact form, in-person consultation at the Shibuya Bridge hub, and through the Testbed City resident monitor channel. The Service Directory functions as a curated channel/reseller layer connecting startups with partner vendors offering special terms.

Name

Shibuya Startup

Legal name

Shibuya Startup Support

Website

https://shibuya-startup-support.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Shibuya Startup Support is a Shibuya City Office initiative helping international founders launch startups via a Startup Visa, free co-working space, life concierge, and the Testbed City proof-of-concept program serving 100+ companies and 2,500+ resident monitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public funding and administrative support: Shibuya Startup Support is an initiative fully funded and operated by the Shibuya City Office (Tokyo Metropolitan Government). All programs and services — including startup visa sponsorship, co-working space access, life support concierge, and testbed programs — are provided free of charge to eligible startups. There is no revenue-generating activity as the organization operates as a public service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Shibuya Startup Support is a government-backed concierge program run by the Shibuya City Office that helps international founders and foreign startups establish and grow scalable businesses in Shibuya, Tokyo. It provides a Startup Visa granting up to two years of residency, free co-working space at Shibuya Bridge, life support concierge services, and direct introductions to Japanese investors and corporate partners. Through the Testbed City program it also provides startups with access to 2,500+ Shibuya residents and city facilities for real-world proof-of-concept testing.

Product overview

Shibuya Startup Support is an initiative by Shibuya City Office that offers a comprehensive suite of programs and services for international founders and startups. The core offerings include the Startup Visa Program (granting up to two-year residency for foreign entrepreneurs), Testbed City Shibuya (demonstration experiment project sourcing technologies from startups to solve social issues), S-Startups Certification, and the Shibuya Innovation Institute. Additional support services include free SHIBUYA BRIDGE co-working space for visa holders, Life Support Concierge with interpretation services, and an Entrepreneur Share House. The Service Directory platform connects startups with various service providers. The Digital Nomad Program, launched in 2024, allows remote workers to experience Shibuya's ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Testbed City Shibuya: A demonstration project launched in June 2020 that sources new technologies and ideas from startups, universities, and research institutes to solve local social issues. As of September 2025, over 2,500 Shibuya residents participate as monitors testing new technologies.
• Startup Visa
• S-Startups
• Shibuya Innovation Institute

Products and services

• Startup Visa Program
• Testbed City Shibuya
• S-Startups Certification
• Digital Nomad Program
• Service Directory

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,500 Shibuya residents and workers participate as monitors in Testbed City programs, testing new technologies and services from startups
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shibuya Creative Tech ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026SSS co-hosted 'Hack the Future,' the official side event at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, in collaboration with Shibuya City and the Shibuya Creative Tech Consortium. The event centered on 'Internet Security in the AI Era' and featured a panel discussion with three globally active cybersecurity startups (Persona, Corgi Labs, ECQ), with approximately 180 participants.
• UTokyo IPCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a community and ecosystem partner supporting the Hack the Future side event at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026.
• OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a community and ecosystem partner supporting the Hack the Future side event at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026.
• Digital GarageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a community and ecosystem partner supporting the Hack the Future side event at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026.
• Cities of Sapporo, Kobe, and YokohamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as community and ecosystem partners supporting the Hack the Future side event at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026. These city governments collaborate on startup ecosystem development initiatives.
• Third Derivative, Foster Bridge, Bethnal Green Ventures, Carve Startup Labs, Nordic Innovation House Tokyo, ACE SingaporeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as ecosystem and community partners supporting the Hack the Future side event at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026. These organizations represent the international startup ecosystem supporting cross-border innovation initiatives.
• MobalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed in the Service Directory as a special offer provider to SSS-supported startups. Mobal is a mobile/service provider offering discounted or preferential access to startups in the SSS ecosystem.
• Tensho OfficeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed in the Service Directory as a special offer provider to SSS-supported startups, offering preferential terms on office or business registration services.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed in the Service Directory under special offers. AWS Activate program provides cloud credits and resources to early-stage startups in the SSS ecosystem, facilitating technology infrastructure access.
• StripeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed in the Service Directory as a special offer provider. Daniel Heffernan, Representative Director of Stripe Japan, has provided a testimonial endorsement for Shibuya as an ideal location for startups, citing its cosmopolitan energy. Stripe provides payment infrastructure services to SSS-supported startups.
• Mizuho BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed in the Service Directory. SSS has partnered with Mizuho Bank to speed up the opening of corporate bank accounts for startups, addressing a key pain point for foreign founders entering Japan. SSS staff accompany founders to bank appointments.
• MathWorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed in the Service Directory as a special offer provider to SSS-supported startups, offering software and engineering tools access.
• ChiCaRominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChiCaRo is a startup developing robot-assisted daycare programs to address Japan's declining birthrate. The company conducted prototype testing of its childcare robot at Shibuya City Office's own employee daycare facility, providing invaluable real-parent feedback for R&D through the Testbed City program.
• Vacan Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVacan's AirKnock service uses IoT and AI technology to prevent congestion in limited-services facilities. Demonstrated at the Shibuya City Office (floors 1–4 restrooms), AirKnock became the first Testbed City project to be permanently implemented in Shibuya Ward, having transitioned from a demonstration experiment to full deployment.
• bspr Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partnerbspr Inc. provides 'Hachi-Sanpo,' a health app and health point service developed in partnership with Shibuya Ward to promote health and revitalize local commerce. Users earn points for exercising, diet management, and brain training, convertible to 'Hachi-Pay' (a local digital currency). A groundbreaking service boosting both health and the local economy, fully operational in Shibuya.
• Shibuya Innovation InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA public-private-civic co-creation organization creating innovation and aiming to improve the wellbeing and city pride of Shibuya residents. Saeko Seno, Director at the Shibuya Innovation Institute (from April 2026), is a key member of the SSS team. The institute serves as a core institutional partner for startup support and ecosystem development.
• D.CAMPminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Korean startup support organization that introduced the SSS Startup Visa program to Michael Baeg of STAYGE Labs when he began preparing to enter the Japanese market in early 2023. D.CAMP actively introduces Korean startups to business opportunities in Japan and facilitated the connection between STAYGE Labs and SSS.
• CJ ENMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA major Korean entertainment company partnering with STAYGE Labs (a SSS visa holder company) to operate Mnet Plus's Global K-Pop Fandom Platform. This B2B partnership enables STAYGE Labs to manage a large-scale platform serving millions of users worldwide.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Plug and Play Japan: Global accelerator and innovation platform with a Japan office, running corporate-startup matching programs, pitch events, and vertical-specific accelerator cohorts. Targets the same international and domestic startup pool as Shibuya Startup Support with comparable ecosystem-building services.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japanese government-affiliated organization that runs startup support, market entry, and investment attraction programs for foreign companies entering Japan. Operates JETRO Startup with similar concierge-style services (visa, market entry support) targeting international founders seeking Japan market access.
• CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) Japan: Global innovation campus operator with a Tokyo presence that co-organizes SusHi Tech Tokyo sessions with SSS. Provides co-working, accelerator programming, and corporate-startup matching — functionally overlapping with SSS's Shibuya Bridge co-working and Testbed City programs.
• 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Global venture firm and accelerator with a Japan presence (former Japan Country Director Ayumi Ode is now an SSS advisor). Provides accelerator programming, investment, and founder support targeting early-stage international startups — direct functional overlap with SSS's startup support mission.

Broad incumbents

• Station F: World's largest startup campus, government-backed by the French government, providing co-working, accelerator programming, and international founder services. Functions at greater scale than SSS but addresses the same use case of public-sector-backed startup ecosystem infrastructure.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network offering 13-week programs, mentorship, and seed investment. While private and commercially funded (vs. SSS's government-backed model), addresses the same international founder market with comparable accelerator-style support services.

Regional players

• Berlin Partner for Business and Technology: Berlin's economic development agency that runs Berlin Startup, a public-sector startup ecosystem program with concierge services for international founders. Connected to SSS through advisor Chika Yamamoto (founder of CROSSBIE bridging Japan-Germany ecosystems).
• Startup Island TAIWAN: Government-backed initiative under Taiwan's National Development Council to position Taiwan as an Asian startup island. Operates similar startup visa facilitation, ecosystem branding, and international founder attraction programs targeting global entrepreneurs seeking Asia market entry.
• D.CAMP: Korean startup support organization that actively refers Korean founders to SSS's Startup Visa program. Provides comparable accelerator programming, co-working, and founder support services in Korea.
• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore government agency that runs startup ecosystem programs, corporate venture initiatives, and international founder attraction. Listed as a Hack the Future ecosystem partner of SSS and competes for the same international founder pool in Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShibuyaStartup
• Facebookfacebook.com/shibuya.startup.support
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Shibuya Startup