What Mirai Cross does

Mirai Cross (未来X/mirai cross) is a startup ecosystem platform operated by Mirai Works Inc. as part of SMBC Group, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The platform originated as an SMBC Group acceleration program in 2015 and was significantly expanded and renewed in August 2021 into its current multi-sided ecosystem form. Its function is to connect pre-seed to early-stage startups with large Japanese corporations, venture capital firms, and government/academic institutions to facilitate corporate-startup collaboration, investment deal flow, and regional ecosystem development.

The core offering is not a software product but a program-and-events platform. Its main components are the annual acceleration program, the recurring 協業サポートプログラム (Collaboration Support Program) in which corporate partners set collaboration themes and recruit startups, the flagship DEMO DAY pitch event (held at SMBC headquarters), topical seminars and workshops (covering DX, fintech, space business, and regional ecosystem topics), an alumni network, and a membership portal that gates access to pitch videos and event archives. The supporting ecosystem comprises approximately 18 corporate partners (including NOK, Sysmex, Panasonic, NEC, Sumitomo Realty, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Sumitomo Life, Tokyu Fudosan HD), 25+ venture capital firms (Global Brain, UTEC, Kyoto University Innovation Capital, JAFCO-linked vehicles, MPower Partners, Scrum Ventures, Beyond Next Ventures, etc.), and 80+ government and academic partners spanning NEDO, SMRJ, JFC, multiple prefectures and municipalities, and university-affiliated entities.

The business model is structured as a B2B2B platform. Startups participate free of charge; revenue derives from corporate partnership participation fees and sponsorships under a recurring arrangement, supplemented by SMBC Group ecosystem sponsorship. Distribution is anchored by SMBC Group's corporate banking network, with relationship managers introducing the program to enterprise clients. The platform does not pursue international expansion, operating solely in Japan with a regional (Central Japan, Kansai, Tohoku, Kyushu) sub-focus within the domestic market. The platform is privately held, is not publicly traded, and has not raised external funding rounds; financial performance data (revenue, headcount) is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Mirai Cross

Legal name

株式会社みらいワークス

Website

https://mirai-cross.ventures

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Mirai Cross (未来X/mirai cross) is a SMBC Group startup ecosystem platform, operated by Mirai Works Inc. in Tokyo, that runs an annual acceleration program, a corporate collaboration support program, and DEMO DAY events connecting pre-seed and early-stage startups with 18+ corporate partners, 25+ VC firms, and 80+ government/academic institutions across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator & Innovation Ecosystem Platform

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerator / Incubator-Backed ETA Programs (FSANALAD)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration programs
• Corporate innovation partnerships
• Venture ecosystem platform
• Demo day pitch events
• Open innovation matchmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Toranomon

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnership Program: Revenue generated through participation fees or sponsorship arrangements with corporate partners (事业会社パートナー) who join the platform to access startup collaboration opportunities

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mirai Cross is a startup ecosystem platform that connects pre-seed to early-stage startups with large corporations, venture capital firms, and government/academic institutions through structured programs. It runs an annual acceleration program (アクセラレーションプログラム), a collaboration support program (協業サポートプログラム) where corporate partners set collaboration themes and recruit startups, and DEMO DAY pitch events. It also hosts seminars, workshops, and pitch video archives accessible through a membership portal.

Product overview

Mirai Cross (未来X) is an accelerator platform operated by SMBC Group that connects startups with large corporations, venture capital firms, and government/academic institutions. The platform facilitates collaboration and business development through programs including an acceleration program, collaboration support programs, DEMO DAY events, seminars, and pitch videos. Rather than offering a traditional SaaS product, Mirai Cross functions as a startup ecosystem platform providing networking, mentorship, educational programs, and matching services between startups at various stages and corporate partners seeking innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acceleration Program 未来X(mirai cross) (アクセラレーションプログラム) Annual structured cohort program launched in 2015 (renewed in 2021) that provides startups with training, mentorship, networking opportunities with SMBC Group entities and experts, and support for business creation and collaboration at various startup stages. Participation is free for startups.
• Collaboration Support Program (協業サポートプログラム) Structured program where business company partners set collaboration themes, recruit participating startups, and provide end-to-end support through commercialization. Includes Gap Grant Awards (2 million yen per team for 5 selected startups) and corporate partner awards at DEMO DAY.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• 株式会社みらいワークスcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2021Operating company for the Mirai Cross platform. Handles program operations, member registration, event management, and data processing for the SMBC Group startup ecosystem program.
• NEC株式会社majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner seeking startup collaboration opportunities in technology sectors.
• Panasonic株式会社majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner using program to access innovative startup technologies and potential partnerships.
• シスメックス株式会社majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical device company participating as corporate partner seeking healthcare innovation.
• 株式会社三井住友海上火災保険majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance company partner seeking startup innovation for insurance technology applications.
• AWS StartupsmajorTechnology or IntegrationAmazon Web Services startup program providing cloud infrastructure support to program participants.
• PR TIMESminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPR distribution platform for startups to announce news and updates.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Plug and Play: Global corporate-backed accelerator network (parent of Plug and Play Japan). Operates accelerator cohorts, VC fund, and corporate innovation programs across multiple continents at much larger scale; broadly comparable as an incumbent in the same accelerator category but with substantially greater geographic and capital reach.
• Techstars: One of the world's largest accelerator networks with global cohorts and corporate partnerships. Comparable in program structure (cohorts, demo days, mentor networks) but operates at much larger scale and primarily outside Japan, making it a broader-incumbent benchmark rather than a direct competitor in Mirai Cross's home market.
• 500 Global: Global venture firm and accelerator with active Japan operations. Comparable as a global accelerator with corporate partnership programs, though 500 Global focuses more on direct VC investment than Mirai Cross's corporate-sponsorship and matchmaking model.

Direct peers

• Plug and Play Japan: Silicon Valley-headquartered corporate-backed accelerator with a major Japan operation running vertical-specific programs (fintech, insurtech, mobility) that connect startups with Japanese corporates. Most structurally similar to Mirai Cross in B2B2B open-innovation model and Japan-centric corporate matchmaking.
• Resona Accelerator: Mid-tier Japanese banking group's startup ecosystem initiative providing accelerator cohorts, corporate-startup matchmaking, and demo day events. Closely analogous as a regional-bank-backed open-innovation platform competing for the same corporate and startup segments within Japan.
• MUFG Innovation Hub: Innovation arm of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, one of Japan's mega-banks and direct competitor to SMBC. Operates accelerator-style programs, corporate venture activities, and startup partnerships targeting the same Japanese enterprise customer base as Mirai Cross.
• Hitachi Innovation Forum: Hitachi's corporate open-innovation initiative including accelerator-style programs connecting startups with Hitachi's industrial, mobility, and IT business units. Directly comparable as a large Japanese conglomerate's startup collaboration platform.
• Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support: Big Four consulting firm's Japan venture support practice providing accelerator programs, corporate-startup matchmaking, and open-innovation advisory to large Japanese enterprises. Comparable to Mirai Cross as a corporate-facing open-innovation intermediary targeting Japanese large-cap enterprises.
• KDDI ∞ Labo: Corporate-backed startup accelerator run by Japanese telecom giant KDDI, providing large-corporate partnership matchmaking, demo days, and co-development programs. Directly comparable to Mirai Cross as another major Japanese corporate open-innovation platform competing for the same corporate partner and startup segments.

Emerging players

• Samurai Incubate: Japanese startup accelerator and seed fund focused on Japan and Southeast Asia, running cohort-based programs with corporate partnership components. Comparable as an emerging Japanese accelerator targeting similar early-stage startups, but at smaller scale than Mirai Cross's SMBC-backed platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Mirai Cross