CROSSBIE

What CROSSBIE does

CROSSBIE GmbH is a Berlin-headquartered cross-border innovation accelerator founded in April 2020 that operates between Europe and Japan, with a wholly-owned Japanese subsidiary, CROSSBIE Japan Ltd., based in Yokohama (CROSSBIE Japan K.K., Landmark Tower). The firm provides startup scouting, business matching, market research, long-list/short-list reports, accelerator program execution, ecosystem and investor tours, and innovation-funding application support — most notably for the German federal Forschungszulage program, where it advises Japanese companies with German branches on applications up to EUR 5 million. Its core customer segments are Japanese startups and scale-ups seeking entry into European markets, Japanese municipalities and local authorities (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Osaka City, Yokohama City) building cross-border innovation ecosystems, and European companies entering Japan.

CROSSBIE does not operate a proprietary software platform; it is a professional-services firm with a curated, partner-driven distribution model. Its reach is extended through formal designations including JETRO Berlin Global Acceleration Hub Partner, German Accelerator jury/mentor, Tokyo Metropolitan Government X-HUB Inbound/Outbound Support Partner, Shibuya Ward Global Ambassador for Start-up Support, Berlin Senate Ambassador of Goodwill for Asia-Berlin, Osaka City Innovation Promotion Council member, and SME Agency Support Partner. Operational programs include the Digital Health Business Sprint, MEDICA Incubation, JETRO Global Acceleration Support, Tokyo X-HUB Germany Course matching, open-innovation workshops, ecosystem/renewable-energy facility tours, and a European internship program in Berlin and London.

Revenue is generated through professional-services engagements — accelerator program fees, bespoke consulting, market research, and funding-application support — priced on a quote basis with no publicly disclosed pricing. The leadership team consists of CEO Chika Yamamoto, with DeepTech lead Toshiaki Asahi (CROSSBIE Japan) and Public Relations lead Tamao Funahashi, supported by a mentor bench drawn from Wantedly Europe, Techstars, EIT Health, EIT Manufacturing, INAM, CIC Berlin, Nion, 123 Factory, and Hyundai Motor Company. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or funding rounds.

Name

CROSSBIE

Legal name

CROSSBIE GmbH

Website

https://crossbie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CROSSBIE is a Berlin-based cross-border innovation accelerator founded in 2020 that helps Japanese startups, municipalities, and corporations enter European markets and supports European companies entering Japan, delivering startup scouting, business matching, accelerator programs, and innovation-funding application services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Accelerator and Incubation Services: CROSSBIE generates revenue through accelerator programs, incubation services, and business matching support for companies looking to expand across European and Japanese markets. Services include market research, technology scouting, partnership negotiations, and ecosystem building.
2. Innovation Funding Support: Application support for German government innovation funding (Forschungszulage) for Japanese companies with German operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CROSSBIE is a Berlin-based cross-border innovation accelerator that connects Japanese and European companies, startups, municipalities, and other entities to drive market entry and co-creation partnerships. It provides advisory services such as market research, startup scouting, long-list and short-list matchmaking, investor introductions, innovation funding application support (German Forschungszulage), and executive programs including ecosystem tours and open innovation workshops. The firm also operates formal accelerator and incubation programs (Digital Health Business Sprint, JETRO Global Acceleration, MEDICA Incubation, Tokyo X-HUB) and builds cross-border innovation ecosystems for Japanese municipalities.

Product overview

CROSSBIE is a Berlin-based accelerator offering a portfolio of advisory and ecosystem-building services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: (1) Innovation Support Services comprising market research reports, startup long-list/short-list reports, and European startup search for partnership and investment; (2) Funding Support for the German 'Forschungszulage' (Innovation Funding) program for Japanese companies in Germany; (3) Acceleration & Incubation Programs including the Digital Health Business Sprint, JETRO Global Acceleration, MEDICA Incubation, and Tokyo X-HUB matching; (4) Executive Programs including ecosystem/investor tours, open innovation workshops, and webinars; (5) Talent Programs including European internship programs; and (6) Ecosystem Building Programs for Japanese municipalities and companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Market Research & Report

Named customers3 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

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

• Shibuya WardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShibuya Ward is a key partner for startup support initiatives. CROSSBIE serves as Global Ambassador for Shibuya Ward's startup support programs and has collaborated on Shibuya Innovation Week 2020.
• JETRO BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJETRO Berlin partnership as Global Acceleration Hub Partner, supporting Japanese startups to enter Germany through the JETRO Global Acceleration program.
• German AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with German Accelerator for education programs where CROSSBIE team members serve as jury members and mentors.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government X-HUBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner for Tokyo Metropolitan Government's X-HUB program, providing inbound and outbound innovation support, including the Germany course for smart cities, energy and mobility sectors.
• INAM (Innovation Network for Advanced Materials)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINAM is a Berlin-based innovation network for advanced materials. Their Managing Director Oliver Hasse serves as a mentor for CROSSBIE.
• CIC BerlinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIC Berlin (Co-working space) hosts CROSSBIE's Berlin headquarters. Their Managing Director Timon Rupp serves as a mentor.
• NionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNion is a Berlin-based company. Their Managing Partner Ryotaro Chikushi serves as a mentor for CROSSBIE.
• BetahausmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based co-working space and accelerator ecosystem partner.
• AsiaBerlinSummitmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsiaBerlinSummit is a key event partner for building innovation networks for global businesses. CROSSBIE is involved in building this innovation network.
• The DriverymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based mobility innovation center. CROSSBIE collaborates to invite mobility sector companies to Japan.
• MTR LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHong Kong-based innovation lab partner for cross-border ecosystem building.
• MotionLabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based startup hub and innovation ecosystem partner.
• 123 FactoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder & CEO Eunseo Yi serves as a mentor for CROSSBIE.
• Climate Tech HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate technology ecosystem partner.
• Proveg IncubatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlant-based food and sustainability-focused incubator partner.
• OptecBBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptical technologies innovation network partner based in Berlin.
• FrontiersNextminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation and wellbeing ecosystem partner.
• W-LoungeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based women's innovation network partner.
• TC ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJapan-based consulting partner for cross-border business support.
• Yokohama City YOXOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYokohama city's innovation initiative partner.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• INAM (Innovation Network for Advanced Materials): Berlin-based innovation network connecting advanced materials startups with corporate partners. INAM's Managing Director serves as a CROSSBIE mentor, and the two organizations operate in adjacent open innovation and corporate-startup matching spaces.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Government-affiliated trade promotion organization that runs the Berlin Global Acceleration Hub and other internationalization programs. CROSSBIE operates as a JETRO partner offering complementary Japan-EU market entry and innovation services, sharing the same customer base and mission.
• Betahaus: Berlin-based co-working space and innovation community supporting startups and corporates. Betahaus is a CROSSBIE ecosystem partner, and both serve the Berlin startup/innovation community with overlapping accelerator-adjacent services.
• German Accelerator: German-government-backed accelerator supporting German startups' international expansion. CROSSBIE team members serve as jury/mentors here, and the two organizations jointly run startup programs targeting similar Japanese and European corporate clients.
• AsiaBerlin: Berlin Senate-backed initiative supporting Berlin-Asia business and innovation exchange. CROSSBIE holds an ambassador role for AsiaBerlin and operates in the same cross-border EU-Asia corridor with overlapping startup and corporate audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network operating programs across many sectors and geographies. CROSSBIE mentors have Techstars affiliations; Techstars runs the same accelerator and corporate-innovation matching model at much larger scale.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator network with programs across multiple verticals and geographies, including Europe and Asia. Operates the same accelerator and corporate-partnership matching model as CROSSBIE but at much larger scale.
• Plug and Play: Global innovation platform with accelerator programs and corporate-startup matching across multiple verticals and regions. Operates a similar startup-corporate facilitation model as CROSSBIE but at materially larger scale and geographic breadth.
• CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center): Global innovation campus operator hosting CROSSBIE's Berlin HQ. CIC operates at significantly larger scale across multiple geographies and verticals, offering co-working, venture, and accelerator services that overlap with CROSSBIE's ecosystem-building activities.

Regional players

• EIT Health: European public-private innovation network focused on healthtech, running accelerator and partnership programs. CROSSBIE mentor Nana Bit-Avragim is affiliated; EIT operates in adjacent accelerator/innovation space but primarily within Europe rather than the EU-Japan corridor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hellocrossbie
• Facebookfacebook.com/hellocrossbie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crossbie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 CROSSBIE