Startup City Fukuoka

What Startup City Fukuoka does

Startup City Fukuoka is a municipal government initiative operated by Fukuoka City Government's Economy, Tourism & Culture Bureau (specifically the Global Startup Support division of the Startup Promotion Department). Founded as an economic development program rather than a commercial venture, it is designed to position Fukuoka as one of Japan's leading startup hubs by attracting, supporting, and retaining both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs. The initiative serves two primary customer segments: international/foreign entrepreneurs seeking to establish or expand businesses in Japan, and Japanese startups looking to access global markets. Pain points addressed include language barriers, complex administrative procedures, immigration requirements, and difficulty building local networks in Japan. The parent entity is Fukuoka City Government, and the program is non-commercial in nature.

The initiative's core offering is the Global Business Support (GBS) program, a one-stop multilingual consultation center (English, Japanese, Chinese, Burmese, Korean) that assists with startup visa applications, bank account openings, office space selection, regulatory navigation, and connection to subsidies and support programs. Physical infrastructure comprises two incubation facilities: Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN) in the Daimyo district, which offers team rooms (from approximately ¥340/month), shared offices (from approximately ¥170/month), and coworking spaces (from approximately ¥100/month), and houses the Startup Cafe; and Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) Fukuoka at ONE FUKUOKA BLDG., which serves as a satellite global innovation hub hosting the weekly Thursday Gathering. The regulatory backbone includes Japan's first Startup Visa (up to two-year "Designated Activities" residence) and Fukuoka's National Strategic Special Zone designation, which enables simplified employment, visa, and corporate tax regulations unavailable in other Japanese cities. Financial support modules include startup loans of up to ¥35,000,000 at 1.3% annual interest with no guarantee fee, a Step Up Subsidy prize of up to ¥1,000,000 for business plan contest winners, corporate tax exemption of up to five years for qualifying innovative businesses, and office rental subsidies tied to employee count and office costs.

The go-to-market motion is event-driven, anchored by the flagship RAMEN TECH festival (Revolutionizing Asia: Merging Ecosystems & Networks) held annually each October as a multi-day international startup gathering featuring pitch contests, exhibitions, expert sessions, and reverse pitches. The initiative conducts outbound missions to global startup events including Slush Helsinki, SusHi Tech Tokyo, InnoVEX Taipei, and Auckland Startup Week to recruit foreign founders. Distribution is delivered through the Global Startup Network spanning 16+ partner cities (Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Estonia, Helsinki, Bordeaux, Vietnam, Barcelona, San Francisco, Auckland, Israel, Cambridge) with mutual referral relationships. Revenue mechanics are entirely government-funded; Startup City Fukuoka generates no commercial revenue but rather deploys municipal budget to provide subsidized services, grants, and incentives as part of an economic development mandate. Recurring programs include Bottoms Up networking at FGN, the weekly Thursday Gathering at CIC Fukuoka, and the Global Mission Meet-Up series connecting students, professionals, and startups with government support organizations such as JETRO, JICA, and SMRJ.

Name

Startup City Fukuoka

Legal name

Fukuoka City Government - Global Startup Support (Startup City Fukuoka)

Website

https://fukuoka.startup-city.jp

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

A Fukuoka City Government initiative that helps domestic and foreign entrepreneurs establish and scale businesses in Japan via Japan's first startup visa, multilingual consulting, incubation facilities, subsidy programs, and a 16+ city global startup network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development & Startup Support Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup support services
• Entrepreneur visa programs
• Economic development initiatives
• Business incubation facilities
• Startup ecosystem partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukuoka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding / Economic Development: Startup City Fukuoka is a government initiative funded by Fukuoka City to promote economic development and attract startups to the region. It does not generate commercial revenue but provides support services, subsidies, and incentives to entrepreneurs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Startup City Fukuoka is a Fukuoka City Government initiative that provides multilingual one-stop entrepreneurial support services, including the Startup Visa program, free professional consultations, access to physical incubation facilities (FGN and CIC Fukuoka), and connections to global startup networks. It also administers financial incentive programs such as low-interest startup loans (up to ¥35M at 1.3%), STEP UP subsidies, and corporate tax exemptions for qualifying startups.

Product overview

Startup City Fukuoka is a comprehensive government-run initiative offering a unified portfolio of business support services for international entrepreneurs. The core offering combines Global Business Support (GBS) - a multilingual one-stop consultation center - with Japan's first Startup Visa Program enabling up to two-year residence for business preparation. Physical infrastructure includes two incubation facilities: Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN) providing team rooms, shared offices, and coworking spaces; and Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) Fukuoka serving as a satellite global hub. Financial support modules include Startup Funding loans (up to ¥35M at 1.3% interest), STEP UP Subsidy contest prizes (up to ¥1M), and Corporate Tax Reduction (up to 5 years exemption). The flagship annual RAMEN TECH festival positions Fukuoka as Asia's innovation gateway. The Global Startup Network connects entrepreneurs to 16+ partner regions worldwide for cross-border market access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN): Incubation facility operated in collaboration with Fukuoka City providing various support and chances for startups to accelerate growth and develop business.
• RAMEN TECH
• Global Startup Network

Products and services

• Global Business Support (GBS) One-stop support center for foreign entrepreneurs providing multilingual consultation (English, Japanese, Chinese, Burmese, Korean) for starting a business in Fukuoka, including visa assistance, office space finding, bank account opening, and introduction to subsidies and support programs.
• Startup Visa Program Japan's first Startup Visa for foreign entrepreneurs, offering up to two-year 'Designated Activities' status to prepare for establishing a business, providing time to open bank accounts, find housing and office space, recruit employees, and complete incorporation paperwork.
• Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN) Incubation facility in Daimyo district offering team rooms (up to 7 members), shared offices, and coworking spaces. Houses the GBS main desk and provides access to professional consultations with lawyers, tax accountants, and government representatives.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) Fukuoka Satellite service desk at ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. in Tenjin. World-class global innovation hub hosting weekly 'Thursday Gathering' events for multinational entrepreneurs.
• RAMEN TECH Annual international startup festival featuring pitch contests, exhibitions, expert sessions, and networking, positioning Fukuoka as a launchpad for globally impactful startups. One of Asia's largest startup festivals held annually in Western Japan.
• Startup Funding Program Loans up to ¥35,000,000 with 1.3% annual interest rate and 0% guarantee fee for entrepreneurs who established a business in Fukuoka within the past two years.
• STEP UP Subsidy Business plan contest winners may receive up to ¥1,000,000 incentive prize. Annual program supporting startup growth in Fukuoka.
• Corporate Tax Reduction for Startups Companies pursuing innovative businesses are exempt from corporate tax (national tax) and corporate municipal tax (city tax) for up to five years. Target areas include medical sector, certain IoT, and advanced IT.
• Office Space Rental Team rooms (approx. ¥34,000/month), shared offices (approx. ¥17,000/month), and coworking spaces (approx. ¥10,000/month) at Fukuoka Growth Next. Financial aid available for outstanding business plans.
• Global Startup Network Partnership network with startup communities worldwide including Taiwan, Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, Estonia, Helsinki, Bordeaux, Vietnam, Barcelona, San Francisco, Auckland, Israel, and Cambridge. Enables startups to access local experts, residency support, office space, and industry contacts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Corporate tax exemption for up to 5 years for qualifying startups
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Taiwan SME Administration (SMESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Taiwan-Japan startup cooperation, particularly with Startup Terrace Kaohsiung for cross-border innovation and ecosystem integration between Kaohsiung and Fukuoka.
• Taipei City Government (Invest Taipei)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner city providing reciprocal support for startups from Taipei looking to expand to Fukuoka and vice versa.
• Singapore (ACE - Action Community for Entrepreneurship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Singapore's national entrepreneurship drive to support cross-border startup activities between Singapore and Fukuoka.
• Thailand (NIA - National Innovation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Thailand's innovation agency to facilitate startup exchanges and partnerships.
• Estonia (EAS - Enterprise Estonia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting startups from Estonia seeking to enter Japan and Fukuoka startups expanding to Estonia.
• Estonia (Tehnopol)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstonian technology and business park partnership for startup ecosystem exchange.
• Estonia (Startup Estonia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative supporting Estonian startups and connecting with Fukuoka's startup ecosystem.
• Helsinki (Business Helsinki)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Helsinki for startup exchanges, Fukuoka officials participated in Slush 2024.
• Bordeaux (Technowest)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench startup ecosystem partnership supporting cross-border entrepreneurship.
• Vietnam (MOST/MST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Vietnamese innovation agencies for startup ecosystem connections.
• Barcelona (Barcelona Activa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Barcelona's business and employment service supporting Spanish startups.
• San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnection to San Francisco startup ecosystem, world's leading innovation hub.
• Auckland (GRID Auckland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister city partnership (40th anniversary in 2026) with joint presence at Auckland Startup Week 2025.
• Israel (Innovation Israel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Israel's innovation ecosystem for technology and startup exchanges.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIC Fukuoka operates from ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. 7F as a satellite location providing world-class innovation hub infrastructure with weekly Thursday Gathering events.
• Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFGN is Fukuoka's primary startup incubation facility housed in a renovated elementary school in Daimyo district, operated in collaboration with Fukuoka City for comprehensive startup support.
• Colive FukuokacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal residency program enabling international entrepreneurs, remote workers, and creatives to base themselves in Fukuoka with cultural immersion and business matching support.
• Startup Terrace KaohsiungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized FT NEXT Taiwan-Japan Exchange with FGN, promoting deep innovation-driven ties between Kaohsiung and Fukuoka ecosystems.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment organization promoting trade and investment that works with foreign entrepreneurs looking to establish businesses in Japan.
• Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA) TaiwancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaiwan's startup administration jointly guided FT NEXT Taiwan-Japan Exchange with Fukuoka City Government for cross-border ecosystem integration.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• InvestHK: Hong Kong's government department for foreign direct investment and startup attraction. Comparable public-sector mandate to attract foreign founders and growth-stage companies into an Asian commercial hub.
• Startup SG (Singapore): Singapore's national startup ecosystem program offering grants, accelerators, and global founder support. Competes with Fukuoka for the same pool of Southeast/East Asia-bound international founders seeking Asian-market soft-landing infrastructure.
• Business Helsinki: City of Helsinki's startup and business support unit, with explicit Fukuoka partnership and shared presence at Slush. Same municipal-public-sector delivery model targeting inbound international founders.
• SusHi Tech Tokyo: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government-led startup program providing subsidized offices, visa assistance, and event platforms for foreign and domestic founders. Direct competitor for inbound international founders seeking to launch in Japan.
• Startup Estonia: Government-led national startup program providing founder visas (e-Residency-adjacent support), accelerators, and global event presence. An explicit Fukuoka partner and structural model — small country promoting itself as a global startup hub.
• K-Startup (Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Korea): Korean government-led national startup initiative with city-level outposts, founder visa equivalents, and grant programs. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and policy tools to Startup City Fukuoka.
• Barcelona Activa (Invest in Barcelona): Barcelona's municipal economic development agency providing incubation, foreign-investor support, and internationalization services. Direct partner of Fukuoka and structurally similar public-sector startup facilitation model.

Broad incumbents

• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japan-wide national agency for trade and investment promotion with explicit partnerships referring foreign entrepreneurs into Startup City Fukuoka. A broader incumbent that overlaps on inbound-founder services at a national scale.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Global private operator of innovation campuses hosting the CIC Fukuoka satellite. Operates the physical incubation layer (Thursday Gatherings, office space) that powers much of Startup City Fukuoka's on-the-ground programming.

Others

• Slush: Helsinki-origin flagship startup conference and global organizer; Fukuoka conducts outbound missions to Slush and partners with its host city. Adjacent event-platform peer rather than a direct municipal-program competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/startupcityfukuoka
• LinkedInjp.linkedin.com/company/startupcityfukuoka
• Xx.com/startupfukuoka

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Startup City Fukuoka