Silicon Valley Japan Platform

What Silicon Valley Japan Platform does

Silicon Valley Japan Platform (SVJP) is a Tokyo-headquartered, non-profit membership-based bilateral organization founded in 2015 that connects business, political, and cultural leaders from Japan and the United States — with an operational footprint in both Tokyo and Menlo Park, California. SVJP is structured around two core program pillars: the Corporate Program (its original mainstay, serving enterprise members through the Annual Retreat in Silicon Valley, Japan Forum in Tokyo, Annual Reception, Executive Roundtables, SVJP Benkyokai, TOKYO Sessions, and a Webinar Series) and the Entrepreneur Program (launched in 2018 to support Japanese startup global expansion via Road to Silicon Valley — co-hosted with Y Combinator since 2018 — Technologist by SVJP, Entrepreneur Round Tables, Design Trip, and the online Matcha meetup). A new Dan Okimoto Rising Innovators Fellowship was added in June 2025 for next-generation changemakers.

SVJP is not a technology company: it does not develop proprietary software, has no API or SDK, and has no disclosed AI/ML products. Its value proposition is built on curated, invitation-based access to a high-trust peer network of Japanese and US executives. The member roster spans 100+ organizations, including Japanese Strategic/Corporate Members such as Tokio Marine, KDDI, NEC, Mizuho, MUFG, and Toyota Research Institute, alongside US Charter Corporate Members including ServiceNow, Zoom, and Rubrik. Strategic partners and collaborators include Y Combinator, Asia Pacific Initiative, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), the Startup Ecosystem Tokyo Consortium, and the Japan Reskilling Consortium.

The business model is subscription-based recurring revenue from corporate and entrepreneur membership fees, billed annually, with specific pricing not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: growth comes through member referrals, exclusive events (Annual Retreat, Japan Forum, Executive Roundtables), and thought-leadership content. The organization is led by co-chairs Saima Hassan and Naoaki Mashita (in role since January 1, 2024), with founding co-chairs Daniel Okimoto and James Kondo serving as Co-Chair Emeriti, and advisors including former US Ambassador to Japan John Roos and Yoshiaki Fujimori of CVC Asia Pacific Japan. The team is small (1-10 employees per firmographic data) and no external funding rounds or institutional investors are disclosed.

Name

Silicon Valley Japan Platform

Legal name

Silicon Valley Japan Platform

Website

https://svjp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Silicon Valley Japan Platform (SVJP) is a Tokyo-based, non-profit membership organization founded in 2015 that connects Japanese and US business leaders through curated programs, events, and a Y Combinator-co-hosted entrepreneur track. It serves 100+ corporate and startup members across both markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bilateral Business Networking and Community Organization

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise & Workplace Communities (BPAMABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory (BPAHADAI)

Keywords

• Bilateral business network
• Executive membership programs
• Japan US collaboration
• Startup accelerator events
• Cross-border networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: SVJP generates revenue through corporate and entrepreneur membership fees. Strategic and Corporate members include major Japanese corporations (Tokyo Marine, KDDI, NEC, Mizuho, MUFG, etc.) and US companies (ServiceNow, Zoom, Rubrik). Membership provides access to exclusive events, networking opportunities, and bilateral collaboration programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SVJP is a private, membership-based bilateral community organization that connects business, political, and cultural leaders in Japan and Silicon Valley through curated programs, events, and networking opportunities. It operates two core pillars — a Corporate Program serving enterprise members through events such as the Annual Retreat, Japan Forum, Executive Round Tables, and webinars, and an Entrepreneur Program (launched in 2018) supporting Japanese startups' global expansion through programs like Road to Silicon Valley (co-hosted with Y Combinator), Technologist by SVJP, and Matcha online meetups. Members access an exclusive network of senior Japanese corporations, US technology companies, investors, and academics via paid annual memberships.

Product overview

Silicon Valley Japan Platform (SVJP) is a bilateral community organization — not a unified software product — organized around two core program pillars: the Corporate Program and the Entrepreneur Program. The Corporate Program, the original mainstay since SVJP's founding, serves enterprise members through events such as the Annual Retreat, Japan Forum, Annual Reception, Executive Round Table, SVJP Benkyokai, TOKYO Session, and Webinar Series. The Entrepreneur Program, launched in 2018 as SVJP's second pillar, supports Japanese startup global expansion through programs including Road to Silicon Valley, Technologist by SVJP, Entrepreneur Round Table, Design Trip, and the online meetup Matcha. Additional offerings include the 2025-launched Dan Okimoto Rising Innovators Fellowship. Together these programs form a portfolio of networking, education, and mentorship initiatives rather than a packaged software or platform product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Program Enterprise-facing membership program for Japanese and US corporate members, providing technology collaboration, digital transformation support, and networking between Japan and Silicon Valley.
• Entrepreneur Program Program for Japanese startup founders and entrepreneurs seeking global expansion, including Road to Silicon Valley, Technologist by SVJP, Entrepreneur Round Table, Design Trip, and Matcha online meetup.
• Annual Retreat Annual high-level gathering held in Silicon Valley where members meet local entrepreneurs, executives, investors, academics, and government officials for multi-perspective discussions and networking.
• Japan Forum Tokyo-based event featuring leading Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and executives as guest speakers, with keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking receptions.
• SVJP Benkyokai

Quantifiable outcome

• 10+ years of bilateral collaboration between Japan and US business leaders
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Y CombinatorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018SVJP has co-hosted the 'Road to Silicon Valley' program with Y Combinator since 2018, providing Japanese startups access to YC's accelerator network, partners, and startup ecosystem. The partnership includes Y Combinator Office Hours, Startup School integration, and Demo Day opportunities for Japanese entrepreneurs.
• Asia Pacific Initiative (API)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVJP's co-organizing partner; API merged with the International House of Japan in 2022 but continues as a program brand within that organization. API and SVJP share the '民间、独立、グローバル' (private, independent, global) philosophy and collaborate on policy research and innovation initiatives.
• Startup Ecosystem Tokyo ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVJP participates as a full member in Tokyo Metropolitan Government's initiative to establish Tokyo as a global startup hub. SVJP contributes to ecosystem development through its entrepreneur programs.
• Japan Reskilling ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVJP participates as a supporting organization in this government-industry consortium aimed at reskilling Japanese workers for the digital economy, contributing expertise on bilateral tech talent development.
• Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVJP collaborates with Keidanren's startup committee (chaired by Tokio Marine Chairman Nagano) on events like KIX (Keidanren Innovation Crossing) that connect startups with large corporations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Japan Society (New York): The premier US-based institution dedicated to deepening bilateral ties between the US and Japan through programming, business networking, and cultural exchange. Closely comparable as a membership-based bilateral organization serving corporate members with curated executive access.
• US-Japan Council: Washington, DC-based organization that develops and connects US and Japanese leaders through people-to-people programs, policy dialogue, and educational initiatives. Highly comparable member-network and bilateral-engagement model, though broader in scope (including policy, education, and next-generation programs).
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japan's government-affiliated trade promotion body that connects Japanese companies with global markets and attracts foreign investment into Japan. Most directly comparable to SVJP in mission of bridging Japanese business with the US/Silicon Valley ecosystem, though it operates at much greater scale with public funding.

Emerging players

• Asia Pacific Initiative (API): Tokyo-based independent think tank and policy platform that collaborates with SVJP on bilateral initiatives under a 'private, independent, global' philosophy. Overlaps with SVJP in bilateral Japan-US policy and innovation programming, though it is more research/policy oriented.
• Y Combinator: Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator and SVJP's strategic partner in the 'Road to Silicon Valley' program since 2018. Not a direct competitor, but highly relevant as a comparable intermediary providing Japanese entrepreneurs access to global networks.
• Japan Innovation Network (JIN): Japanese corporate-led open innovation platform connecting large Japanese companies with startups. Comparable in the corporate-startup matchmaking niche and in its bilateral ambitions, though primarily domestic rather than Silicon-Valley focused.
• Stanford US-Asia Technology Management Center: Stanford-based research and education center focused on US-Asia technology and innovation ties, frequently intersecting with SVJP's bilateral mission and member base. Complementary as an academic institution rather than a direct commercial competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Keidanren (Japan Business Federation): Japan's largest comprehensive business federation, representing major Japanese corporations and industry associations. SVJP collaborates with Keidanren on innovation programs (KIX) and shares overlapping membership, but Keidanren is a domestic industry association rather than a bilateral US-Japan platform.
• Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership: Japan Foundation division that funds US-Japan intellectual exchange, dialogue, and collaboration across policy, education, and culture. Comparable as a bilateral bridge organization, but operates as a grantmaking body rather than a curated corporate community.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global startup accelerator and corporate innovation platform with a strong Japan presence (Plug and Play Japan). Comparable as a corporate-startup matchmaking intermediary, but operates a tech-platform business model rather than SVJP's curated executive-community model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silicon-valley-japan-platform

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Silicon Valley Japan Platform