The Japan External Trade Organization plays a central role in advancing Japan’s economic and technological developments. Managed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the agency helps businesses expand overseas while attracting foreign investment.
With a network of more than 70 overseas offices and about 50 domestic bases, JETRO is uniquely equipped to help startups and domestic market leaders establish a presence abroad. The organization’s ultimate goal is to strengthen the country’s competitiveness on the global stage and promote innovation.
JETRO’s support is practical and bespoke. It offers tailored services for startups that want to operate internationally, providing 1-to-1 mentoring from experts, acceleration programs with key global partners and connections to renowned international investors.
It also works with foreign firms interested in establishing a presence in Japan, extending the same kind of personalized expertise that Japanese companies receive. This way, JETRO grows its professional network and diversifies its pool of business partners.
A key part of JETRO’s strategy is bringing the world’s leading investors and accelerators to Japan. The organization was a primary partner in the launch of Techstars Tokyo, a three-month equity-based program for early stage startups that provides mentorship, capital investment and access to a large network of investors, corporate partners and alumni.
Few other accelerators match Techstars’ record. Within eight years of completing their accelerator program, 31% of companies achieve “an exit” — the highest rate among global accelerators. Techstars makes this possible by connecting founders with experienced entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and mentors who understand how to scale businesses globally.
Another major JETRO partnership is with Alchemist Japan, a business-to-business seed accelerator selecting nine to 12 startups per program. It’s focused on early-stage technology companies that can benefit from Alchemist’s mentorship, investor-matching and U.S. network.
Providing access to the American market has become a big part of JETRO’s direction. Its cooperation with Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate led to the establishment of such innovation-generating initiatives as The HealthTech Gateway “AI Medical in the US” acceleration program, which consists of two phases.
In Phase 1, startups are introduced to the fundamentals of the U.S. health care system, its market structure and business practices. Phase 2 offers access to Mayo Clinic’s medical data, mentorship and product validation, along with a Demo Day event in Minnesota. This partnership helps participants refine their products for real-world medical settings and navigate the complex U.S. health system, facilitating their entry into the American market.
JETRO merges global accelerator expertise with Japan’s wealth of talent both through these initiatives and through continuous startup scouting, investor pitch sessions and international exhibitions that showcase Japanese innovations that would otherwise remain insulated in the domestic market.
For medical founders, these services offer rare, direct access to hospitals, research institutions and specialized advisers. For B2B companies, they build business channels with overseas clients and investors. All these strategies ultimately support JETRO’s broader vision: building a sustainable bridge between Japanese entrepreneurship and the global market.
By combining government support with their industry expertise, JETRO ensures that promising Japanese enterprises can expand internationally. Through collaborations with entities like Techstars Tokyo, Alchemist Japan and Mayo Clinic, JETRO continues to position Japan as a key contributor to global innovation, helping transform the country into a thriving hub of entrepreneurial growth and technological progress.
This article is sponsored by the Japan External Trade Organization.
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