Startup Ecosystem
-Japan Business, the easy way-
Why Osaka
Is The Best Place
To Start
Your Business In Japan
For many foreigners who would like to start a business in or with Japan, the situation is fairly difficult. It is known that the Japanese situation is complicated. Initiating contact or going into business in this country, especially with regard to big companies, the rules and procedures from the outside world do not apply to Japan, it is said. Entrepreneurs tend not to get the evaluation they deserve until they become successful. Furthermore, Japanese perfectionism eschews mistakes and bureaucracy is difficult. Living in the country is also expensive – so why should one start a business in Japan?
Osaka can help you and make things a little easier. Entrepreneurship has always been an important part of the history of Osaka. The generally open and direct views here are favorable to startups in the city. In comparison to cities such as Tokyo, Singapore, or Shanghai, the rents here are affordable and there is beneficial financial value. Of course, paying attention to detail is important in Osaka, as well – however, mistakes along the way are understood and accepted. Osakans are eager to work with enterprisers long-term to become global, innovative successes together.
The environment where you can be successful in Japanese business, getting a good and quick start – this is what Osaka can provide for entrepreneurs. In Osaka, you can start your Japanese business, the easy way.
What do others say
about OSAKA?
“Osaka is emerging as a startup hotspot based on dynamic government support programs.”
―Forbes
“Osaka (…) has upped its game in recent years with new start-up investment funds, downtown university campuses, incubators and pitch events.”
―CNBC
“Osaka, the industrial capital of western Japan, is building a strong startup community of its own.“
―Tech in Asia
“It is a warm business community, where companies help each other to grow.”
―Max Krichenbauer, CEO of MARUI-Plugin
“Osaka offers lower rents and more accessible human resources and investment. There are many good reasons to do business here.”
―Genki Kanaya, CEO of Akippa
“Having OIH in the center means a great environment, given the abundant unique and energetic startups here, with many support systems and a healthy sense of competitiveness between the companies.”
―Tatsuo Ueyama, CEO of RaySol Technologies
Facts and figures
about Osaka
・Osaka is Japan’s second smallest prefecture with 43 municipalities, including Osaka City, and is home to approximately 8.8 million people.
・Osaka Prefecture surpasses Hong Kong, Israel and Singapore in terms of economic scale. Osaka City’s GRP is roughly equivalent to that of New Zealand.
・Kansai is one of the world’s leading major metropolitan areas with a GDP comparable to that of Netherlands.
・In Osaka City alone, there are approximately 200,000 places of business hiring about 2.4 million professionals in total.
・Osaka has been the world’s fastest-growing visitor destination since 2009 (Mastercard: Destination Cities Index 2017).
・Osaka is the fourth most livable city in the world after Vienna, Melbourne and Sydney. (The Economist: Global Liveability Index 2019).
Osaka Startup
Ecosystem Consortium
On July 14, 2020, the Osaka Startup Ecosystem Consortium, in collaboration with the Kyoto, Hyogo – Kobe Consortiums, was selected as a Global Startup City under the Cabinet Office strategy of “Beyond Limits. Unlock Our Potential.”(Note 1) From now on, the Kansai region will strive to create a world-class startup ecosystem where the strengths of the Kansai region, particularly in the life sciences, can be leveraged with the support of the government.
(Note 1)
The government aims to establish and develop a Japanese-style startup ecosystem center with world-class excellence and certifies plans to promote the formation of startup ecosystems in cities that have a certain level of concentration and potential, with support from the government and private sector.
Collaborative Efforts in Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe （So-called “Keihanshin”）
Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe share common strengths in the fields of bio-healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, and ICT. We aim to build an ecosystem capable of producing superior products and services speedily and continuously through the mutual use of resources, supporting services, and sharing information. We will also work in concert with Kyoto and Hyogo-Kobe, in responding to smart cities and taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.
【Example】
Private companies and universities in Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo will participate in Hack Osaka, an international innovation conference, to create best practices.
Initiatives in Osaka
The members of the Osaka Startup Ecosystem Consortium will work together to advance the ecosystem development plan that Osaka seeks to achieve. Specifically, the Umekita area development (a large-scale redevelopment district north of Osaka Station) is expected to densify opportunities and resources for innovation, including human resources and talents, technology, ideas, and finance. Furthermore, hosting the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo and implementing Osaka Smart City Strategy will be a favorable occasion for startups and all the members of the Osaka Startup Ecosystem to deepen collaboration with major corporations, universities, and government agencies and to move forward to the global business field.
【Examples of specific initiatives】
Hosting various acceleration programs and global pitch events, supporting human resources development and mobilization, attracting overseas startups and entrepreneurs, supporting the creation of startups to play an active role at the 2025 Expo, etc.
CONTACT
Startup Ecosystem, International Division, Osaka Business Development Agency
s-upeco-info@obda.or.jp