Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has welcomed the first cohort of startups from Japan to its headquarters as part of a strategic Startup Immersion Programme. The initiative, delivered in partnership with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Elixir Capital under the J-StarX initiative, advances Abu Dhabi’s engagement with Japan’s innovation ecosystem and reinforces the capital’s role as a key launchpad for Asian founders expanding into the Middle East.
Strengthening the UAE-Japan Innovation Bridge
The collaboration brings seven leading Japanese Web3 startups to the UAE for the third stage of the J-StarX programme. The initiative is designed to accelerate the growth of Japanese startups by deeply connecting them with the UAE’s dynamic ecosystem, introducing founders to potential investors, corporate partners, and customers. This programme underscores Abu Dhabi’s focus on scaling digital-economy ventures and aligns with Japan’s significant momentum in the Web3 space.
A Two-Week Deep Dive into the UAE Ecosystem
After completing initial phases in Tokyo and virtual sessions with Hub71, the founders are undertaking a two-week immersion in the UAE. The first week is spent at Hub71’s offices in Abu Dhabi, where startups engage with investors, meet potential customers, refine go-to-market strategies, and explore pilot opportunities. The second week takes place at GITEX Expand North Star, where they will showcase their technologies at the Japan Pavilion and participate in pitching sessions. Hub71 will also serve on the judging panel, evaluating Web3 teams at the pavilion.
Divya Nair, Startup Journey Lead at Hub71, commented, “Our partnership with JETRO reinforces our commitment to connecting Abu Dhabi with one of the world’s leading innovation markets to create valuable growth opportunities for Japan’s leading Web3 startups. By immersing founders in the UAE, Japanese founders get to see firsthand the ease of leveraging Abu Dhabi’s open and flexible business-friendly environment to pilot and scale next-generation technologies.”
Meet Japan’s Top Web3 Innovators
The seven participating startups represent some of Japan’s most promising innovators in Web3 and frontier technologies:
- Curvegrid: A blockchain development company building Japan’s sovereign blockchain infrastructure, with $3 million raised and enterprise experience including work with Toyota.
- Kyuzan: A Web3 product studio creating wallet, payment, and gaming tools, boasting $4 million in annual revenue and partnerships with companies like Square Enix.
- Creatant: An AI-powered visual workspace platform for the creative industry with over 500 users.
- MIKI: A cross-chain interoperability and DeFi infrastructure provider with over $10 million in transaction volume and 40,000 users.
- Laplace: A luxury real estate tokenization platform with partnerships to tokenize over $500 million in properties.
- XENEA: A storage layer provider for AI and DePIN infrastructure, serving 4 million wallet users globally.
- Aniark: An AI-powered content creation platform collaborating with top Japanese anime studios such as MAPPA and KADOKAWA.
Founder Perspectives on Abu Dhabi’s Ecosystem
The immersion has already provided significant value to the participating founders, offering clarity on navigating the region’s business and regulatory landscape.
Yuma Tanimoto, Founder and CSO of XENEA, said, “Participating in Hub71’s Immersion Programme was a transformative experience that helped me align our purpose with execution. It became a pivotal moment for both myself and XENEA’s global journey, providing clarity and direction for our next stage of growth from Abu Dhabi.”
Goki Kato, Founder and CEO of MIKI, added, “The programme provided valuable insight into Abu Dhabi’s regulatory landscape, giving us the clarity and confidence to scale MIKI’s operations in Abu Dhabi and the UAE and expand into new markets.”
About Hub71
Hub71 is Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem that enables founders to build globally enduring homegrown tech companies in any sector. By providing access to global markets, a capital ecosystem, a global network of partners, and a vibrant community, Hub71 is creating an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive. Hub71’s mission is to expand international engagement, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global technology and investment hub.
Source: Hub71
