Startup Support & Open Innovation

Where Startups,
Industry, and Research
Come Together
to Build What's Next.

TSI bridges startups, established enterprises, and universities — providing hands-on, end-to-end support from a company's earliest days through to global growth.

Our Vision

Building the Next Generation
of Industry — Together.

Startups move fast, think differently, and have the potential to reshape entire industries.

But funding alone doesn't build businesses.
Real progress requires hands-on partnership with the people, institutions, and corporations that can make it happen.

We serve as an "Interpreter" — breaking down barriers between industries, cultures, and borders to connect Japan and the world in both directions.

We don't just make introductions. We get involved, stay involved, and work alongside our partners until the venture succeeds.

Ecosystem

A Network That Multiplies Value

Acting as interpreter and connector, TSI enables meaningful collaboration across sectors and borders.

TSI Interpreter
Enterprises
Large & Mid-sized
Startups
Seed to Series
Universities &
Research Institutes
Deep Tech
Global
23 Countries

Our Services

How We Work

Startup Support

Practical, hands-on support at every stage — from idea to IPO.

  • Entrepreneurship training and mentorship
  • Seed and early-stage venture investment
  • International expansion support (Southeast Asia, Africa, and beyond)
  • Accelerator program design and management

Open Innovation

Connecting established companies with startups to drive new business — from strategy through execution.

  • Innovation strategy and project management
  • Global startup sourcing and matchmaking
  • Cross-cultural facilitation between partners
  • Investment and M&A advisory

University Spinoff Support

Turning world-class academic research into viable, market-ready businesses.

  • Commercialization support for individual research projects
  • Executive recruitment and CEO matching
  • JST and NEDO grant program support
  • Building in-house incubation infrastructure

Our Proprietary Platforms

Growtheater

A platform that maps and visualizes startup business models from around the world.

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Contestiva

An end-to-end accelerator management platform, from application intake to final selection.

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Why TSI

What Sets Us Apart

Global Network

An active network spanning 23 countries and 60+ organizations — including VCs, research universities, government bodies, and global enterprises — enabling precise, high-quality matching.

Cross-Cultural Execution

We don't just facilitate — we execute. Our team bridges language gaps, cultural differences, and organizational complexity to keep collaborations moving forward.

End-to-End Support

From the earliest concept through funding, growth, and exit — we stay engaged at every stage, providing consistent support no matter how the journey evolves.

Works & Cases

Selected Projects & Partners

A selection of the organizations we've worked with

Tokyo Metoropolitan Government JICA III Aizu University Chiba University Gunma University Mie University Kogakuin University Nikon Mitusiu Fudosan Toyota Boshoku Sky Link Technologies Magik Eye Sequential Ailytics Kotozna Finhay ecoro TopoLogic Xela Robotics Guide Robotics hibot Refined Robotics Trans-N
Forge Startup Support

Forge — Hardware Accelerator

A dedicated accelerator for hardware startups, covering prototyping, manufacturing, mentorship, and corporate matchmaking. Built to address the specific challenges hardware ventures face on the path to scale.

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Japan Connect Initiative Startup Support

Japan Connect Initiative

A bilateral accelerator program supporting startups expanding between Southeast Asia and Japan. Services include masterclasses, one-on-one mentoring, corporate introductions, and travel subsidies.

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Tunisia JICA Startup Support

Entrepreneurship Education — Tunisia (JICA)

A JICA-funded initiative transferring Japanese entrepreneurship education methodologies to Tunisia, with a focus on increasing employment and advancing women's participation in the startup ecosystem.

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Open Innovation Open Innovation

Dormant Patent Commercialization

For a major automotive company, we identified commercially viable applications for unused patents — extracting core technologies, mapping complementary solutions, and managing the full partner outreach and negotiation process.

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Food Tech Open Innovation

Next-Generation Food Tech Workshop

We designed and ran a workshop series connecting established food companies with startups working on plant-based proteins, cultured meat, and precision fermentation — emerging categories facing both high potential and market headwinds.

Learn More (JP)
HR Co-creation Open Innovation

Strategic Partnership in HR Technology

We sourced and evaluated HR tech startups against a defined strategic criteria, managed partner negotiations, and ultimately executed a capital and business alliance between the client and a complementary startup.

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JST START University Spinoff Support

JST START Program

Under this Japan Science and Technology Agency initiative, we supported university researchers in building ventures around their work — from business model development to founding team recruitment. Of 17 projects supported, 10 became operating startups.

Learn More (JP)
Startup Ecosystem University Spinoff Support

Regional University Startup Ecosystem Program

A government-backed consortium initiative combining gap funding with hands-on commercialization support across a network of regional universities. TSI serves as a business promotion partner for KSAC, IJIE, and PSI.

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Tokyo Metro University Startup University Spinoff Support

Tokyo Metropolitan Government University Startup Program

Working in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, TSI provides embedded commercialization support at Kogakuin University — helping individual research teams develop viable venture strategies and building the university's own startup support infrastructure.

Learn More (JP)

Company

Technology Seed Incubation Co., Ltd.

Founded
June 2018
Offices
HQ: Kyoto, Japan
Branch: Tokyo, Japan
International: India, Vietnam, Nigeria

Every great venture starts with a conversation.

Whether you're a startup looking for your next step, a corporation exploring innovation, or a researcher with an idea worth building — we'd love to hear from you. No need to have everything figured out.

Contact Us