Top startups in Japan
There are 55,298 startups in Japan which include bitFlyer, Sakana, Backpack Exchange, Luup, Tier4 Robotics. Out of these, 10,799 startups are funded, with 1,568 having secured Series A+ funding, and 10 achieving unicorn status. Semiconductor Design and Manufacturing Services ($6.7B) and Banks ($4.69B) are the top-funded sectors in Japan, with over 282 companies, including MUFG and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Tokyo (1,236), Shibuya (700), and Minato City (416) are the top cities by number of startups hosted. In the last five years, 2,309 companies raised over $25.6B in funding across 3,497 rounds. Sakana is the latest startup to join the Unicorn Club from Japan. The number of companies founded have declined by 52.4%, from 534 companies in 2024 to 254 companies in 2025.
Here is the list of top startups in Japan
1. bitFlyer
Online trading platform for Bitcoin. Allows users to buy, sell, and trade Bitcoins through encrypted networks. Also, features a blockchain explorer and crowdfunding solutions to assist users in tracking & investing in cryptocurrencies.
Key facts about bitFlyer
- Founded Year: 2014
- Location: Chiba (Japan)
- Stage: Series C
- Total Funding till date: $36.6M
- Investors: Venture Laboratory Investment, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital and 16 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series C, Feb 15, 2017, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 72/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 12 of 4,279 Competitors
2. Sakana
Sakana AI is a Tokyo-based R&D company founded by former Google AI engineers, David Ha and Llion Jones. Inspired by nature, Sakana AI aims to design collective artificial intelligence models.
Key facts about Sakana
- Founded Year: 2023
- Location: Tokyo (Japan)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $379M
- Investors: Lux Capital, Khosla Ventures and 29 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Mar 25, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 71/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 5 of 171 Competitors
Provider of crypto exchange and wallet platform. It offers a spot trading platform that enables users to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies on the blockchain. It also enables users to trade in derivatives, margins, and more.
Key facts about Backpack Exchange
- Founded Year: 2023
- Location: Japan
- Stage: Series A
- Total Funding till date: $17M
- Investors: Placeholder, Wintermute and 5 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series A, Feb 28, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 69/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 17 of 4,279 Competitors
4. Luup
App-based platform for electric kick scooters. Through the app, users can find and book electric kick scooters. Also, they can navigate to the nearby bike stations to get the scooters. Users can unlock the scooters by scanning the QR code. It offers station-based service users have to leave the scooter at the nearby docks at the end of the ride.
Key facts about Luup
- Founded Year: 2018
- Location: Shibuya (Japan)
- Stage: Series C
- Total Funding till date: $137M
- Investors: TBS Innovation Partners, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and 24 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Conventional Debt, Dec 01, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 68/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 7 Competitors
Autonomous driving platforms and intelligent vehicle systems. It focuses on creating scalable technologies for self-driving cars using open-source software and hardware integration. The company supports mobility and logistics applications by offering platforms that enable automated vehicle control and deployment.
Key facts about Tier4 Robotics
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: Tokyo (Japan)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $279M
- Investors: JAFCO Group, Quanta Computer and 13 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Jun 16, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 68/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 7 of 222 Competitors
