Taiwanese startups continue Japanese market expansion

Liu was also in Japan to promote the “Bridge Project,” a Taiwanese startup support initiative. It aims to expand single-point collaborations into comprehensive exchanges in order to create more business opportunities.

During a Sept. 17 press conference at the Japan National Press Club attended by nearly 100 Japanese media outlet reporters, Liu said Taiwan is expanding funds to support emerging industries such as AI, creative industries, biomedical technology, and green technology.

Liu added that through an MOU with Kyoto University, Taiwan and Japan are also working together to develop teams in the deep tech sector.

Many Taiwanese venture capitalists are establishing cross-border funds to invest in startups operating in both markets. According to Nikkei Asia, “Forty-eight Japanese companies have received investments from Taiwan this year through July, the most since 50 recorded in all of 2014.”

Taiwanese startups are also making efforts to enter the Japanese market. Several “Next Big” startups, nominated by the NDC and Startup Island Taiwan, have already set up offices in Japan and are serving Japanese customers.

Startup Island Taiwan also set up an office in Tokyo to facilitate ongoing exchanges between Taiwanese and Japanese companies, startups, and investment institutions. The new Tokyo hub is expected to help match more Japanese investors and corporations with Taiwanese startups.