Government support programs, loans, grants, and networking spaces

S-Startups, run by SII as part of Shibuya Startup Support, is aimed at companies already incorporated in Japan considering overseas expansion; one example round of applications ran September 1 to October 1, 2025. JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) runs more than 50 free (government-funded) programs a year to help Japanese startups expand abroad, including Silicon Valley mentors, flight costs, and business courses (examples: GTM, Local to Global); it also offers an SME discount (details unconfirmed but corroborated by participants). Networking spaces and events: X-Hub Tokyo, a Tokyo municipal startup-support program, including free trips to events like TechCrunch; Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB), free entry with online or app registration, including a fablab with 3D printing and laser cutting; the Tokyo Hackerspace for electronics and DIY, with weekly events; Phoenixi, a nonprofit incubator in Osaka/Kyoto focused on social entrepreneurship, mostly local to Kyoto, charging companies nothing while retaining an optional right to invest up to 3% (with consent), and offering free housing and meals to participants; HBA (an association of foreign business professionals) holding events in Tokyo; and startup events such as Sushitech (Tokyo), Ramentech (Fukuoka), and IVS (a major annual event, held in Kyoto in 2026). 日本政策金融公庫 (JFC, Japan Finance Corporation, a state bank) lends to small/medium businesses and sole proprietors, with a rate around 1.5% and deferred principal repayment noted in the chat. Government support programs for entrepreneurs at around 0.5% annual interest for loans up to 20 million yen were also mentioned. Ordinary business loans in Japan run roughly 5-7% annually, with preferential programs bringing that down to 3-5%; loans for rental property are typically 1-2 points above the standard mortgage rate. Deposit rates at Japanese banks are under 1% annually, reflecting the Bank of Japan's low policy rate. A small-business support program with loans around 1% was mentioned for late 2024 without details or a source — an unconfirmed chat opinion. A competitive, interest-free grant program for promising "unicorn" startups requires applying roughly a year ahead of the award, offers up to 2 million yen with no repayment, and requires an extensive document package including a handwritten cover letter. Source: https://www.jetro.go.jp — Official JETRO site with business support programs. Source: https://www.x-hub-tokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp — Tokyo municipal startup support program X-Hub Tokyo. Source: https://tib.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/tibfab — Tokyo Innovation Base fablab with 3D printing and laser cutting. Source: https://www.tokyohackerspace.jp/ — Tokyo Hackerspace for electronics and DIY projects. Source: https://www.phoenixi.co.jp/en/about/project/ — Nonprofit incubator Phoenixi in Kyoto/Osaka. Source: https://hbanet.org/ — HBA association of foreign business professionals. Source: https://www.ramentech.jp — Ramentech startup event in Fukuoka.