Market entry Japan: A practical guide for Swiss start-ups

Japan’s startup ecosystem is evolving rapidly: rising investments, government incentives, and the increasing openness of large Japanese companies to collaborations are creating new opportunities for Swiss startups, particularly in areas such as AI, Cleantech, FinTech, Robotics, and Healthcare and Life Sciences. At the same time, starting to export to Japan requires careful preparation – from adapting to local customer expectations and regulatory requirements to building trust-based partnerships and providing Japanese-language documents and a clear positioning.

This is where the guide comes in. It combines market knowledge with practical strategies, an overview of relevant accelerator and funding programs, and an expert interview on best practices. The Swiss Business Hub Japan supports Swiss start-ups on the ground – from tailored market analyses to access to leading Japanese companies and participation in Swiss pavilions at major trade fairs.