Deadline Date: June 22, 2026
The J-StarX Silicon Valley Extended Program offers to support Japanese startups in accelerating their globalization through market validation, mentorship, fundraising preparation, and international network building.
The program focuses on global market validation, global venture capital attraction, strategic business growth, globalization of startups, global mindset development, product validation for international markets, expert mentorship, personalized support, fundraising strategies, pitch development, investor readiness, international expansion planning, global networking, sales and marketing preparation, product development, stakeholder engagement, traction building, and long-term support for market expansion efforts.
The J-StarX Silicon Valley Extended Program is an immersive 11-week initiative designed for technology-driven and technology-enabled startups in Japan ranging from Pre-Seed to Series A stage. The program is conducted across Tokyo and the United States and is structured to help participating startups prepare for international growth.
Each startup may nominate up to two participants to join the program. Founder participation is strongly encouraged, and participants are expected to attend all sessions, workshops, and activities throughout the program.
Eligible applicants are startups incorporated in Japan with a working product, demonstrated traction, and an established team. Participants must be proficient in written and spoken English, as all program activities are delivered in English. Startups must also be able to commit at least 50 percent of one executive’s time for the full duration of the program.
Participants gain access to frameworks, workshops, and a Virtual Demo Day designed to help refine products and validate them for international markets. The program also provides expert-led workshops, mentor sessions, and user feedback to support product development in alignment with global market expectations.
The program includes dedicated support for fundraising preparation. Startups learn about investment criteria, improve pitch presentation strategies, and develop positioning approaches aimed at attracting international venture capital investors.
Participants also benefit from access to an extensive network of experts, mentors, venture capitalists, and startups with experience in global market expansion. This network provides guidance and insights to support international growth efforts.
The first phase takes place over two weeks in Tokyo and focuses on mindset development and pitch preparation. Startups participate in an intensive bootcamp, receive one-on-one and group mentoring, and present a three-minute pitch to a selection panel. Participation in subsequent phases is based on a selection process.
The second phase spans three weeks in Tokyo through online and in-person activities. During this stage, startups work on mentorship-driven preparation, goal setting, outreach planning, social media visibility, sales strategies, marketing, product development, and international expansion planning.
The third phase is conducted over four weeks in Palo Alto, United States. Participants engage in workshops, panel discussions, guest speaker sessions, group activities, office hours, and personalized mentoring. Startups also participate in an in-person event to showcase their products, build networks, and increase traction. A Virtual Demo Day is also prepared during this phase to present participating companies to a global audience of partners and ecosystem stakeholders. This stage serves as a key opportunity to validate products for international markets.
The final phase takes place over two weeks in Tokyo through online and in-person engagement. Participants receive debriefing support, develop roadmaps for future activities, participate in community events, and continue receiving coaching to help sustain momentum in their international expansion efforts.
For more information, visit 500 Global.
