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In 2019 NASSCOM partnered with the Embassy of India, Tokyo for a Global Capital Access initiative to support Indian Startups looking to raise growth capital. The initiative connects the Indian tech startup ecosystem with the venture capital community in Japan. This program was conceived to implement the idea (Making Startup Hub between Japan and India) signed by both the Prime Minister’s during last Summit meet in Oct 2018.

Japan VC Connect – 2, 2020

Post its launch in 2019, the successive edition of the program was scheduled between 16 -19 March 2020 covering the biggest cities in Japan, Tokyo and Osaka. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions the program was reinvented to a virtual pitching format. The program is addressing startups through a sectoral approach where in every pitch session NASSCOM organizes pitches of 5-7 curated startups and VCs from specific sectors such as Mobility / Supply Chain, Healthtech / Personnel Hygiene, Agritech / Food, Fintech, Media/Entertainment & Robotics in the Retail and Telecom sectors. The objective of these pitches is to generate preliminary interest for the presenting startups, and they can take forward the discussions on a one-on-one basis.

So far, the second edition has had three impressive rounds of Virtual Pitching Sessions, resulting in:

  • 20 startups pitched to 110 Japanese VCs, CVCs, Angels and Corporations
  • 81 one-on-one meetings secured among startups and VCs. Discussions in progress

REGISTER FOR THE NEXT JAPAN VC VIRTUAL PITCH SESSION

Startup Registration

If you are selected, you will be required to pay nominal program fee.

Apply Now

Japanese Investor Registration

Your participation will be confirmed by email after receiving your registration

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faqs

  • 1How many Japanese VCs have signed-up for the startup pitches?

    We have 80+ VC’s / Angels / Corporations who have signed up for NASSCOM Japan VC Connect pitches which have been categorized based on their sectoral interests. Out of this number, 15+ investors have previous experience of investing in India and rest are looking for the right opportunity to create their mark. Further to this, each sector has 18-33 VC’s interested.

  • 2How many startups participated in the pitch sessions?

    In the first 3 pitch sessions, 20 startups looking to raise in range of 1.5 Mn to 20 Mn USD pitched to the audience size of 40 – 70 based on sectors chosen.

  • 3What have the pitch meetings garnered for startups?

    These 3 pitching events have led to 81 meeting requests which are now been executed in follow up meetings for founders. Some of these have already received soft commitments due to restriction related to pandemic and waiting for travel to begin for final closure.

  • 4How are the pitch sessions structured?

    Each pitch session offers opportunity to 6-7 startups representing 2-3 sectors. After every pitch of 15 minutes, e-voting takes place to collect meeting requests for presenting startups.

  • 5When will I be informed of selection for the pitch session?

    In case your application is selected by our jury, you will be informed in 30 days from date of application.

  • 6Is there a fee involved to register for the pitch sessions?

    Applying for the pitch session is free of cost for all startups. If selected, the startup will be required to pay a nominal program fee.

  • 7What happens if my startup gets selected for the pitch session?

    If selected for pitching, founders are required to share information with NASSCOM in the prescribed format with a declaration that all information provided is true and correct, followed by payment of the program fee

JAPAN VC CONNECT – 1, 2019

The first pitching event was held in September 2019 hosted at Embassy of India (EOI) in Tokyo. It was attended by 26 startups and 130+ entities including venture capital firms, corporate venture arms of Japanese corporations, angels, business enterprises etc. 5 startups were able to raise funds and establish strategic partnerships with Japanese enterprises within 6 months of the program. Another 4-6 are in concluding stage of discussions with Japanese entities.

For more highlights on Japan VC Connect – 1 and the connects made between the startups and investors, click here.