GEN Japan is the national affiliate of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, a global platform operating in 200 countries dedicated to making it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start and scale a business.
Established in 2019, GEN Japan guides the development of healthy, efficient entrepreneurship ecosystems throughout the country. We connect local initiatives to leading-edge global research, innovative programs, and communities of seasoned experts to deliver high-impact entrepreneurial performance within Japan and internationally.
Mission
Our core mission is to catalyze entrepreneurship and build a thriving national ecosystem with few barriers to entry, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to start or scale a new company. This mission is driven by several key objectives:
- Catalyze: Fostering a healthier, more efficient ecosystem through cross-border collaboration between founders, investors, and policymakers.
- Improve the Ecosystem: Serving as a collaboration platform for monitoring and assessing ecosystem performance, sharing best-in-class knowledge sourced from GEN Global, and leading stakeholders in collective action.
- 2026 Vision: Aligning with Japan’s "One Country, One Vision" national strategy, we aim to lead in green innovation, digital transformation, and making entrepreneurship accessible through technology and AI.
Key Activities & Strategic Goals
GEN Japan works strategically to improve the national entrepreneurship landscape through the following pursuits:
- Provide ecosystem leadership by engaging and aligning key stakeholders and leaders, shaping policies, implementing programs, and streamlining efforts to maximize impact.
- Serve as a sharing platform of ecosystem knowledge, including performance assessments that generate insight into gaps and opportunities.
- Translate state-of-the-science research findings into viable and effective programming and policy action, generating a collective commitment for the uptake of proven, evidence-based programs.
- Build international connectivity in priority sectors by strategically curating connections and engagement with global networks and platforms.
- Increase the number of local citizens considering the path of entrepreneurship by nurturing the development of an entrepreneurial mindset through Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) and other national activities.
Leadership & Partnerships
GEN Japan is led by Hiro Nishiguchi, the Managing Director. The operation is supported by a board of successful entrepreneurs and startup community builders. We collaborate with premier academic institutions such as Sophia University,Keio, and Waseda, to co-host symposia and national events.
Connecting Japan to the World
GEN Japan acts as the essential bridge connecting the national ecosystem to the global network:
- Live International Events: Access to GEN’s flagship Global Entrepreneurship Congress, the Startup Nations, GEC+, and GEN regional meetups.
- Programs & Platforms: A constant flow of new best-in-class entrepreneur support programs and networks, including GEN Invest & GBAN, and Startup Huddle.
- Research & Policy: Direct connection to research and policy development and advocacy through communities like GEN Policy’s Startup Nations policymaker network, the GEN Research community, and various knowledge sources including the GEN Atlas.
Key Achievements
- Global Entrepreneurship Week: GEN Japan partnered with Sophia University to host a series of events and workshops. Focused on the theme "Together We Build,” these sessions explored the future of startups in the age of AI and sustainability.
- Expo Osaka: GEN Japan participated in the World Expo and showcased Japanese innovation and sustainability to the world.
- SusHi Tech Tokyo: GEN Japan led a high-profile session at the "Sustainable High Tech Tokyo" (SusHi Tech) summit. Managing Director Hiro Nishiguchi hosted global GEN leaders to discuss the intersection of entrepreneurship and sustainability.
- Central Japan Ecosystem Development: Hiro Nishiguchi moderated the "Homeland of Mobility 5.0" symposium, a major regional effort to transform central Japan into a modern startup ecosystem.
- Ecosystem Research: GEN Japan partnered with Startup Genome to release the Global Startup Ecosystem Report, providing data-driven insights into Japan’s growing tech and green transformation sectors.
- Green & Digital Focus: In line with Japan's Basic Policy, GEN Japan prioritized startups in the "Green Transformation" (GX) and semiconductor sectors, supporting government-backed initiatives like the Space Strategy Fund and next-generation microchip mass production.