May 21, 2018
Office of the Governor for Policy Planning

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Accelerator Program “Tech Business Camp Tokyo”
Now Accepting Applications for Participating Companies

In order to boost Tokyo’s international competitiveness and create further growth, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) has continued to proactively introduce initiatives designed to attract foreign companies, and promoted the transfer of leading technologies and know-how from overseas companies to domestic companies.
In addition to the TMG’s initiatives thus far, from FY 2017 onwards, the TMG also launched an accelerator program targeting foreign startup companies (hereinafter “foreign companies”) possessing cutting-edge technologies related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as IoT, artificial intelligence, and robotics, etc.
This program invites foreign companies to come to Tokyo to learn about the uniqueness of the Japanese market and needs of companies within the city, while also aiming to create business matchups between the foreign companies and Tokyo companies by providing the latter with opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the former’s technologies. By matching up Tokyo companies and foreign companies with leading software technologies, the TMG hopes to achieve its vision of becoming a “Safe City”, a “Smart City” and a “Diversity (Diverse City)”.
The program will follow the sequence below, and focus on activities (2) and (3) over a short period of   around two months.

• (1) Call for applications from, and selection of foreign companies possessing leading technologies and business models, such as IoT, AI, and robotics, to participate in the program.
• (2) Provide support for the creation of business plans by matching the selected foreign companies with local companies and IT vendors, etc.
• (3) Host pitch events, with participants including investors and companies, etc., from Tokyo.

1. Overview for Applicants

[Target Companies]

Foreign companies possessing the latest IT technologies and business models, and which do not yet have a presence in Japan (see the website below for more details on applying).

[How to Apply]

Confirm the items listed on the website below and make use of the format provided.
(Deadline for applying: Friday July 13, 2018, 23:59 JST)
https://www.seisakukikaku.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/bdc_tokyo/english/bizcamptky/

2. Schedule (Planned)

May 21: Applications open
Mid-August: Selection of foreign companies and announcement of successful participants (approx. 10 companies)
Start of October: Introductory Seminar
October - November: Mentoring, business planning, networking, business matching
End of November: Pitch event (public)

*Attachment Overview of Accelerator Program ‘Tech Business Camp Tokyo’ (PDF:132KB)

The Action Plan for 2020
This project is part of the “Action Plan for 2020”
“Smart City” Key Policy 4: A global financial and economic center