In Fall 2024, ERA Global (https://www.eranycglobal.com) partnered with JETRO Tokyo, JETRO New York, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to host the fourth edition of the X-HUB Global Startup Accelerator Program. This program aimed to provide seven Tokyo-based startups with actionable strategies to enter the U.S. market. Over a span of three months, the program offered a combination of intensive mentorship, workshops, and hands-on experiences designed to bridge cultural, operational, and strategic gaps for Japanese startups as they explore the US market. The main topics of focus were US-focused sales strategies, customer discovery, fundraising, and pitch refinement.
The program began with a virtual 5-week program, which incorporated workshop sessions and individualized mentoring. After this phase, the teams participated in in-person programming in both Tokyo and New York City. The founders learned the critical elements of doing business in the US, including strategies for lead generation, cultural nuances in investor relationships, and operational challenges such as incorporation, compliance, and hiring. Participants logged onto Zoom for workshops on B2B sales processes, lead qualification, customer acquisition, and negotiations. These sessions were complemented by one-on-one meetings with ERA Global mentors, who helped the teams understand their target market and customers, as well as the best messaging to highlight their value propositions.
Throughout their week in New York City, sntartups expanded their networks through targeted events, including an opening welcome reception hosted at JETRO New York and a networking happy hour with ERA founders and mentors at AON. ERA Global hosted the group at an Entrepreneurs Roundtable event at Microsoft Times Square. At this event, the CEO and Co-Founder of YAXIE Satoshi Hidaka pitched to an audience of investors and entrepreneurs. After the event, all participants had the opportunity to network with the audience, as well. The group ended their week with a visit to Google’s new St. John’s Terminal Office. All of the visits helped further solidify the founders’ understanding of US market landscape, alongside all of the interactive sessions focused on sales and fundraising.
The program’s emphasis on practical outcomes was evident in the progress of individual startups. Sandbox, a company focused on fitness technology, refined its go-to-market strategy for U.S. audiences, marking a significant milestone for US expansion. TRINEAR, which specializes in multispectral imaging technology, clarified its target verticals, prioritizing their vertical sectors. The team’s participation in pitch workshops allowed them to create compelling presentations tailored to American investors. Similarly, United Silk leveraged the program to reposition its sustainable silk fibroin technology. VitaNet, a startup providing personalized messaging solutions for retailers, made notable strides by focusing on sales strategies. Other participating startups, such as YAXIE and BoostDraft, similarly gained momentum, refining their strategies and positioning themselves for successful entry into the U.S. market.
The success of this fourth edition of the JETRO X-HUB Global Startup Accelerator Program highlights the impact of a hands-on, intensive program. The founders coupled their innovative technologies with the insights and advice from ERA Global mentors and team to further expand on their growth to the US market.
Read more about the participating teams below:
AMATELUS provides a free-viewpoint and multi-angle video software and streaming platform called "SwipeVideo," which allows users to freely control the angle at which they watch videos during live streamed events.
BoostDraft brings innovation to legal drafting by transforming Microsoft Word into an AI-assisted legal document editor.
Sandbox is a sensor-equipped heavy bag that provides users with engaging workouts, expert-led training programs, and games designed to make fitness both fun and effective.
TRINEAR offers a unique camera technology that captures all wavelengths, from ultraviolet to far-infrared, along a single optical axis, enabling real-time, multispectral analysis for applications in autonomous vehicles, medical diagnostics, and industrial monitoring.
United Silk is a silk fibroin manufacturing technology that can be applied in the healthtech and foodtech industries as an environmentally sustainable material.
VitaNet’s product CloudAuth offers a simple yet powerful instant mobile user authentication. Once shoppers download and register on the retailer’s mobile app, they can enjoy personalized and frictionless shopping that rewards their loyalty and saves their time.
YAXIE transforms infertile land into fertile land for farmers struggling with drought and nutrient deficiencies. We have developed the world's first biomass-derived nano-hydrogel technology which can address drought and nutrient deficiencies.
