J-StarX AI GTM

Support Course 2026–27

Japan's most ambitious AI founders are heading to Silicon Valley. This is the program that gets you there: with the GTM playbook, the mentor and investor relationships, and the Demo Day that opens doors.

This program is run directly by Startup Grind HQ in collaboration with the Startup Grind Silicon Valley Chapter.

Immigrant founders - Linkedin feed

Who should apply:

What you get:

  • Japan-incorporated startup, seed through Series A
  • AI product with a working prototype and clear U.S. market potential
  • Founder (or head of overseas operations) able to make global expansion decisions
  • English proficiency sufficient for business negotiations
  • Committed to the full program — bootcamp through Silicon Valley Immersion

  • A GTM framework built for U.S. market entry: ICP validation, customer discovery, outbound strategy, live pipeline building

  • Tailored 1:1 mentoring sessions matched to your vertical, stage, and specific gaps

  • Group workshops and panel sessions with Silicon Valley experts and founders covering market entry, sales motion, fundraising, and investor relations

  • Investor introductions in Japan and the US before and at Demo Day

  • Top 3–5 finalists: 2 weeks on the ground in Silicon Valley: business meetings, enterprise buyer sessions, investor office hours, and a curated Demo Day

  • Top finalists may be invited to exhibit at Startup Grind Conference 2027, April 26–28, Redwood City

Meet the 2026–27 Cohort

Japan's most ambitious AI founders, building their path to the U.S. market.

Enterprise & B2B AI

  • Quon: Patented behavioral-science AI that drives measurable health-engagement outcomes.
  • LR: AI that cuts business content creation time by 70% and update time by 90%.
  • Aware Technology: Tracks tariffs and sanctions through a company's suppliers and contracts, then recommends the next move.
  • Visual Alpha: Automates capital calls, distributions and fund reporting for LPs, funds of funds and fund administrators.
  • Tetra Tokyo: Tetra-X.ai makes AI-written brand content sound local, with real cultural knowledge from each market.
  • Behavioral AI Lab: Bilingual AI that detects behavioral manipulation in scams and fraud.
  • SustainaSeed: AI decision support for board-level sustainability strategy.
  • AionExo: Governance for AI execution.
  • Rumi Light: Deeptech materials for faster, cooler AI server connections.

Consumer, Creator & Commerce AI

  • Tempesta: An AI-native, no-code platform for creating, publishing and monetizing real-time interactive experiences.
  • Marvis: Lumexa AI lets non-technical founders build software by answering eight questions.
  • Mirror Mii: AI digital twins that give brands feedback on their products.
  • Genero: Export AI that takes Japanese specialties to global markets.
  • Homii World: AI-powered social and compatibility app, based in New York.
  • yocto: Patented smart wellness hardware.

Every founder is paired 1:1 with a Silicon Valley GTM mentors for eight weeks of hands-on support and customer discovery.

Application & Selection:
July-September 2026
Competitive selection of 10–15 Japanese AI startups with real U.S. market potential.
Tokyo Boot Camp:
September 28-October 1 2026
In-person intensive: U.S. market framing, ICP workshops, pitch coaching, and mentor matchmaking.
Weekly Online GTM Sprint:
October 2026–February 2027
Weekly cohort sessions on U.S. GTM strategy, customer discovery, pricing, sales motion, and storytelling.
Tokyo Demo Day: February 2027
Pitch in front of Japan-based and U.S. investors before the Silicon Valley leg begins; top 3-5 finalists announced.
Silicon Valley Immersion: February–March 2027
Top 3-5 finalists on-the-ground in the Bay Area - investor meetings, partner introductions, and full ecosystem access.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
  • Japan-incorporated startup, seed through Series A
  • AI product with a working prototype and clear U.S. market potential
  • Founder (or head of overseas operations) able to make global expansion decisions
  • English proficiency sufficient for business negotiations
  • Committed to the full program: bootcamp through Silicon Valley Immersion
PROGRAM PHASES

The best Japanese AI startups don't have a product problem. They have a market access problem.

The U.S. market has its own language - how you position, how you pitch, who you know. Most international founders figure this out the hard way. This program was built to shortcut that: twelve weeks of structured GTM programming, matched mentorship, market validation and a Demo Day stage in Tokyo and Silicon Valley.

WHAT YOU GET
  • A GTM framework built for U.S. market entry: ICP validation, customer discovery, outbound strategy, live pipeline building
  • Tailored 1:1 mentoring sessions matched to your vertical, stage, and specific gaps
  • Group workshops and panel sessions with Silicon Valley experts and founders covering market entry, sales motion, fundraising, and investor relations
  • Investor introductions in Japan and the US before and at Demo Day
  • Access to Startup Grind's startup toolkit: exclusive perks and discounts from our partner network
  • Top 3–5 finalists: 2 weeks on the ground in Silicon Valley: business meetings, enterprise buyer sessions, investor office hours, and a curated Demo Day
  • Top finalists may be invited to exhibit at Startup Grind Conference 2027, April 26–28, Redwood City
PROGRAM PHASES
Application & Selection: July-September 2026

Competitive selection of 10–15 Japanese AI startups with real U.S. market potential.

Tokyo Boot Camp: September 28-October 1 2026

In-person intensive: U.S. market framing, ICP workshops, pitch coaching, and mentor matchmaking.

Week Online GTM Sprint: October 2026–February 2027

Weekly cohort sessions on U.S. GTM strategy, customer discovery, pricing, sales motion, and storytelling.

PROGRAM PHASES
Tokyo Demo Day: February 2027

Pitch in front of Japan-based and U.S. investors before the Silicon Valley leg begins; top 3-5 finalists announced.

Silicon Valley Immersion: February–March 2027

Top 3-5 finalists on-the-ground in the Bay Area — investor meetings, partner introductions, and full ecosystem access.

The best Japanese AI startups don't have a product problem. They have a market access problem.

The U.S. market has its own language — how you position, how you pitch, who you know. Most international founders figure this out the hard way. This program was built to shortcut that: twelve weeks of structured GTM programming, matched mentorship, and a Demo Day stage in Tokyo and Silicon Valley.

The best Japanese AI startups don't have a product problem. They have a market access challenge.

The U.S. market has its own language - how you position, how you pitch, who you know. Most international founders figure this out the hard way. This program was built to shortcut that: twelve weeks of structured GTM programming, matched mentorship, market validation and a Demo Day stage in Tokyo and Silicon Valley.

WHAT STARTUP GRIND BRINGS

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Hands-on GTM execution

Practitioner-led, built around your business. You leave with a validated ICP, 50-account prospect list, and 3+ confirmed U.S. meetings booked.

Mentors matched to your vertical

1:1 matching with active founders, operators, and domain experts — aligned to your stage, vertical, and gaps.

Silicon Valley Immersion for finalists

Top 3–5 companies. 2 weeks in San Francisco. Customer meetings, investor office hours, small-group dinners, and a curated Demo Day built for this cohort.

Investors already in the room

Khosla Ventures, Felicis, Mayfield, Emergence Capital, True Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and 80+ more — already in the Startup Grind ecosystem, actively deploying into AI.

WHY US

What Startup Grind Brings

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HANDS-ON GTM EXECUTION
Practitioner-led, built around your business. You leave with a validated ICP, 50-account prospect list, and confirmed U.S. meetings booked.
10
MENTORS MATCHED TO YOUR VERTICAL
1:1 matching with active founders, operators, and domain experts - aligned to your stage, vertical, and gaps.
7
SILICON VALLEY IMMERSION FOR FINALISTS
Top 3–5 companies. 2 weeks in San Francisco. Customer meetings, investor office hours, small-group dinners, and a curated Demo Day built for this cohort.
8-1
INVESTORS ALREADY IN THE ROOM
Khosla Ventures, Felicis, Mayfield, Emergence Capital, True Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and 80+ more - already in the Startup Grind ecosystem, actively deploying into AI.
EXPERTS: GET INVOLVED

Help Japan's Best AI Founders Go Global

Mentors & Experts - 1:1 matching with vetted Japanese AI founders across GTM, sales, product, and fundraising. Virtual sessions during the sprint. In-person at the SV Immersion and Demo Days.

Investors - JETRO & SG-vetted, coach-tested, Demo Day-ready. Early deal flow access and seats at Tokyo (Feb) and Silicon Valley (Mar) Demo Days.

LET'S CHAT

EXPERTS: GET INVOLVED

Help Japan's Best AI Founders Go Global

Mentors & Experts - 1:1 matching with vetted Japanese AI founders across GTM, sales, product, and fundraising. Virtual sessions during the sprint. In-person at the SV Immersion and Demo Days.

Investors - JETRO & SG-vetted, coach-tested, Demo Day-ready. Early deal flow access and seats at Tokyo (Feb) and Silicon Valley (Mar) Demo Days.

LET'S CHAT
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ABOUT THE PARTNERS

About the Partners

JETRO

JETRO Japan External Trade Organization is Japan's government trade and investment agency. J-StarX is JETRO's flagship program to accelerate Japanese startups into global markets. Selection into the program carries genuine government backing — in resources, credibility, and commitment.

Startup Grind

Founded in Silicon Valley, Startup Grind is the world's largest independent startup community: 5M+ founders, 100+ chapters globally. The annual Startup Grind Conference brings together the people building what's next.

Applications for the J-StarX AI GTM Support Course 2026–2027 cohort are now open. Apply Now → https://www.jetro.go.jp/customer/act?actId=B0093933D