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.
Deadline to apply: Friday, July 31st, 2026, 11:59 PM (JST)
- 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
- 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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.WHAT STARTUP GRIND BRINGS
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.
What Startup Grind Brings
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.
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.
About the Partners
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.
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
Applications for the J-StarX AI GTM Support Course 2026–2027 cohort are now open.