Leave a Nest

Virtual Progamme

As a result of the situation brought about by COVID-19, the Tokyo GIA Acceleration Programme has been revised to the following:

• Stage 1: 3-week virtual market access workshops

Learn about the Japanese ecosystem and business culture, including topics such as managing your IP, the financing ecosystem, as well as prototyping and manufacturing in Japan. You will also undergo pitch polishing in preparation for an online pitching session during the demo day.


• Stage 2: 1-week virtual immersion programme

The virtual immersion will take place over a week in September. Prior to the virtual immersion, you will be able to work with mentors to sharpen the focus on your expansion plans, and plan for your online appointments with potential collaborators.


• Stage 3: Optional in-market immersion to Tokyo*

An optional add-on trip that will include follow-up meetings with companies introduced during the virtual immersion programme, and targeted at helping participants follow up on deal-making opportunities. Further connections to potential collaborators and investors can also be made during this trip.

*subject to prevailing conditions & travel restrictions.

The total programme fees are $2,500 for Stage 1 and 2, and $2,500 for Stage 3.

Application Deadline: August 2020

Programme launch date: September 2020

For more programme information, dates and application deadlines, please visit here.

Physical Programme

The programme has two stages.

• Stage 1: 3-day preparation session in Singapore

LAN will be conducting preparation sessions (5 to 10 days) in Singapore on doing business in Japan. These will include market insights, opportunities in Japan, as well as sessions on Japanese culture. LAN will also provide mentorship sessions for each participant to refine their business plan for Japan. Startups will then be matched with one Singapore-based and one Tokyo-based communicator to discuss the potential meetings to be organised during the trip, as well as the approaches for these meetings. The presentation decks for participating startups will also be refined at this stage.


• Stage 2: 1-week business immersion programme in Japan

The week-long business immersion programme will include curated meetings depending on the needs, interests, and objectives of the startups, which would have been discussed and scoped during Stage 1. These could include potential customers, partners, and investors. There will also be combined visits to Japanese corporates and ecosystem players such as VCs. The programme also allocates one day to a startup event (such as TechPlanter) where participants can showcase their solutions and interact with Japan-based startups, companies, and ecosystem players.

The total programme fee is S$5,000 per startup, after support from Enterprise Singapore.

Who can apply

Singapore-based startups.

How to apply

Interested applicants can contact the key personnel listed below for more information on the programme:

Leave a Nest can also provide tailored support for Singapore corporates, SMEs and startups interested in engaging the Japan startup ecosystem. Please reach out directly to the same key personnel above to find out more about their tailored service offerings.

LAN's services include:

• Business advisory services such as assistance in company incorporation
• Support in the areas of sales, recruitment, business connections and manufacturing
• Co-working spaces e.g. L-Hub Iidabashi (Tokyo), L-Hub Toranomon (Tokyo), L-Hub Bentencho (Osaka), Center Of Garage (Tokyo)