Plug and Play Japan, established in 2017 as the Japanese affiliate of Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play Tech Center, operates as an innovation platform and venture fund. The firm connects major Japanese corporations and institutional partners with domestic and international startups across sectors including Fintech, Insurtech, IoT, Mobility, and Smart Cities. Its model centres on facilitating open innovation - acting as a bridge between the Japanese corporate landscape and the broader global startup ecosystem.
With over 45 corporate and institutional partners and having accelerated hundreds of startups, the platform has built a substantial network in its first years of operation. The firm closed its first investment fund, Plug and Play Japan Fund I, at over 6 billion JPY. This capital is deployed alongside a programme model that pairs early-stage companies with corporate partners for proof-of-concept projects and potential commercial partnerships.
Plug and Play Japan maintains offices in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, covering the Keihanshin Metropolitan area, with team size of approximately 70 to 80 employees. It benefits from the global Plug and Play network, which spans more than 60 offices worldwide, providing portfolio companies with access to international markets and resources. The firm positions itself as a conduit for inbound and outbound innovation flows, connecting Japan's established industries with venture-backed technology globally.
