JETRO Startup
Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP)（*1）
Applications for 2026 GSAP program are now open.
JETRO, in cooperation with the Cabinet Office and other organizations, supports Japanese startups to expand their international business development.
We provide accelerator programs tailored to the needs of individual startups in collaboration with top overseas accelerators that boast a strong track record in supporting startup growth. We look forward to working in this program with various startups providing products, technologies, services, and ideas that solve common global issues.
(*1) The “Startup City Acceleration Program (SCAP)” has been renamed the “Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP)” since FY2023.
5 Distinguished Features of GSAP
- Equity-free program hosted by world-class accelerator *English required
- Get access to valuable information, resources, and connections that can only be obtained by joining the community
- Acquire practical, advanced business development skills with an eye toward overseas expansion in various forms, including fundraising and sales channel and customer development.
- Access to influential investors and partners through renowned lecturers and mentors, depending on accelerator’s assessment.
- Not limited to the U.S. market, and global business development is expected both during and after participation.
GSAP2026 Program Outline（5courses）
（For more details, check out GSAP2025 Program Details）
| Course Name | Target Fields | Accelerator | Period | Company Slots | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise B2B Course | Services for BtoB（BtoB、BtoBtoC、SaaS） | Alchemist | About 8～18 weeks | 20 | Pre-seed～SeriesA |
| AI Course | Services related to AI (BtoB, BtoBtoC) | StartX | About 12 weeks | 20 | Pre-seed～SeriesA |
| AI – CTO Course | Generative AI, Enterprise AI, Applied AI, etc. | ERA | About 12 weeks | 15 | Pre-seed～SeriesB |
| Sustainability（GX）Course | Sustainability, Cleantech, Climatetech, etc. | Third Derivative (D3) | About 8～24 weeks | 15 | Pre-seed～SeriesB |
| ManufacturingTech & HardTech Course | Hardware, advanced manufacturing, mobility, electrification, automated systems, advanced materials, IoT, AI hardware, etc. | Centrepolis Accelerator |
【Phase1】 About 4 weeks 【Phase2】 About 30 weeks |
【Phase1】 8～10 【Phase2】 3～5 |
【Phase1】 Pre-seed～SeriesA 【Phase2】 SeriesA～Later-stage |
Application Process
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (JST)
(Note) Your application will be considered complete only after submission of the application form.
Please review the terms of use and disclaimer stated in the application requirements and register your information through the application form below.
In addition, regarding the pitch video, please review the following guidelines carefully before submission.
GSAP2026 Details of the Program（5 courses）
Courses aimed at developing market entry strategies for overseas expansion, gaining market insight, networking, developing sales channels, business alliances, and fundraising. In addition to practical programs through workshops, discussions, presentations, etc., mentoring by experts and introductions to potential partners, including investors, are provided.
【Alchemist】Enterprise B2B Course
US accelerator specializing in early-stage enterprise sector startup support and investment. Rated the #1 accelerator in the enterprise sector. Total funding of companies participating in the program is over $1.4 billion.
- Time:
- June-December (online basis); travel to San Francisco for about a week around late October (optional)
- Number of companies:
- 20
- Field:
- Companies providing services to corporate clients (BtoB and BtoBtoC companies)
- Target:
- Companies of pre-seed to series A and looking to expand overseas in the future
- Application Deadline:
- May 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (JST)
AlchemistX【StartX】AI Course
StartX is an accelerator from Stanford University. It has produced 18 unicorn companies and attracted more than 1,600 entrepreneurs to its community, making it one of the most highly regarded accelerators in Silicon Valley. The original program has received more than 300 applications, with an acceptance rate of less than 10%. This program is specially designed for Japanese startups.
- Time:
- July-November (online basis); travel to San Francisco for about a week late October (optional)
- Number of companies:
- 20
- Field:
- Companies providing services related to AI (B2B and B2B2C companies)
- Target:
-
Pre-seed～SeriesA
＊Founder’s participation is required - Application Deadline:
- May 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (JST)
StartX【ERA】AI - CTO Course
ERA is a leading accelerator based in NY with a strong track record of producing unicorn companies from the earliest stages, backed by investments in more than 400 startups and a mentor network of over 1,000 experts.
This program is designed to help founders gain confidence in whether their product and technical architecture can truly succeed in the U.S. market. Participants will receive support in building AI systems suitable for the U.S. enterprise market through strategic decision-making around proprietary vs. open-source models, trade-offs among RAG, fine-tuning, and agent-based architectures, as well as optimization of inference cost, latency, and reliability. In addition, the program offers practical and advanced technical learning opportunities through office hours led by executives and experts from major AI companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.
- Time:
- Number of companies:
- 15
- Field:
- Generative AI, Enterprise AI, Applied AI, etc.
- Target:
-
Pre-seed to Series B
＊CTO or Technical Founder’s participation is required
＊Simultaneous participation in two courses is exceptionally permitted only for this program. - Application Deadline:
- May 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (JST)
industry 4.0【Third Derivative】Sustainability（GX）Course
Operated by Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), this is one of the world’s leading accelerators providing mentoring and networking opportunities for climate tech startups from around the globe. The program supports entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to climate change and helps accelerate the transition toward a cleaner future.
- Period:
- August to February of the following year (online basis)
- Number of companies:
- 15
- Field:
- Sustainability, Cleantech, Climatetech etc.
- Target:
- Pre-seed to Series B companies
- Application Deadline:
- May 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (JST)
【Centrepolis Accelerator】ManufacturingTech & HardTech Course
A Michigan-based accelerator in the U.S. Midwest specializing in manufacturing and hard-tech startups. Leveraging strong networks with major manufacturers and investors, the program supports startups in PoC development, validation, and commercialization.
This course consists of the following two phases. Applicants may apply to either phase individually or to both phases.
- Time:
- 【Phase1】June – August 2026 【Phase2】August 2026 – March 2027
- Number of companies:
- 【Phase1】8-10 【Phase2】3-5
- Field:
- Hardtech, advanced manufacturing, mobility, electrification, autonomous systems, advanced materials, IoT, AI hardware, dual-use technologies
- Target:
- 【Phase1】Pre-seed to Series A 【Phase2】Series A to later-stage
- Application Deadline:
- May 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (JST)
Application Requirement
All requirements from 1 to 7 must be met. In addition, there are individual application requirements. Please refer to the application guidelines for each course for details.
- The startup company must be located in Japan
- Considering overseas business development or fundraising
- Can conduct business negotiations in English
- Persons with decision-making authority regarding overseas business development (directors, persons in charge of overseas business development) must be able to participate.
*AI Course: Founder’s participation is required
*AI-CTO Course: CTO or Technical Founder’s participation is required - Agree to the Terms and Conditions
(355KB) and the Online Program Terms and Conditions written(270KB) in Japanese and be able to participate in all programs related to this course.
※The governing language of this Agreement shall be Japanese. If an English translation hereof is made for reference purpose, only the Japanese original shall have the effect of a contract, and such English translation shall have no effect. - Be willing to cooperate with the post-program questionnaire (*Follow-up questionnaires and business status surveys will be conducted by the Cabinet Office and JETRO at any time during or after the program).
- Each company may apply for up to two courses. Simultaneous participation in two courses is permitted only when one of the courses is the AI CTO Course. In such cases, the company must assign one dedicated person to each selected course.
Participation Fee
- JETRO Expenses
- Participation Program Fee
- Company Expenses
- Flight, Transportation and Accommodation fee
- Domestic travel and accommodation fee for Bootcamp
- ESTA, VISA, overseas insurance, and other expenses related to travel to the US
- Communication expenses for participating in the program, etc.
Special Note
- Companies that have participated in the Startup City Acceleration Program or Global Startup Acceleration Program in the past are also eligible to participate, except for the same accelerator in the same course.
- Interviews with the accelerator may be required for the selection process. In this case, we will contact you as soon as possible.
Not sure which course to choose?
For those who are not sure which course to choose, we offer a 30-minute consultation. If you wish to do so, please register below. Whether you use this service or not is not related to the selection process. Also, depending on the number of applications, a deadline may be set.
Former participants
Contact
- JETRO Innovation Department Startup Division
-
Ark Mori Building, 6F
12-32, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
E-mail： su-support@jetro.go.jp
*We cannot answer any inquiries regarding company selection.
- Overall: Suzuki
- BtoB Enterprise course: Suzuki, Ibaraki
- AI Course: Ishiguro, Maeda
- AI - CTO course: Suzuki, Maeda
- Sustainability (GX) course: Nakanishi
- ManufacturingTech & HardTech course: Sonoda, Taguchi, Ota
