Global Acceleration Hub in Chicago

Harnessing Japan's startup potential in the Chicago market!

Due to the Midwest's history of manufacturing, the region has a wealth of experienced "monozukuri" (manufacturing) with long-term perspectives and a good eye for quality materials, including B2B industries that are not widely recognized by the general public. It is home to the world's largest futures market and ranks high in Deloitte's global fintech center rankings (5th in 2019). In 2019, German logistics company, DHL set up its first innovation center in the US. About a quarter of Illinois' university startups are in the healthcare sector. Israeli and Canadian healthcare companies are also using Chicago as a window to enter the US market.

JAPANESE STARTUPS APPLY BELOW

New Applicant | Returning Applicant

Terms of Service (JP | EN)

For information in Japanese on Chicago's GAH program, please see HERE.

OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

	Centrepolis Accelerator is a manufacturing- and hardtech-focused accelerator operated by Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, USA. It provides end-to-end support from prototyping to mass production and commercialization, with experienced engineers serving as Experts-in-Residence who work hands-on with companies throughout product development. Focusing on cleantech and Industry 4.0, Centrepolis collaborates closely with state government and academic partners to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
	gener8tor is an accelerator with an extensive network deeply connected to startups, investors, corporations, and local governments across North America. For Japanese startups, gener8tor provides access to practical, market-driven insights from entrepreneurs and investors with deep experience in the U.S. market, while enabling sustained and hands-on relationship building with local venture capital firms, angel investors, corporate partners, and economic development organizations. In particular, its strong ties to industrial and regional ecosystems—especially in the U.S. Midwest—offer a powerful platform for pursuing corporate partnerships, executing proof-of-concept (PoC) projects, and building trusted customer relationships as startups enter and expand in the North American market.
	Skapa Solutions is an accelerator focused on helping life science startups turn strong science into real-world impact. With hands-on experience across healthcare, biotech, and life sciences, Skapa works closely with founders navigating research, clinical environments, and public-sector constraints. By supporting AI-driven innovation and operational execution under strict regulatory and data requirements, Skapa Solutions helps startups move beyond proof-of-concept to build scalable, sustainable, and deployment-ready solutions.