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Call open for startups targeting the Japanese market

Deadline: April 30, 2026

SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA (SDS) is a global community hub located in Japan, co-organized by Tokyu Land Corporation, dedicated to nurturing and supporting deeptech startups. SDS is currently recruiting startups for their "Full Bloom" program. Startups part of the MIT Startups Exchange program are invited to apply. Last year, Foundation Alloy participated in the first cohort and engaged in a local project. 

Who

  • Startups aiming to enter the Asian market, Japanese in particular
  • Looking for PoC, pilots, expand customer base locally or other business validation opportunities

 

Focus Areas

  • Entertainment and Media 
  • Fashion, Beauty and Sustainability
  • Food & Urban Living
  • Art & Design

 

Program Benefits

  • Access to assets, eg. PoCs with Tokyu Land
  • Global network
  • Mentorship
  • Media Exposure

 

Process Overview & Timeline

  • Application form
  • Deadline: end April 2026. After applications screening, select startups will be invited to an interview. 
  • Selection: May 2026 - about 10 startups will be invited to join the program.
  • Program Kickoff: end June 2026
  • Demo Day:  startup showcase to investors, media and the public utilizing assets around the central Shibuya area
  • Program brochure

 

Deadline: April 30, 2026
Posted on: March 9, 2026
Key Words:
entertainment, media, XR Extended Reality, Generative AI for visual content, immersive live experiences, Fashion, Beauty, sustainability, smart textiles, digital fashion, personalized beauty, Food & Urban Living, food sustainability, new urban experiences, alternative proteins, food loss reduction, cooking robots, Art & Design, NFTs, generative art, digitization of urban spaces.
Contact MIT Startup Exchange with questions

SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA (SDS) is a global community hub located in Japan, co-organized by Tokyu Land Corporation, dedicated to nurturing and supporting deeptech startups. SDS is currently recruiting startups for their "Full Bloom" program. Startups part of the MIT Startups Exchange program are invited to apply. Last year, Foundation Alloy participated in the first cohort and engaged in a local project. 

Who

  • Startups aiming to enter the Asian market, Japanese in particular
  • Looking for PoC, pilots, expand customer base locally or other business validation opportunities

 

Focus Areas

  • Entertainment and Media 
  • Fashion, Beauty and Sustainability
  • Food & Urban Living
  • Art & Design

 

Program Benefits

  • Access to assets, eg. PoCs with Tokyu Land
  • Global network
  • Mentorship
  • Media Exposure

 

Process Overview & Timeline

  • Application form
  • Deadline: end April 2026. After applications screening, select startups will be invited to an interview. 
  • Selection: May 2026 - about 10 startups will be invited to join the program.
  • Program Kickoff: end June 2026
  • Demo Day:  startup showcase to investors, media and the public utilizing assets around the central Shibuya area
  • Program brochure

 

For additional information about the program

Please visit https://fullbloom.sakuradeeptechshibuya.com/#/en/startup

Disclaimer:  MIT Startup Exchange can make introductions that ideally provide open ended discussions in order to share mutual interests and potentially create common ground that incite the parties to collaborate. MIT Startup Exchange introductions may eventually lead to mutual partnerships, but that is not in any way guaranteed by MIT, MIT Corporate Relations, MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) or MIT Startup Exchange, which takes no responsibility for these outcomes and no formal part in such discussions following our introduction. MIT Startup Exchange and its activities and events are not for purposes of soliciting investment or offering securities.