On October 9th, Plug and Play LA, a global innovation ecosystem and venture capital firm with a presence in over 50 countries, hosted a special event in partnership with the Japanese government. The event, made possible through a collaboration with JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), aimed to accelerate the growth of Japanese startups in Los Angeles.
This initiative seeks to empower the next generation of Japanese entrepreneurs by providing them access to the thriving tech and venture capital landscape of Los Angeles, offering mentorship, support, and facilitating international business expansion.
The event, held at the residence of Consul General of Japan Kenko Sone, featured an exclusive showcase where promising startups from the Plug and Play Japan program presented their innovations to a curated audience of investors and corporations.
The program also enjoys the support of the World Trade Center of Los Angeles.
Kicking off the afternoon were opening remarks from Consul General Kenko Sone, followed by a speech from Stephen Cheung, President and CEO of LAEDC (Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation) and WTCLA. Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Erin Bromaghim took the stage to emphasize the vital role Japanese industry plays in the Los Angeles economy. Akira Kajita, Chief Executive Director of JETRO LA, shared insights into the history of this partnership and its goals.
Plug and Play and JETRO’s collaboration supports Japan’s 5-Year Plan, which aims to scale Japanese startups internationally and drive advancements in key sectors such as digital transformation, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
“As a trusted partner for government initiatives worldwide, Plug and Play has been instrumental in shaping this accelerator program with JETRO,” highlighted Jamie Lipman, Head of Partnerships for Plug and Play Los Angeles. “Leveraging its global network and expertise, Plug and Play supports Japanese startups navigating and growing within the dynamic Los Angeles ecosystem.”
The startup pitch session showcased six out of the thirteen startups participating in the program: TopoLogic, Panalyt, Omakase, SalesMarker, Oyraa, and Riv Inc. The remaining startups (Dwilar, Monoya, The Rich, Lumeal, Menux, Kotozna, and CastCraft) provided information through QR codes for attendees.
The event concluded with a networking reception featuring Japanese cuisine, appetizers, and refreshments.
Key takeaways from the keynote speeches highlighted:
* Over 1,000 businesses and 40,000 jobs in Los Angeles originate from Japanese companies.
* From last year’s event, eight out of eleven presenting startups now have US offices.
* Los Angeles and JETRO have collaborated for over 20 years. Japan is Los Angeles’ No. 1 foreign investment partner.
* JETRO aims to make Japan the No.1 tech hub in Asia.
* This partnership aims to further strengthen the bond between Los Angeles and Japan, fueling continued economic prosperity for both.
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