In recent years, Fukuoka City has become increasingly prominent as an innovation center in Japan, attracting the attention of more and more entrepreneurs and investors. This city in the northern part of Kyushu Island is experiencing a boom in innovation and entrepreneurship, becoming one of the most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems in Japan after Tokyo. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide for companies and individuals interested in starting a business in Fukuoka, with an in-depth analysis of Fukuoka’s unique entrepreneurial environment, policy support, infrastructure, opportunities and challenges. Whether you are an overseas company considering entering the Japanese market, or a company that has already started a business in Japan and is looking for new opportunities, this guide will reveal the full picture of Fukuoka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and help you start a successful career in this land full of potential trip.
Overview of Fukuoka City
Fukuoka City, the pearl embedded in the northern part of Kyushu Island, attracts attention from all over the world with its unique geographical location and rich historical heritage. As the sixth largest city in Japan, Fukuoka has an urban population of approximately 1.6 million, and the population of the entire metropolitan area exceeds 2.5 million. The city is located on the Fukuoka Plain, surrounded by mountains on three sides and the sea on one side, forming a natural harbor. Fukuoka Port has been an important window for exchanges between Japan and the Asian continent since ancient times. Now it has developed into a modern international port with huge annual throughput, injecting strong impetus into the city’s economic development.
The geographical advantage brings Fukuoka unparalleled international advantages. Fukuoka International Airport is only a short distance from the city center, which is unique among major Japanese cities. The convenient air transportation network allows Fukuoka to maintain frequent exchanges with major Asian cities such as Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei, and the flight time is usually within 2-3 hours. This geographical advantage not only facilitates business exchanges, but also provides unique conditions for entrepreneurs to explore the international market.
In terms of economy, Fukuoka City’s performance in recent years can be described as a sudden rise. Despite the slowdown in Japan’s overall economic growth, Fukuoka has maintained a steady growth momentum. According to the latest statistics, Fukuoka City’s real GDP growth rate has been higher than Japan’s national average for many consecutive years. The city’s economic structure is undergoing a profound transformation, from traditional manufacturing and service industries to knowledge-intensive and high-tech industries. Emerging industries such as information technology, biomedicine, clean energy, and robotics are booming, attracting a large amount of local and international investment.
Fukuoka’s economic vitality is also reflected in its thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. In recent years, Fukuoka has nurtured many successful start-ups, covering many fields from e-commerce to artificial intelligence. The “Fukuoka Entrepreneurship Zone” policy launched by the city government has injected innovative genes into the city. This policy not only provides tax incentives, but also relaxes visa restrictions for foreign entrepreneurs, making Fukuoka one of the most entrepreneurial-friendly cities in Japan.
There are many more reasons to start a business in Fukuoka. This city has many well-known universities, including Kyushu University, Fukuoka University, etc., which provide a large number of high-quality talents to the local area every year. These institutions also have numerous research centers and industry-university cooperation projects, providing entrepreneurs with abundant technical resources and innovation support. The Fukuoka City Government has also actively promoted industry-university-research cooperation and established multiple innovation centers and incubators to provide start-ups with all-round support from technology development to market promotion.
Quality of life is another striking highlight of Fukuoka. Compared with major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, the cost of living in Fukuoka is relatively low, especially in terms of rent and daily expenses. However, this does not mean that the quality of life is reduced. On the contrary, Fukuoka is famous for its pleasant climate, convenient public transportation, rich cultural life and delicious food. The city is moderately sized and offers the convenience of a metropolitan area while avoiding overcrowding and a high-pressure pace of life, providing entrepreneurs with an ideal work-life balance.
Fukuoka’s degree of cosmopolitanism is also worth mentioning. This city has a long history of foreign exchanges and has formed an open and inclusive urban culture. In recent years, with the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, more and more international talents have chosen to settle here. The city government has launched a series of measures, such as multilingual services, international schools, etc., to facilitate the lives of foreign residents. This international atmosphere is not only conducive to the integration of foreign entrepreneurs, but also creates favorable conditions for the international development of local companies.
To sum up, Fukuoka City is attracting more and more entrepreneurs with its unique geographical advantages, vigorous economic vitality, innovation-friendly policy environment, abundant human resources and high-quality lifestyle. Choosing to start a business in Fukuoka means that you will be in an ecosystem full of opportunities and vitality, where your innovative ideas will have a greater chance of being fully developed and realized. Whether you are an overseas enterprise hoping to expand into the Japanese market or a local entrepreneur looking for new opportunities, Fukuoka will provide you with a fertile ground to help you write your own entrepreneurial legend on this potential-filled stage.
Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial support policies
In recent years, Fukuoka City has launched a series of policies and measures aimed at attracting and supporting entrepreneurs. These policies not only provide strong support for local entrepreneurs, but also greatly enhance Fukuoka’s attractiveness to international entrepreneurial talents. The following is a detailed introduction to Fukuoka City’s main entrepreneurial support policies.
2.1 Overview of Fukuoka Special Administrative Region Policies
Fukuoka City was designated a “National Strategic Special Zone” by the Japanese government in 2014, a policy that has brought revolutionary changes to Fukuoka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The core goal of the special zone policy is to promote innovation and economic growth through deregulation and special preferential treatment. The main features of the Fukuoka Special Administrative Region policy include regulatory reforms, such as simplifying business establishment procedures and shortening approval times; innovation support, such as the establishment of dedicated innovation promotion areas; internationalization measures, such as relaxing work restrictions for foreigners; and strengthening industry-university cooperation, Promote technology transfer and commercialization between universities and enterprises. These measures have made Fukuoka one of the most attractive entrepreneurial cities in Japan and laid the foundation for a series of subsequent specific policies.
2.2 Tax incentives
In terms of tax policies, Fukuoka City provides a number of preferential measures for start-up companies, aiming to reduce the financial burden of start-up companies. Qualifying start-ups can enjoy corporate tax exemptions of up to 24.4% in the first five years, which greatly reduces the tax costs of new enterprises. For innovative enterprises established in specific areas, Fukuoka City also provides fixed asset tax exemptions for up to three years to encourage enterprises to settle in strategic areas. In order to stimulate R&D investment, Fukuoka City has implemented an R&D tax credit policy, and companies can obtain corresponding tax credits based on R&D expenditures. In addition, in order to promote local employment, Fukuoka City has also launched an employment subsidy policy, which provides a subsidy of up to 500,000 yen for each permanent employee hired. These tax policies apply not only to local companies, but also to foreign-invested companies established in Fukuoka, reflecting Fukuoka City’s determination to attract international entrepreneurship.
2.3 Visa policy for foreign entrepreneurs
Fukuoka City was the first in Japan to introduce a special visa policy for foreign entrepreneurs, which has greatly lowered the threshold for international talents to start a business in Fukuoka. The most eye-catching is the “Entrepreneurship Preparation Visa” policy, which allows foreign entrepreneurs to apply for a six-month visa without immediately meeting the usual entrepreneurial conditions (such as capital, office space, etc.). The application conditions are relatively loose. Entrepreneurs only need to submit a feasible business plan and prove their ability to maintain basic life in Japan. Fukuoka City promises to complete the visa approval process within one month, greatly shortening the waiting time. At the same time, the municipal government also provides free business consultation, legal advice and other support services to help foreign entrepreneurs successfully launch their business. It is worth mentioning that after the 6-month period, if the entrepreneur can meet the normal business conditions, it can be directly converted to a formal business management visa. This series of policies has made Fukuoka one of the most friendly cities in Japan for foreign entrepreneurs, attracting a large number of international innovative talents.
2.4 Entrepreneurship subsidies and financial support plans
In terms of financial support, the Fukuoka City Government and relevant institutions provide various forms of financial support to help entrepreneurs overcome the financial difficulties in the start-up period. The first is the Entrepreneurship Subsidy Program, which provides free subsidies of up to 5 million yen for entrepreneurial projects at different stages. Application conditions include innovation, market potential and social value. Secondly, Fukuoka City cooperates with local banks to provide start-up companies with loans at preferential interest rates, up to 50 million yen. In order to support high-potential innovative projects, Fukuoka City has also established a dedicated venture capital fund to provide equity investment.
In addition to direct financial support, Fukuoka City also reduces financial pressure on entrepreneurs in other ways. For example, rental subsidies are provided for startups that settle in officially certified incubators for up to three years. For local start-up companies that intend to expand overseas markets, Fukuoka City provides partial subsidies for market research, exhibition participation and other expenses to support the internationalization of companies. There are also special R&D funding support programs for entrepreneurial projects involving the development of cutting-edge technologies. These diversified financial support plans cover every aspect from the creative stage to market expansion, providing entrepreneurs with comprehensive financial support.
Through these comprehensive and specific policy measures, Fukuoka City is building an ecosystem that is extremely friendly to entrepreneurs. These policies not only lower the threshold for starting a business, but also provide substantial support to entrepreneurs, making Fukuoka one of the most attractive entrepreneurial destinations in Japan and even Asia. Whether they are local entrepreneurs or international talents, they can find development opportunities and support policies that suit them in Fukuoka. These measures taken by the Fukuoka City Government are gradually realizing the ambitious goal of turning Fukuoka into a global innovation center.
Entrepreneurship Infrastructure
Fukuoka City has created a comprehensive and strong infrastructure ecosystem for entrepreneurs, which not only provides physical space for start-ups, but also creates an environment conducive to innovation and growth. Core components of this ecosystem include incubators, accelerators, coworking spaces, and entrepreneurial hubs and innovation labs.
Fukuoka City’s incubator and accelerator programs play a key role in supporting startups. These institutions not only provide office space, but also provide a full range of support services to entrepreneurs. For example, Fukuoka Growth Next, supported by the Fukuoka City Government, is a comprehensive entrepreneurial support center located in a historic building converted from the former Central Post Office. The center not only provides office space for entrepreneurs, but also has a cafe, event space and test store area. Here, entrepreneurs can get professional support such as mentorship, business consulting, legal and accounting services. In addition, regularly held workshops, seminars and networking events provide entrepreneurs with valuable learning and collaboration opportunities.
In addition to Fukuoka Growth Next, Fukuoka City also has incubators in multiple professional fields. For example, the biotechnology-focused Fukuoka Bioincubation Center (FiaS) provides laboratory facilities and professional guidance to biotech startups. For IT and digital entrepreneurship, there is DATUM STUDIO, which not only provides work space, but also organizes hackathons and technology exchange meetings to promote IT innovation. These specialized incubators provide tailored support to entrepreneurs in different fields.
Coworking spaces are playing an increasingly important role in Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. These spaces not only provide entrepreneurs with flexible and economical office options, but also create an environment conducive to collaboration and communication. For example, WeWork Fukuoka, located in the Tenjin area, provides a modern office environment and attracts many international entrepreneurs and freelancers. In addition to international brands, Fukuoka’s local shared office space brands such as GreenBiz are also developing rapidly. They pay more attention to the construction of local communities and the needs of local enterprises. These shared office spaces are not just workplaces, but platforms for creative exchange and business collaboration. Many spaces regularly organize social activities, entrepreneurial lectures and skill sharing sessions to create more value for residents.
Fukuoka City’s Entrepreneurship Center and Innovation Laboratory provide entrepreneurs with more professional and in-depth support. Fukuoka Science, Technology and Innovation Center (FSTI) is a typical example. This center not only provides advanced R&D facilities, but also actively promotes industry-university-research cooperation. At FSTI, entrepreneurs can be exposed to the latest technology trends, participate in cutting-edge research projects, and have the opportunity to commercialize research results. Another important innovation platform is the Fukuoka City IoT Laboratory, which provides an environment for IoT entrepreneurs to test and verify new technologies. Entrepreneurs can develop product prototypes, verify technology, and receive expert guidance here.
In addition, Fukuoka City is also actively building a “smart city” experimental zone. Within these areas, entrepreneurs can test and verify their innovative solutions in real urban environments, covering areas such as smart transportation, energy management, and environmental monitoring. This “living laboratory” concept provides a unique opportunity for innovative entrepreneurship, allowing entrepreneurs to obtain feedback directly from citizens and city managers, and accelerate product iteration and marketization.
Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial infrastructure is not only numerous but also forms an interconnected and mutually supportive network. From initial creative incubation, to accelerated growth, to marketization and scale expansion, entrepreneurs can find suitable support platforms at different stages. This comprehensive and systematic infrastructure layout has greatly lowered the threshold for starting a business and improved the success rate of starting a business. At the same time, the existence of these facilities has also attracted more talents, funds and resources to Fukuoka, forming a virtuous circle and continuously strengthening Fukuoka’s status as an innovation and entrepreneurship center.
Financing channels
In Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, diversification and availability of financing channels are key factors that support entrepreneurs in realizing their dreams. The Fukuoka city government, private investment institutions, and financial institutions have worked together to provide entrepreneurs with a variety of financing options, from government funds to venture capital, from crowdfunding platforms to traditional bank loans, covering the full cycle of funding needs for entrepreneurship.
Government funds play a central role in Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial financing system. The Fukuoka City Government has established a number of special funds and subsidy projects to support entrepreneurial activities at different stages and in different fields. The most eye-catching one is the “Fukuoka City Entrepreneurship Support Fund,” a free subsidy program for early-stage entrepreneurs. The program selects about 50 projects with innovation and growth potential every year, and each project can receive financial support of up to 3 million yen. The application process is transparent and open, and the selection criteria include innovation, market prospects, team capabilities and other dimensions. In addition to direct financial support, selected projects can also enjoy supporting services such as mentor guidance and marketing promotion provided by the government.
Another important source of government funding is the “Fukuoka City Growth Support Fund”. This is an investment fund with a total scale of 5 billion yen, mainly targeting companies that have passed the start-up stage and entered the rapid growth stage. The fund adopts the form of equity investment, and the investment amount of a single project can reach 100 million yen. The operation of the fund is managed by a professional investment team, which not only provides funds but also dispatches experienced directors to participate in corporate management to help companies formulate strategies and expand markets. This “funding + intelligence” support model has greatly improved the success rate of entrepreneurial enterprises.
In the field of private investment, Fukuoka City’s venture capital and angel investment network has grown rapidly in recent years. Local venture capital institutions such as Fukuoka Capital Partners and QB Capital actively invest in innovative companies in Fukuoka and surrounding areas. These institutions not only provide funds, but also use their industry experience and personal networks to help entrepreneurs connect resources and expand markets. At the same time, Fukuoka City has also attracted many well-known venture capital institutions from Tokyo and overseas, such as SoftBank, JAFCO, etc., which have set up branches in Fukuoka or regularly hold roadshows.
Angel investment networks play a unique role in supporting early-stage entrepreneurial projects. Fukuoka Angel Network (FAN) is an investor alliance composed of successful entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. FAN not only provides funds for entrepreneurs, but more importantly, provides valuable industry experience and network resources. Every year, FAN organizes multiple roadshows to build a docking platform for entrepreneurs and investors.
As an emerging financing method, crowdfunding has also been widely used in Futian. In addition to well-known domestic crowdfunding platforms such as Campfire and Makuake, some unique crowdfunding platforms have also emerged in Fukuoka. For example, “FAAVO”, which focuses on local cultural and creative projects, not only helps entrepreneurs raise funds, but also quickly verifies product concepts and accumulates early users. The Fukuoka City Government has also provided policy support for crowdfunding activities, such as providing matching funds and holding crowdfunding training.
Traditional bank loans still play an important role in Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial financing system. Fukuoka City has partnered with a number of local banks to launch a special loan program for entrepreneurs. For example, the “Fukutsuta City Entrepreneurship Support Special Fund” provides low-interest loans of up to 25 million yen, with an annual interest rate as low as 1.3% and a repayment period of up to 10 years. The application conditions are relatively loose, and companies that have been in business for less than 7 years can apply. In addition to preferential interest rate conditions, these loan projects also provide financial consulting, business guidance and other services to help entrepreneurs better manage funds and risks.
Fukuoka Bank, as the largest local financial institution, has also launched an “Innovative Enterprise Support Plan”. The plan not only provides financial support, but also sets up a dedicated innovation support department to provide entrepreneurs with a full range of financial services and business consulting. For example, it helps entrepreneurs connect with upstream and downstream industry chains, introduce potential customers and partners, etc.
It is worth mentioning that the Fukuoka City Government also actively promotes financial innovation and supports the development of new financial services. For example, support the application of blockchain technology in the financial field and explore new financing models based on blockchain. At the same time, the government is also actively introducing international financial institutions to increase the diversity of financing channels.
Through these diversified financing channels, Fukuoka City provides comprehensive financial support for different stages and types of entrepreneurial projects. Government funds play a guiding and demonstrative role, private investment adds vitality to the market, crowdfunding platforms expand financing channels, and traditional bank loans provide stable support. This multi-level and diversified financing ecosystem not only reduces the difficulty of financing for entrepreneurs, but also greatly improves the competitiveness of Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial environment.
Talent resources
One of the core driving forces for Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to thrive is its rich and high-quality human resources. As an education and scientific research center in the Kyushu region, Fukuoka has gathered a large number of high-quality talents and attracted and cultivated international talents through a number of innovative policies, providing strong human capital support for entrepreneurial enterprises.
Higher education institutions and research centers are important sources of human resources in Fukuoka. Fukuoka City is home to many well-known universities, such as Kyushu University, Fukuoka University, and Kyushu Institute of Technology. These institutions not only cultivate a large number of high-quality talents, but also set up specialized entrepreneurship education courses and entrepreneurship support centers. For example, Kyushu University’s Robert Fine Entrepreneurship Center (QREC) is Japan’s first university entrepreneurship education institution named after an entrepreneur, providing systematic entrepreneurship courses from undergraduate to graduate students. The center also regularly holds entrepreneurship competitions, maker marathons and other activities to stimulate students’ enthusiasm for innovation and entrepreneurship.
In addition to traditional colleges and universities, Fukuoka also has a number of professional research institutions, such as the Fukuoka Institute of Artificial Intelligence (ISIT) and Fukuoka i3 Laboratory. These institutions not only conduct cutting-edge technology research, but also actively promote industry-university-research cooperation to provide technical support and talent transfer for entrepreneurial enterprises. ISIT has specially set up the “AI Social Implementation Research Laboratory”, which is dedicated to applying AI technology to solve social problems and provides entrepreneurs with a wealth of project inspiration and technical support.
Fukuoka’s technical talent pool is also expanding. Thanks to its good living environment and active entrepreneurial atmosphere, Fukuoka has attracted a large number of technical talents from Tokyo and overseas. The Fukuoka City Government has launched the “Fukuoka City Professional Talent Incentive System” to provide one-time rewards of up to 3 million yen to professionals working in specific high-tech fields. This policy not only attracts foreign talents, but also encourages local talents to stay and develop in Fukuoka.
In addition, Fukuoka City has also cooperated with a number of technology giants to set up local R&D centers. Such as Line Fukuoka R&D Center, Fujitsu Kyushu Research Institute, etc. The existence of these institutions not only directly brings high-end technical talents, but also improves the technological level of the entire region through technological spillover effects.
In terms of attracting international talents, Fukuoka City has implemented a series of innovative policies. The most eye-catching is the “Startup Visa” policy, which allows foreign entrepreneurs to obtain a visa of up to 6 months to prepare for starting a business in Fukuoka City. This policy has greatly lowered the threshold for international talents to start businesses in Fukuoka. At the same time, Fukuoka City has also established a “Foreign Entrepreneurship Consultation Window” to provide multi-language services to help foreign entrepreneurs solve various problems encountered in the process of starting a business in Japan. To further attract international talent, Fukuoka City launched the “Global Entrepreneur Visa” program. Foreign entrepreneurs who meet the conditions can obtain a residence status of up to 5 years, during which they can freely travel in and out of Japan. This policy not only facilitates entrepreneurs, but also helps attract international investment and promote technological exchanges.
In terms of talent training, the Fukuoka City Government has cooperated with enterprises and universities to launch a number of targeted training projects. “Fukuoka Innovation School” is one of the representative projects. It is a half-year intensive entrepreneurial training course that invites successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, etc. to serve as mentors. Through a combination of theoretical learning, practical exercises and mentor guidance, Cultivate entrepreneurial talents in an all-round way. For specific technical fields, Fukuoka City has also launched specialized talent training programs. For example, the “Fukuoka AI Talent Training Project” cooperates with local IT companies to provide practical training for students and working professionals interested in the AI field. This program not only imparts technical knowledge, but also focuses on cultivating the ability to solve practical problems. Participants have the opportunity to directly participate in actual projects of enterprises.
In order to promote the popularization of entrepreneurial culture, Fukuoka City has begun to promote entrepreneurship education at the primary and secondary school levels. The “Fukuoka Future Entrepreneur Program” is an entrepreneurial experience project for middle school students. It cultivates students’ innovative thinking and teamwork skills by simulating the entrepreneurial process. This kind of entrepreneurship education starting from the teenage stage helps to cultivate a reserve of entrepreneurial talents in the long term. Fukuoka City also attaches special importance to the cultivation of female entrepreneurs. The “Fukuoka Female Entrepreneur Support Project” provides training courses, mentoring services and network-building activities specifically targeted at female entrepreneurs, aiming to increase women’s participation and success rate in the entrepreneurial field.
From higher education to professional training, from cultivating local talents to attracting international talents, Fukuoka City is building its talent advantages in all aspects. This not only provides sufficient talent support for the current wave of entrepreneurship, but also lays a solid human capital foundation for Fukuoka City to maintain its innovation vitality in the long term.
Industrial clusters and key areas
Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem shows obvious characteristics of industrial clusters. These clusters not only reflect Fukuoka’s industrial advantages, but also represent the strategic direction of future development. Through policy guidance, resource integration and industry-university-research cooperation, Fukuoka City has formed competitive industrial clusters in fields such as IT and software, biotechnology and health technology, sustainable development and clean energy, and cultural and creative industries.
In the field of IT and software, Fukuoka City has become one of the most important technological innovation centers in western Japan. The core of this industrial cluster is the “Fukuoka Software Research Park” located in the center of Fukuoka. This park covering an area of about 120 hectares brings together more than 300 IT companies, ranging from large multinational companies to emerging startups. Enterprises in the park mainly focus on software development, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, big data analysis and other fields. For example, Line has set up its largest R&D center in Japan here, focusing on the development of mobile applications and artificial intelligence technology.
In order to promote the development of the IT industry, the Fukuoka City Government launched the “Fukuoka City IoT Promotion Laboratory” plan. This program provides entrepreneurs with a platform to test and validate IoT solutions, while also promoting collaboration between large enterprises and startups. In addition, Fukuoka City also hosts the annual “Fukuoka Ruby Conference”, which is one of the world’s largest Ruby programming language developer conferences, further consolidating Fukuoka’s position in the field of software development.
In terms of artificial intelligence, Fukuoka City has cooperated with Kyushu University to establish the “Fukuoka Artificial Intelligence Research Institute”, which is dedicated to basic research and application development of AI technology. The institute not only conducts cutting-edge technology research, but also actively promotes the application of AI technology in medical, transportation, manufacturing and other fields, providing entrepreneurs with a wealth of project opportunities.
Biotechnology and health technology are another key industrial cluster in Fukuoka City. The core of this cluster is the “Fukuoka Life Sciences Field Research and Development Spot”, or FiaS for short. FiaS not only provides advanced research facilities, but also integrates industry-university-research resources to form a complete biotechnology innovation ecosystem. Here, entrepreneurs can get full-chain support from basic research to commercialization.
FiaS pays special attention to cutting-edge fields such as regenerative medicine, personalized medicine and medical devices. For example, in terms of regenerative medicine, FiaS cooperated with Kyushu University School of Medicine to conduct a series of clinical trials of stem cell treatments. In the field of personalized medicine, FiaS supports a number of entrepreneurial projects based on gene sequencing technology, aiming to provide patients with more accurate diagnosis and treatment options.
In order to promote innovation in health technology, Fukuoka City has also launched the “Fukuoka Healthy City Laboratory” plan. This program uses the entire city as a large-scale laboratory to encourage entrepreneurs to develop and test a variety of innovative solutions for health management and disease prevention. For example, use wearable devices and big data analysis technology to develop personalized health management systems.
In the fields of sustainable development and clean energy, Fukuoka City is building a green and innovative industrial cluster. The core of this cluster is the “Fukuoka Smart City Experimental Zone”, an area focused on displaying and testing smart city technologies. Here, entrepreneurs can validate their green technology solutions in real urban environments.
Fukuoka City attaches special importance to the development of hydrogen energy technology. Fukuoka City has cooperated with the industry to establish the “Fukuoka Hydrogen Energy Strategy Conference” to promote the application of hydrogen energy in transportation, construction and other fields. For example, Fukuoka has established Japan’s largest hydrogen energy bus network, providing practical application scenarios for hydrogen energy startups.
Fukuoka City supports several innovative projects in waste management and circular economy. For example, use artificial intelligence technology to optimize waste sorting and recycling processes, or develop new biodegradable materials. Fukuoka City has also established a “Circular Economy Research Center” in cooperation with local universities to provide technical support and policy guidance to entrepreneurs in this field.
The cultural and creative industries are Fukuoka City’s traditional strengths and an entrepreneurial field that has been focused on cultivating in recent years. Leveraging its rich cultural resources and young talents, Fukuoka City is building a vibrant cultural and creative industry cluster. The core of this cluster is the “Fukuoka Creative District” in the Tenjin area, which brings together various creative enterprises such as design studios, advertising agencies, and game developers.
In terms of animation and game industries, Fukuoka City has supported many successful entrepreneurial projects. For example, Level-5 Game Company, headquartered in Fukuoka, has developed world-renowned game works such as “Yo-kai Watch”. Fukuoka City also regularly holds the “Fukuoka Game Industry Expo” to provide entrepreneurs with a display platform and investment matching opportunities.
In the field of fashion design, Fukuoka City has launched the “Fukuoka Fashion Week” event, which not only showcases the works of local designers, but also provides incubation support for emerging designer brands. In addition, Fukuoka City is also promoting the integration of traditional craftsmanship and modern design, supporting a number of innovative projects that apply traditional craftsmanship to modern life.
Fukuoka City also attaches special importance to cross-border integration of creative industries. For example, support projects that apply AR/VR technology to cultural heritage displays, or experiments that apply AI technology to music creation. This cross-border integration not only inspires more innovative inspiration, but also injects new vitality into traditional cultural industries.
Entrepreneurial communities and networks
Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem not only relies on hardware facilities and policy support, but more importantly, it has formed an active and open entrepreneurial community and network. This community closely connects entrepreneurs, investors, academics and other stakeholders through various activities, organizations and projects, promoting knowledge exchange, resource sharing and collaborative innovation.
Entrepreneurship events and conferences are an important way to build and maintain this community. Fukuoka City holds many large-scale entrepreneurial events every year, the most representative of which is “Fukuoka Entrepreneurship Week”. This week-long event brings together various forms such as pitch competitions, seminars, workshops and online exchanges, providing a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase, learn and communicate. In addition, the “Fukuoka International Entrepreneurship Forum” is also an important annual event, attracting entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world and promoting international exchanges and cooperation.
In daily operations, various small but frequent entrepreneurial activities are also constantly held. For example, the monthly “Fukuoka Entrepreneurship Coffee” provides entrepreneurs with a relaxed communication environment. These events not only help entrepreneurs network, but also provide them with the opportunity to obtain the latest industry information and find potential partners.
Entrepreneur communities and associations play an important role in Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. “Fukuoka Entrepreneurs Association” is one of the most influential organizations. It not only organizes various exchange activities, but also provides resource docking and policy consulting services to members. In addition, communities targeting specific industries or groups are also emerging, such as the “Fukuoka Women Entrepreneurs Network” and the “Fukuoka Technology Entrepreneurship Alliance”. These organizations provide more targeted support and communication platforms for entrepreneurs.
The mentor network is another important component of Fukuoka’s startup ecosystem. The Fukuoka City Government has established an extensive network of mentors in partnership with successful entrepreneurs, senior investors and industry experts. Through the “Fukuoka Entrepreneurship Mentorship Program”, new ventures can receive guidance and advice from experienced mentors. This program not only helps entrepreneurs avoid common mistakes, but also provides them with valuable industry insights and connections.
International exchange programs are a hallmark of Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Fukuoka City Government has actively established cooperative relationships with other entrepreneurial centers around the world, such as signing cooperation agreements with entrepreneurial institutions in Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv and other places. The “Fukuoka Global Entrepreneurship Exchange Program” allows local entrepreneurs to study and exchange in overseas entrepreneurship centers for a short period of time, and also invites foreign entrepreneurs to come to Fukuoka to experience the local entrepreneurial environment. This two-way communication not only broadens the horizons of entrepreneurs, but also introduces new entrepreneurial concepts and practices to Fukuoka.
In addition, Fukuoka City regularly organizes international entrepreneurship delegations to participate in important global entrepreneurship conferences and exhibitions, such as SXSW in the United States and Slush in Europe. These activities not only enhance Fukuoka’s international reputation as a startup city, but also provide local entrepreneurs with opportunities to directly connect with global innovators and investors.
Analysis of successful cases
Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has produced many impressive success stories, which not only demonstrate Fukuoka’s potential as an entrepreneurial city, but also provide valuable experience and inspiration for subsequent entrepreneurs. This section will delve into the unique advantages and key success factors of Fukuoka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by analyzing local entrepreneurial success stories and international entrepreneurs’ experiences in Fukuoka.
Among local entrepreneurial success stories, the story of Sansan Co., Ltd. is particularly eye-catching. Sansan was founded in 2007 and initially focused on developing business card management software. Company founder Ryota Terada recognized the importance of business card exchange in traditional Japanese business culture and developed an application that digitizes and intelligently manages physical business cards. Sansan made full use of the entrepreneurial support policies provided by Fukuoka City, such as tax incentives and office space subsidies, which greatly reduced operating costs in the early stages of starting a business. At the same time, the company also actively participated in various entrepreneurial activities and exhibitions organized by Fukuoka City, and quickly established an extensive business network.
The key to Sansan’s success lies in its deep understanding of local market needs and its fit with Fukuoka’s unique business culture. Through continuous innovation, the company integrates artificial intelligence and big data analysis technology into its products to continuously improve user experience. By 2019, Sansan was successfully listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and became an iconic success story of Fukuoka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Sansan’s experience shows that in-depth understanding of the local market, good use of government resources, and continuous technological innovation are the key factors for entrepreneurial success.
Another local success story worthy of attention is Glue Co., Ltd. The company, founded in 2015, focuses on developing an artificial intelligence-based recruitment matching platform. The founder Tsuyoshi Hirakawa is a graduate of Fukuoka University. He keenly discovered the challenges faced by Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises in talent recruitment. Glue uses machine learning algorithms to provide more accurate matching services for companies and job seekers, greatly improving recruitment efficiency.
Glue’s success is due to Fukuoka City’s complete industry-university-research cooperation system. The company maintains close cooperation with Fukuoka University, not only obtaining technical support, but also establishing talent training channels. In addition, Glue is also a beneficiary of the “Fukuoka City Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program” and has received mentorship and investment matching opportunities through this program. Glue’s case shows how Fukuoka helps local talents realize their entrepreneurial dreams by integrating educational resources and entrepreneurial support systems.
In terms of international entrepreneurs’ experiences in Fukuoka, the story of Jane Smith from the United States provides a unique perspective. Jane came to Fukuoka in 2018 and founded an e-commerce platform focusing on sustainable fashion. As a foreign entrepreneur, Jane initially faced the challenge of language and cultural barriers. However, Fukuoka City’s “Foreign Entrepreneurship Support Center” provided her with a full range of help, including translation services, legal consultation and business matching.
Jane actively participated in international entrepreneur exchange activities organized by Fukuoka City and quickly integrated into the local entrepreneurial community. Her company cleverly combines traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern sustainability concepts to develop a popular range of eco-friendly fashion products. Jane’s success demonstrates Fukuoka City’s advantages in attracting and supporting international entrepreneurs, and also demonstrates how to combine global perspectives with local resources to create unique business value.
The experience of Kim Jae-sung, a technology entrepreneur from South Korea, highlights Fukuoka’s advantages in technological innovation. Kim founded a company in Fukuoka in 2019 focusing on VR educational software development. The reasons he chose Fukuoka include its low operating costs, abundant technical talent resources, and the Fukuoka City Government’s strong support for technology entrepreneurship.
Kim’s company benefited from Fukuoka City’s “Innovation Lab” program, gaining the opportunity to test products in a real educational environment. This not only speeds up the product development process but also helps the company get market feedback quickly. Kim has also successfully explored the Korean and Southeast Asian markets through Fukuoka City’s international entrepreneurial network. His experience shows that Fukuoka City not only provides a friendly entrepreneurial environment for international entrepreneurs, but also serves as an ideal springboard to enter the Asian market.
These success stories reveal several key strengths of Fukuoka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem:
- The comprehensive government support system provides entrepreneurs with all-round help, from initial financial support to later market development;
- Active entrepreneurial communities and networks provide entrepreneurs with valuable resources and opportunities;
- Fukuoka City’s internationalization strategy creates a friendly environment for foreign entrepreneurs and provides support for the internationalization of local companies;
- Fukuoka City’s efforts in promoting industry-university-research cooperation and supporting technological innovation provide fertile soil for technological entrepreneurship.
It also provides some valuable experience for future entrepreneurs, such as in-depth understanding of market needs, making good use of local resources, actively participating in entrepreneurial community activities, maintaining an innovative spirit, and having an international perspective, which are all important factors for successful entrepreneurship in Fukuoka.
Challenges and Opportunities
As an emerging entrepreneurial center, Fukuoka City shows great potential, but it also faces a series of challenges. These challenges and opportunities coexist, shaping the present and future of Fukuoka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Language and cultural barriers are the top challenges international entrepreneurs face in Fukuoka. Despite the efforts of the Fukuoka city government to create an international environment, Japanese remains the dominant language in business and daily life. This may cause communication difficulties for entrepreneurs who are not familiar with Japanese, affecting their interactions with local partners, customers and employees. Cultural differences can also lead to misunderstandings and friction, especially when it comes to business etiquette and decision-making processes. However, these challenges also create opportunities. Fukuoka City is strengthening language support services, such as providing multilingual entrepreneurial guides and translation services. At the same time, this cultural diversity also provides fertile ground for innovation and cross-cultural cooperation, making Fukuoka an ideal place to cultivate companies with a global perspective.
Market entry strategy is another key challenge. Although Fukuoka is the fifth largest city in Japan, its market size is relatively small, which may limit the expansion potential of certain business models. Entrepreneurs need to carefully evaluate whether their product or service is suitable for the Fukuoka market or how to use Fukuoka as a springboard into the broader Japanese market. This requires entrepreneurs to have flexible strategic thinking and be able to adjust products according to local needs while planning a national or even global expansion path. The Fukuoka City Government is helping entrepreneurs overcome this challenge through various programs, such as organizing market research workshops and providing market entry consulting services.
Competition with big cities such as Tokyo is another important challenge facing Fukuoka. As the political and economic center of Japan, Tokyo has a larger market, more capital and talent resources. This may lead some entrepreneurs and investors to prefer Tokyo. However, Fukuoka also has its unique advantages. Compared to Tokyo, Fukuoka has lower living and operating costs, less competitive pressure, a higher quality of life, and easier access to decision-makers and government support. Fukuoka City is actively creating differentiation, such as promoting the development of specific industrial clusters and strengthening its position as the gateway to Asia.
In terms of future development prospects, Fukuoka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem shows exciting potential. As the Japanese government promotes local innovation and economic diversification, Fukuoka is expected to receive more resources and policy support. In addition, as the remote working trend takes off, Fukuoka’s high-quality living environment may attract more talents and businesses. Fukuoka City is actively deploying future industries such as artificial intelligence, clean energy and biotechnology, which will create new opportunities for entrepreneurs.
However, Fukuoka also faces some potential risks. For example, how to achieve sustainable growth while maintaining the character of a city, how to cope with the challenges posed by an aging population, and how to maintain an advantage in the increasingly fierce competition among global entrepreneurial centers. Fukuoka City is responding to these challenges by formulating long-term development strategies, strengthening international cooperation, and continuously optimizing the entrepreneurial environment.
Summary
After years of careful cultivation, Fukuoka City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has formed a unique entrepreneurial environment. The unique advantages of this ecosystem are mainly reflected in several key aspects: First, the Fukuoka City Government’s highly supportive and flexible policies provide strong backing for entrepreneurs. From simplified entrepreneurial procedures to various financial incentives, they all reflect the government’s emphasis on and support for entrepreneurship. Secondly, Fukuoka has a good geographical location and low cost of living, which not only attracts domestic and foreign entrepreneurial talents, but also provides start-ups with a longer funding runway. Third, Fukuoka’s strong industry-university-research cooperation network provides a steady stream of impetus for innovation, making it easier for entrepreneurs to transform cutting-edge research into commercial applications. Finally, Fukuoka’s open and inclusive international environment and positioning as the gateway to Asia provide entrepreneurs with a unique global perspective and market opportunities.
For future entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a business in Fukuoka, there are several suggestions worth considering: First, make full use of the various entrepreneurial support resources provided by Fukuoka. Actively participate in entrepreneurial activities organized by the government, apply for relevant support policies, and proactively establish contact with the local entrepreneurial community. Secondly, pay attention to the balance between localization and internationalization. Although Fukuoka offers an international environment, in-depth understanding and adaptation to the local market is still crucial. At the same time, we must maintain an open global perspective and use Fukuoka’s geographical advantages to expand international markets. Third, attach importance to innovation and technology research and development. Fukuoka’s industry-university-research cooperation system provides a good foundation for technological innovation. Entrepreneurs should make full use of this advantage to maintain technological leadership. Finally, stay patient and resilient. Although Fukuoka provides an excellent entrepreneurial environment, starting a business itself is still full of challenges. We must be prepared for a long-term struggle, and we must also flexibly adjust our strategies to adapt to market changes.
Fukuoka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is at a booming stage, providing unique opportunities for entrepreneurs. By making full use of the resources and advantages here, future entrepreneurs are expected to realize their entrepreneurial dreams in this fertile soil, while also contributing to the innovative development of Fukuoka and even Japan as a whole. As more successful cases emerge and the ecosystem continues to improve, Fukuoka is expected to become an entrepreneurial center that attracts attention in Asia and even the world, attracting more creative and entrepreneurial talents to jointly write a new chapter in Fukuoka’s entrepreneurship.
