Seven Japanese Web3 companies have been selected to advance to the next phase of the J-StarX Program, collectively representing over $17 million in funding raised and spanning critical areas of blockchain infrastructure, AI-powered solutions, and next-generation financial technologies, and will be arriving in October to UAE for the UAE immersion with the support of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) , Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, and Elixir Capital teams alongside experts from XBTO, AMINA Bank, and more.
Upon arrival in the UAE in October, the startups will be hosted at Hub71 in Abu Dhabi, where they will gain direct access to investors, corporates, regulators, and fellow impactful founders. Through curated introductions, community events, and participation in GITEX Global 2025, the world’s largest tech and startup conference, the startups will be positioned to capitalize on the UAE’s rapidly growing Web3 and fintech markets.
As per the press release, the seven Japanese Web3 companies include blockchain development company, Curvegrid, building Japan’s sovereign blockchain infrastructure with $3 million raised and 8 years of enterprise experience including partnerships with Toyota, Kyuzan, a Web3 product studio building wallet, payment, and gaming tools with $4 million+ ARR and partnerships with major enterprises including Square Enix, · Creatant, an AI-powered visual workspace platform for the creative industry with 500+ users, MIKI, a cross-chain interoperability and DeFi infrastructure provider with over $10 million in transaction volume and 40,000 users served, Laplace, a luxury real estate tokenization platform with strategic partnerships to tokenize over $500 million worth of properties, XENEA, a storage layer for AI and DePIN infrastructure with 4 million wallet users worldwide and Aniark, an AI-powered content creation platform with partnerships with leading Japanese anime studios including MAPPA and KADOKAWA.
The startups have been part of the program since August, hosted at the JETRO offices in Tokyo for a three-day immersive bootcamp. Founders attended workshops covering the MENA Web3 landscape, received one-on-one mentorship sessions with industry experts from Outlier Ventures, Sei Labs, CV VC, and SC Ventures by Standard Chartered, and gained strategic insights from ecosystem partners including Offchain Labs and Startale. The experience culminated with a showcase at WebX 2025, one of Asia’s premier Web3 events.
Mr. Nobuyuki Nakajima, Managing Director of JETRO Dubai & MENA, noted, “JETRO Dubai has long supported Japanese companies in the UAE and we are proud to announce the launch of its first-ever acceleration program dedicated in UAE to be dedicated to Web3 companies in Partnership with Hub71. We are delighted to connect innovative Japanese Web3 companies with the UAE’s vibrant innovation ecosystems like Hub71, we believe this program will foster new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and market entry.”
In collaboration with Hub71, this program will provide specially selected Japanese startups with direct access to the UAE’s dynamic ecosystem of business opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and strategic partnerships. Through this initiative, participating companies will be able to deepen their understanding of the Web3 market in the region, while exploring pathways to expand and scale globally from the UAE.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71 added, “Welcoming promising Web3 startups from Japan to Hub71 reflects our ambition to attract pioneering technologies into Abu Dhabi. This program will enable Japanese startups to access markets, capital, and global networks, while contributing to the growth of our community and turning global innovation into real outcomes from Abu Dhabi.”
