Japan Hosts Virtual Pitch Event for Ukrainian Startups

Despite the ongoing conflict, Japan, known for being the third-largest global economy and the leading Asian supporter of Ukraine, successfully organized a virtual pitch event on March 17th for Japanese businesses to discover promising and expanding Ukrainian startups, and took place in three separate sessions.

The event was coordinated by JETRO and Ago-ra IT Consulting, with the support of Kyiv IT Cluster. JETRO is a Japanese government-affiliated organization that promotes trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world, while Ago-ra IT Consulting is a Japanese firm that provides business consulting and IT solutions.

Healthtech

The first session, held on December 22, 2022, was focused on healthtech and featured the following startups:

• iCardy: a healthtech company that provides a cardiac diagnostic and monitoring service.
• InDevLab: a healthtech company that develops wearable devices for remote patient monitoring.
• Movadex: a healthtech company that provides an AI-powered platform for personalized healthcare.

HR Tech

The second session, held on January 31, 2023, was focused on HR tech and featured the following startups:

• Handy.ai: an HR tech company that provides an AI-powered chatbot for recruitment and talent management.
• Matchit.me: an HR tech company that provides an AI-powered platform for employee assessment and development.
• Banza: an HR tech company that provides an AI-powered platform for employee engagement and retention.
• HURMA Systems: an HR tech company that provides a platform for employee performance management and feedback.

Internet of Things

Finally, the third and last session, held on March 17th, was focused on IoT and featured the following startups:

• Leantegra: an IoT company that provides a real-time location tracking and analytics platform.
• Smart House Systems: an IoT company that provides a home automation platform for energy management and security.
• OoshEars: an IoT company that provides a wireless audio platform for hearing assistance.

A total of 10 Ukrainian startups participated in the event, each showcasing their exceptional products. The event was attended by almost 100 Japanese corporations, startups, institutional investors, government agencies, and research labs. The hosts and speakers for the event were JETRO, Ago-ra IT Consulting, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Despite primarily concentrating on Europe and the United States, Ukrainian firms are now shifting their attention to Japan. The event has generated enthusiasm within Ukraine's technology industry, and it is anticipated to encourage additional IT-related collaborations between Japan and Ukraine in the future.

Conclusion

The virtual pitch event hosted by Japan for Ukrainian startups was a success, providing a platform for Ukrainian startups to showcase their products and establish potential partnerships with Japanese businesses. The event is expected to open new opportunities for Ukrainian firms in Japan and to strengthen collaborations between the two countries in the technology industry.