X-HUB Tokyo Global Startup Accelerator Outbound Program (in collaboration with JETRO)

The X‑HUB Tokyo Global Startup Accelerator Outbound Program’s Singapore course helps Japanese startups take concrete, confident steps into Southeast Asia. By combining structured learning, curated connections, and on‑the‑ground exposure, it turns Tokyo‑based ambition into real regional traction.

Japanese startups increasingly see Southeast Asia as a strategic growth region but often lack local insight, trusted networks, and a clear market entry playbook. Many teams struggle to translate domestic success into cross‑border product‑market fit and investor interest.

JETRO and X‑HUB Tokyo recognised that founders needed more than a single mission or one‑off trip: they needed a guided pathway into Singapore and the wider region. That pathway had to blend practical education, peer learning, and curated access to local stakeholders.

The Global Startup Accelerator Outbound Program’s Singapore course is designed as a ten‑week journey that moves founders from high‑level curiosity about Southeast Asia to specific actions and conversations. Each phase builds on the previous one: gaining context, refining the story, and then testing it directly with the market through curated meetings and events.

• Hybrid curriculum: Weekly group masterclasses and mentorship sessions bring in more than 25 experts across industries, giving founders structured learning as well as space to ask targeted questions about their own businesses.
• Tokyo and Singapore touchpoints: Cohort Orientation and Startup Deep Dives in Tokyo help teams align and prepare, while in‑market activities and meetings in Singapore expose them to local customers, partners, and investors in a focused timeframe.
• Flagship event leverage: Onsite support at Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology ensures that startups make the most of a dense calendar of events, with guidance on which sessions to prioritise, how to pitch, and how to follow-up on new contacts.

Tribe is JETRO’s implementation and ecosystem partner in Singapore, focused on both program quality and connection depth.

• Program design and delivery: Structuring the 10‑week hybrid journey and coordinating sessions so founders can focus on learning and relationships.
• Cohort and stakeholder engagement: Running orientation, deep dives, and mixers in Tokyo and Singapore, and aligning mentors and partners on outcomes.
• Onsite support at SWITCH: Coaching startups on pitches, event navigation, and follow‑ups.
• Post‑program continuity: Helping teams prioritise follow‑ups and stay connected to relevant contacts within Tribe and JETRO.

The program has proven that a well‑structured outbound journey can better prepare companies for expansion into Southeast Asia and strengthen their regional growth opportunities.

• 100+ curated business and VC connections facilitated, unlocking concrete follow‑up conversations and potential collaborations.
• An overall satisfaction score of 4.8 / 5.0, with every participating startup expressing interest in deepening their engagement with JETRO.
• Stronger visibility for Tokyo’s startup ecosystem within Singapore’s innovation community, supported by repeatable program infrastructure for future cohorts.