Last April, eight Scottish gaming founders embarked on a two-week immersion into Japan's vibrant tech ecosystem. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the innovation hubs of Osaka, Techscaler Japan 2025 delivered exactly what it promised: deep market insights, meaningful connections, and tangible business opportunities. Now, we're thrilled to announce that applications for Techscaler Japan 2026 are open from February 9th to 23rd, with the programme running April 17th to 30th.
Recapping the 2025 Cohort
The Japanese market is notoriously complex - but for those willing to invest time and build relationships, the opportunities are significant. Our 2025 cohort learned this firsthand, discovering that success in Japan isn't about quick wins; it's about sustained engagement, cultural understanding, and being present.
The 2025 cohort was focussed on the gaming sector and included founders from BearHammer, Blazing Griffin, Buildstash, GLITCHERS, Konglomerate Games, Speech Graphics, Yaldi Games, and Wardog Studios - each bringing different products and ambitions, but all sharing a commitment to understanding the Japanese market deeply.
“It's important to be in Japan, to be making personal connections and to keep those connections active," reflected Justin Alae-Carew from Blazing Griffin. "There are a lot of opportunities if you pursue them, but not if you don't! They won't come to you, but they're open to business and collaboration."
For Elena Höge from Yaldi Games, the trip provided crucial insights into the Japanese approach to IP:
"My biggest takeaway from experiencing Japan as part of the cohort was deeply understanding IP and how merchandise and mascots play a part in this."
Real Impact, Real Results
Being on the ground, immersed and exposed to the Japanese ecosystem really works Since returning from Japan, cohort members have collectively secured £325,500 in sales, with ambitious three-year forecasts demonstrating continued confidence in the Japanese market. Five new contracts have been signed, particularly within the Tokyo ecosystem, and one company has successfully identified Japan as a growing market, securing paying customers there.
Beyond immediate sales, founders generated 15 new leads with IP-owning game companies and made 32 valuable connections, including with studios in Kyoto. As one founder shared:
"We gained a really helpful network in Japan for a future game release there and learned a lot about the Japanese market as well as how to engage with Japanese audiences. We also felt that we got a lot of useful insight from how developers there focused on quality and players as a result have an incredibly high bar."
These results demonstrate the programme’s real value: helping founders make informed, strategic decisions about international expansion based on firsthand market experience rather than assumptions.
Beyond the Cohort: Ecosystem-Level Impact
While our founders were building connections in Tokyo and Osaka, the Techscaler team was opening doors that benefit Scotland's wider innovation ecosystem.
Meetings with Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Tohoku Universities have created new pathways for collaboration across research, spinouts, and early-stage innovation. Notably, Nagoya University decided to take space within Edinburgh Futures Institute shortly after the trip, facilitated by connections made during the programme.
Osaka University has offered to introduce up to 60 spinouts to explore collaboration with Scottish startups through an innovative "wrapper programme" approach - pairing experienced founders with university IP to accelerate commercialisation. This represents a significant opportunity for Scottish entrepreneurs looking to scale academic innovations.
Corporate connections have expanded too. Discussions with Toyota in Nagoya, AstraZeneca Japan's open innovation network (i2.JP), and platforms like Venture Café Tokyo and Tunnel Tokyo have strengthened Scotland's visibility within Japan's corporate innovation landscape. Venture Café Tokyo now hosts events at Edinburgh Futures Institute, creating ongoing cross-country ecosystem ties.
On the investment front, new relationships with Antler Japan, Techstars Japan, and VCs operating in the APAC region have opened additional channels for Scottish founders seeking to expand into Asian markets.
What We Learned
The first Techscaler Japan programme reinforced that success in Japan is built on presence, patience and trust. Founders saw first-hand that progress comes from sustained engagement, cultural understanding and being on the ground, rather than quick wins. Time spent in Tokyo and Osaka deepened understanding of how relationships form, how decisions are made, and how factors such as IP, brand and long-term value shape commercial outcomes.
We also learned where future programmes can go further. Embedding more local expertise, including structured translation and guidance on business etiquette, would help founders navigate networks more confidently. Increased pre-mission preparation, with support from local experts and industry mentors, would better equip participants ahead of arrival. Finally, while gaming remains a strong focus, the experience highlighted clear potential to expand into sectors such as medtech, energytech and robotics across Japan and the wider APAC region.
Join Techscaler Japan 2026
If you're a tech founder in Scotland ready to explore the Japanese market, we want to hear from you. Techscaler Japan 2026 will run from April 17th to 30th, offering the same intensive immersion experience across Tokyo and Osaka.
Applications open February 9th and close February 23rd. This is your opportunity to build the connections, insights, and relationships that could transform your international growth strategy.
Apply now and take the first step toward understanding one of the world's most exciting tech ecosystems.
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