Press Release – For Immediate Release

Tokyo, Japan – 28 November 2025 – Sayama Ventures, a bilingual, globally minded venture builder and startup community inspired by the tranquil Sayama Hills and Totoro’s enchanted forest, today announced its official launch to support Japan’s next generation of founders and business owners looking to build a sustainable business. Built at the intersection of nature, innovation, and cross-cultural collaboration, Sayama Ventures will provide structured programs, community, and hands-on venture-building support for startups in Japan and global founders looking to expand into the Japanese market.

Nature-inspired venture builder

Sayama Ventures approaches startups as living ecosystems, where every founder is a seed, every idea a fragile sprout, and every challenge a season to grow through. Drawing inspiration from the Sayama Hills that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Totoro, the firm blends patient, craft-driven Japanese wisdom with global startup speed to help founders build resilient companies instead of short-lived experiments. Its vision is to become Japan’s most inspiring “forest of innovation,” where creativity, courage, and community take deep root.

Bilingual, globally minded platform

Headquartered in Japan with a global outlook, Sayama Ventures operates as a bilingual (Japanese–English), founder-first platform designed to bridge East and West. The venture builder focuses on solving information and cultural asymmetry by providing founders and investors with cross-cultural guidance, tailored mentorship, and structured programs that respect Japanese business norms while opening doors to worldwide markets. Through its community-driven approach, Sayama Ventures creates online and offline spaces – from workshops and livestreams to pitch events – where founders can learn, connect, and practice a global mindset.

Programs for founders and business owners to sustainable businesses

At launch, Sayama Ventures is rolling out a suite of programs that guide founders from idea to execution, including the Sayama's Entrepreneur Bootcamp, a 30‑day growth program that helps entrepreneurs learn to build fast and sell with confidence. The bootcamp combines weekly online workshops, masterminds, daily standups, Slack community access, and a final pitch event in Tokyo, with remote founders joining from anywhere in the world, making it a truly global cohort. Additional tracks will support founders at different stages, from early validation to scale-up and bespoke corporate or family office collaborations.

Recognizing Japan’s demographic and economic challenges, Sayama Ventures is also developing a legacy-focused offering that consult and train seasoned business owners seeking business transformation solutions for business survival.  This initiative aims to protect jobs, preserve regional know‑how, and inject new innovation into established companies, enhancing business growth and sustainability.

Community, partners, and ecosystem role

Sayama Ventures is building a community that includes startup founders, investors, corporate innovators, universities, coworking spaces, and government and ecosystem partners across Japan and beyond. The team actively co-creates events and platforms with partners, from hackathons to award shows, including roles in initiatives such as The Ventures Japan Awards and Minna Hackathon 2025, to spotlight emerging founders and connect them with capital and mentorship. Through these collaborations, Sayama Ventures positions itself as a bridge between global innovation networks and Japan’s rapidly evolving startup landscape.

Open invitation

Founders, investors, corporate innovators, and ecosystem partners are invited to join the Sayama community as it begins its journey from pre-launch into full program roll-out in 2026. Interested parties can learn more and register their interest at www.sayamaventures.com or via the Sayama Ventures LinkedIn page

About Sayama Ventures

Sayama Ventures is a bilingual, globally minded venture builder and startup community based in Japan, inspired by the Sayama Hills and the Totoro forest. The firm supports founders, investors, and business owners through structured programs, hands-on venture-building support, and curated events that cultivate resilient, globally capable ventures rooted in Japanese strengths.