Accelerating the Next Generation of Women Entrepreneurs
The J-StarX 2025 Women Entrepreneur Program supports 20 trailblazing women founders as they grow into global leaders. Through hands-on mentoring, pitch training, and immersive experiences in Japan and Silicon Valley, participants gain the skills, confidence, and connections to take their startups international.
About This Program
The J-StarX 2025 Women Entrepreneur Program supports women entrepreneurs in Japan as they grow into international leaders. Participants receive mentoring and training on their business ideas, pitch development, and entrepreneurship both in Japan and the U.S.
Through this program, 20 selected entrepreneurs will gain hands-on experience, access to mentors and investors, and a strong peer community. The program includes a four-day in-person bootcamp in Japan, 12 weeks of online training and mentoring, and a one-week immersion in Silicon Valley. Together, these experiences will strengthen leadership skills, refine business models, and open doors to global opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria for the J-StarX 2025 Women Entrepreneur Program
You’re Connected to Japan
Startups must be founded in Japan, by Japanese founders abroad, or have a strong business base in Japan. The selection will be made by gener8tor and JETRO.
You’re Committed
Startups should be ready to dedicate time and energy to growth. The program includes a 12-week hybrid training in Japan and a one-week in-person immersion in the U.S. Founders are expected to engage fully, attend sessions, and coordinate logistics with the team ahead of travel.
You’re Ready to Grow
We welcome startups at different growth stages — from those identifying the U.S. as their next key market to those already generating revenue and expanding globally. Participants should be eager to strengthen their customer growth, investor readiness, and market entry strategies.
Apply to an Upcoming Program
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Investment Terms
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Director
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To be announced soon!
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We are not currently accepting applications for this program.
Stay tuned. While there aren't any upcoming programs for this location at the moment, there are plenty of other available opportunities at gener8tor!
Program Schedule
October 2025 | Startup Recruitment & Selection
Recruitment and selection will take place in close coordination with JETRO, leveraging gener8tor’s networks and targeted outreach to identify high-potential women-led startups in Japan. Multiple interview rounds will be completed by late September to confirm the 20 final participants.
November 2025 | 4-Day Domestic Bootcamp (Japan)
All 20 participants will convene in Japan for the required 4-day in-person bootcamp. This intensive experience will prepare founders for the U.S. market, refine their pitches, and connect them with Japanese and international mentors and investors. Associated venue, facilitation, and travel costs are included under Program Expense and Staff Expense in the budget below.
November – December 2025 | 12-Week Pre-Arrival Training
Startups will be divided into two cohorts of ten who will complete the full 12-week pre-arrival training program concurrently. Participants will share speaker series sessions while engaging in separate small-group workshops and one-on-one coaching to ensure individualized attention. Costs for this stage are reflected in Program Expense and Salaries in the budget below, covering curriculum delivery, mentor coordination, and customized feedback.
February 2026 | 2-Week San Francisco Program
Upon completion of the pre-arrival training, both cohorts will travel together to San Francisco for a joint two-week immersion. This “one big trip” model maximizes networking opportunities, creates a sense of cohort-wide community, and streamlines program delivery costs while still providing individualized meeting schedules. The budget for this stage includes venue rentals, curated investor and corporate introductions, site visits, and hosted events with women leaders in the U.S. startup ecosystem.
February – March 2026 | Post-Trip Programming & Alumni Support
Following the U.S. trip, participants will enter a post-trip phase focused on follow-up investor introductions, ongoing mentorship, and progress tracking to ensure that momentum gained during the program translates into tangible business outcomes.
Program FAQS
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This is a specialized international accelerator that includes a 12-week hybrid program in Japan followed by a two-week immersion in the U.S., designed to help 20 women entrepreneurs expand globally.
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Startups are responsible for covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. Some meals will be provided during group events. There is no program fee — participation is free of charge for selected startups. The program itself is offered as in-kind support in partnership with JETRO and gener8tor.
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We will meet before the program begins to prepare for the trip and discuss travel logistics.
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This program provides tailored 1:1 coaching to support each company’s unique growth path, along with workshops on sales, fundraising, and growth strategies. Participants will also gain direct access to experienced mentors, venture capitalists, and business leaders in both Japan and the U.S. Through these connections, women entrepreneurs will build the skills, networks, and confidence needed to scale internationally.
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Yes! We will have office hours and cohort meetings following the program and will continue to support introductions as needed.
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The program includes a 12-week hybrid training in Japan, followed by a one-week, in-person immersion in the U.S. During the U.S. program, participants will travel together as a group, attending intensive workshops, mentoring sessions, site visits, and pitch events. The experience is designed to be immersive and full-time, requiring dedicated focus throughout.
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All startups domiciled in Japan are eligible to apply. We are specifically seeking women-led startups that can benefit from this program to expand into the U.S. market within the next 12 months.
Looking to Get in Touch?
We’re hiring a Program Manager! Click here to learn more and apply.
Eddie Olson
Senior Managing Director | gener8tor
eddie@gener8tor.com
Sarah Aubrey
Senior Managing Director | gener8tor
sarah@gener8tor.com
