Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) DMZ, a top Canadian startup incubator, has entered Japan with the launch of DMZ Japan in Tokyo’s Minato Ward on 25th February, marking a significant milestone in promoting cross-border entrepreneurship.
The initiative, supported by funding from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, seeks to connect the Canadian and Japanese startup ecosystems by offering mentorship, resources, and opportunities for ventures in both countries, as stated by Yumiko Namiki, head of DMZ Japan.
Namiki said “[We have] been working with Japanese entities and partners since around 2020 and we formed a lot of the partnerships, and then we got huge funding from [the] Tokyo government last September, and that required us to have a Japanese entity,”
“The Global Acceleration Hub program is designed to help Japanese founders explore foreign markets, including Canada,” Namiki explained. “DMZ is the first incubator partner in Canada for that program… [it] will be the on-the-ground partner to support those Japanese companies to tap into the Canadian market.”
Namiki elaborated that DMZ Japan has been chosen as a pivotal participant in the Tokyo SUTEAM initiative, a government-supported programme designed to boost Tokyo’s startup economy by 2027. Furthermore, DMZ Japan’s collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization’s (JETRO) Global Acceleration Hub—a government-linked entity that assists foreign startups—will help streamline market entry for Japanese startups looking to expand into Canada.
She mentioned that Canadian startups can also benefit from DMZ Japan’s “soft landing” support—services tailored to help businesses seamlessly overcome logistical hurdles. This includes assistance with comprehending local business regulations and setting up a subsidiary in Tokyo or Canada, provided with backing from the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo.
Despite Japan’s well-established reputation in technology, robotics, and manufacturing, its startup ecosystem trails behind those of North America and Europe, noted Dr. James Tiessen, associate professor at TMU’s Ted Rogers School of Management. Tiessen believes there is an opportunity for Canada to play a role in supporting Japan’s drive for innovation.
“They’re very reliable trading partners,” said Tiessen. “Canadians have traditionally been suppliers of [many] resources to Japan’s market. There’s been efforts over decades to try to diversify that.”
“Japan knows that they have to sustain their lifestyle, they have to be more innovative and more productive,” said Tiessen. “So that smaller workforces can generate enough wealth and [productivity] to take care of, to sustain this aging population and to provide a workforce for them.”
According to Namiki, DMZ Japan has launched three flagship programs: Launchpad for Entrepreneurs, Launchpad for Women, and Basecamp. Namiki stressed that Launchpad for Women tackles the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Japan and across Asia. She noted that women in Asia often experience reduced confidence in pursuing entrepreneurial ventures and she hopes to “encourage them to step forward.”
In the coming years, Namiki highlighted two key performance indicators: generating revenue for DMZ to fund startup programmes in both Japan and Canada, and monitoring the number of Canadian and Japanese startups that enrol and successfully establish a presence in each other’s markets.
