The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has joined forces with ERA Global and Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator to unveil the Global Venture Builder Program, designed to help Series A+ Japanese climate-tech startups expand into the U.S. Supported by Japan’s METI, the Cabinet Office, and Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the program combines investment, mentorship, and operational support to accelerate international growth.
Launched on July 1, 2025, the initiative offers $500,000–$1 million per startup, targeting sectors like clean energy, mobility, agtech, climate fintech and built environment. ERA Global brings a powerful support system, backed by over 1,000 mentors and experience with more than 375 startups including four unicorns, to guide participants through brand positioning, fundraising, team building and entry into U.S. markets. Program activities will rotate between Tokyo’s Sakura DeepTech space and ERA’s New York headquarters. Applications remain open on a rolling basis.
The “Go Global” program builds on JETRO’s earlier Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP), which included 500 startups in partnership with U.S. accelerators like Berkeley SkyDeck and Third Derivative. However, this new initiative shifts focus to growth-stage climate-tech firms, aiming to bridge the “scale-up gap” and help Japanese innovators go global.
Japan is already a global leader in cleantech innovation, accounting for about 21% of worldwide clean-tech patent families, on par with the U.S. Yet, despite this strength, Japanese startups often struggle to raise growth-stage capital and penetrate U.S. markets. This program seeks to change that by combining capital, mentorship, and strategic market guidance.
ERA Global Co-founder Murat Aktihanoglu emphasized the opportunity: “We know the amazing opportunity and potential Japan has … We are very excited about this program and how it will contribute to the Japanese startup ecosystem.”
JETRO Deputy Director-General Noriya Tarutani noted that while JETRO’s initial efforts focused on seed-stage firms, the organization is now targeting Series A+ companies ready for major expansion.
With global climate-tech investment surging—projected to climb into the tens of billions to meet net-zero goals, and Japanese firms at the forefront of innovation, Go Global offers a practical path for delivering breakthrough technologies to world markets. By funding startups and equipping them with local expertise and networks, JETRO and ERA are setting the stage for a new wave of internationally successful Japanese climate-tech ventures.
