India–Japan Startup Gateway (IJSG) in partnership with the University of Tokyo – Koshizuka Lab. During the IJSG program, GHV celebrated India – Japan Innovation Week through a series of pitch events, business meetings and roadshows along with 9 deeptech startups & The University of Jammu from India.
GHVAccelerator successfully concluded the 2025 Cohort 1 of the India–Japan Startup Gateway (IJSG) program in association with Dooox Inc. from October 12th to 17th, alongside AODP and CEATEC, marking another milestone in advancing deep-tech collaboration between Indian startups and Japan’s innovation ecosystem.
The week-long initiative brought together 9 high-growth Indian startups and leading Japanese corporations, research institutions, and innovation platforms. Over the course of 7 days, the delegation participated in pitch sessions, networking events, and site visits, engaging with over 100 Japanese corporations, investors, and R&D partners across Tokyo and Hitachi City.
Hosted in collaboration with Koshizuka Lab (The University of Tokyo), Inspired.Lab, Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB) & Hitachi City, the program served as a bridge between India’s thriving startup ecosystem and Japan’s deep industrial and research networks, paving the way for technology exchange and co-creation opportunities.
Program Highlights
- Pitch event at Koshizuka Lab, University of Tokyo, featuring UTEC, UTokyo IPC, and the UTokyo Division for Industry–Academia Collaboration.
- Joint session at Lab, where Indian and Japanese startups presented and networked with corporate innovation leaders.
- Visit to Hitachi City, co-hosted with Hitachi City, exploring opportunities in smart manufacturing and urban innovation.
- Roundtable Digital Transformation sessions at Japanese corporate headquarters focused on co-innovation, open innovation frameworks, and India–Japan technology collaboration.
Participating Indian Startups
- Probus Smart Things – Smart grid and IoT solutions for utility digitisation and real-time power infrastructure management.
- CargoFL – AI-driven logistics and fleet optimisation platform.
- CarPM – Connected vehicle analytics and predictive maintenance platform.
- Comsumr.AI – AI-powered consumer intelligence platform for data-led brand decisions.
- DaveAI – Experiential AI platform creating virtual sales avatars and immersive retail experiences.
- FoodYoga – A health and wellness brand blending traditional Indian nutrition with modern innovation.
- DeepTek – AI-powered healthcare imaging and diagnostic platform.
- Rezo – Conversational AI platform for automating customer engagement.
- Peer Robotics – Collaborative robotics solutions for manufacturing and logistics operations.
Voices from the Founders
“Having previously sold a company to Dentsu, I thought I understood Japanese business culture, but my experience with IJSG and Vikram-san truly refined that understanding. Speaking at the Tokyo Innovation Hub and engaging with Japanese companies through IJSG was both a wonderful learning experience and a gateway to exciting new business opportunities. I’m deeply grateful to GHV for making this possible.” — Vivek Bhargava, Founder, Consumr.AI, serial entrepreneur (Former company acquired by Dentsu Inc.)
“It was great being part of the India-Japan Startup Gateway (IJSG) visit to Japan, organised by GHV Accelerator. The program was filled with industrial visits, customer demo sessions, and investor meetings, providing valuable exposure to Japan’s innovation and manufacturing ecosystem. As a logistics tech startup (CargoFL), we had the opportunity to pitch our AI-driven logistics solutions to leading Japanese manufacturing enterprises, present our capabilities, and gather insightful industry feedback. We believe these connections will play a key role in helping us build strong opportunities in Japan. The Japanese business ecosystem thrives on trust, and entering the market with a reliable partner like GHV makes the journey smoother — the trust factor is established from day one, enabling meaningful introductions and collaborations with Japanese enterprises.” — Deepesh Kuruppath, Founder, CargoFL
“Participating in the IJSG program by GHV was an incredible opportunity for DaveAI to connect with investors, academia, and industry leaders in Japan. As we focus on scaling our mobility solutions in the Japanese market, the insights and networks built during this week have been truly invaluable.” — Sriram PH, Founder, DaveAI, portfolio of Maruti Suzuki India, Hakuhodo, and GHV
“IJSG was one of the best business experiences I’ve had. I learnt so much from Japan and its culture, especially about longevity and preserving values along with business growth. — Prasoon Gupta, Founder, FoodYoga
Leadership Perspective
“The India–Japan Startup Gateway continues to serve as a platform for building trust and technology partnerships between two innovation-driven economies,” said Vikram Upadhyaya, Head of IJSG. “Our mission is to go beyond startup showcases and create meaningful, long-term collaboration between Indian innovators and Japanese corporations.”
About GHV Accelerator (Greenhouse Ventures Pvt. Ltd.)
Greenhouse Ventures (GHV Accelerator) is a corporate innovation and cross-border acceleration firm with deep expertise in connecting startups and enterprises across Asia, particularly between India and Japan.
Over the past decade, GHV has built one of the strongest innovation bridges between the two countries, driving high-impact collaborations between startups and global corporations in sectors such as mobility, AI, manufacturing, sustainability, and enterprise technology.
With a network of over 10,000 deeptech startups, GHV has worked with Fortune 500 companies, leading VCs, and innovation hubs to accelerate co-creation and technology partnerships. Its portfolio has delivered measurable results, with over 200 IPs co-created, 130+ enterprise collaborations, and a 200% average ROI realised by corporate partners through innovation programs.
Notable India–Japan Collaborations
- Partnering with Maruti Suzuki India and a global Japanese automotive major to co-develop innovation platforms, resulting in 200+ IPs and 273% business ROI.
- Leading mobility and manufacturing innovation cohorts connecting Indian startups with Japan’s industrial R&D ecosystem.
- Running cross-border open innovation programs that integrate startup technologies into enterprise operations across both markets.
- Launching the ASICS Japan Innovation Program for India through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) engagement.
- Launching the LIXIL (Grohe India) Innovation Knowledge Series for India–Japan innovation exchange through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) engagement.
- Launched Blue Tokai Coffee in Japan and created a go-to-market strategy during COVID-19.
With its base in Gurugram, India, and active partnerships across Japan, GHV continues to act as a trusted innovation bridge, transforming how enterprises discover, adopt, and scale technology through structured startup collaboration.
Following the successful completion of Cohort 1, GHV Accelerator is now preparing to launch Cohort 2 of the India–Japan Startup Gateway (IJSG) 2026. Startups, corporates, and ecosystem partners interested in participating can contact ijsg@ghvaccelerator.com for details on application processes and partnership opportunities.