The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →This is a cross-sector watchlist of 50 Japanese startup candidates, not a ranking of the fastest-growing or best-funded companies. The selection draws on the J-Startup roster and its 31 new selections announced by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on March 13, 2025, plus the 18 companies in Tokyo’s fifth SusHi Tech Global selection, announced in August 2026. The list is current to October 2026; program recognition is the inclusion signal, not proof of commercial growth or success.
How to read this watchlist
J-Startup selections follow recommendations by outside experts. Selected companies can use government measures and receive assistance from private supporters. Tokyo’s SusHi Tech Global program offers support that may include funding and hands-on assistance, subject to the program’s terms and caps. Those are useful discovery signals, but neither program selection establishes revenue growth, profitability, product-market fit or investment quality.
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The 50 names below form a curated candidate roster assembled from the official J-Startup roster, its 2025 fifth-round selections and Tokyo’s 2026 SusHi Tech Global group. They are organized by sector, not ranked. The categories help show the range of activity; they do not imply that companies within a category are at the same stage or have comparable results. A company’s presence here should not be read as confirmation of its current operating status, location or latest product details.
The 50-company watchlist
AI
- Sakana AI
- Orange Inc.
- ABEJA, Inc.
- ExaWizards Inc.
- Preferred Networks, Inc.
- Asilla Inc.
Services and industrial technology
- CADDi, Inc.
Aerospace
- ispace, inc.
- ArkEdge Space Inc.
- Astroscale Japan Inc.
- Axelspace Corporation
- Synspective Inc.
- GITAI Japan, Inc.
- ElevationSpace Inc.
- SPACE ONE CO., LTD.
- Orbital Lasers Co., Ltd.
Energy
- Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.
- Helical Fusion Co., Ltd.
Manufacturing and materials
- EneCoat Technologies Co., Ltd.
- EF Polymer K.K.
- K.K. SUN METALON
- Elephantech Inc.
- Kyulux, Inc.
- Ookuma Diamond Device Co., Ltd.
Medical technology, digital health and biotechnology
- AI Medical Service Inc.
- CureApp, Inc.
- KAKEHASHI Inc.
- Cellusion Inc.
- Splink, Inc.
- Logomix, Inc.
- Toregem BioPharma Co., Ltd.
- Gellycle Co., Ltd.
- Global Vascular Co., Ltd.
Agriculture and robotics
- HarvestX Inc.
- AGRIST Inc.
- Eco-Pork co., ltd.
Environment and aquaculture
- Pirika, Inc.
- Innoqua Inc.
ICT and digital services
- Commune Inc.
- Caulis Inc.
- Graffer, Inc.
- QUANDO, Inc.
Mobility
- akippa Inc.
- WHILL, Inc.
- Aeronext Inc.
Robotics
- ugo, Inc.
- Connected Robotics Inc.
- GROOVE X
Social impact and creative commerce
- HERALBONY Co., Ltd.
- Magic Shields, Inc.
What the sector mix says—and does not say
J-Startup’s own taxonomy spans AI, ICT, services, mobility, robotics, medicine and biotechnology, environment and energy, aerospace, and manufacturing and materials. This roster reflects that breadth, with companies working in areas such as space, industrial technology, health, agriculture and environmental applications alongside software and AI. It is a map of areas represented in the selected programs, not a measure of which sectors are growing fastest.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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A 2024–2025 analysis by FIRSTLIGHT Capital found that Japanese AI startups in its valuation-based sample often targeted specific industries, including robotics, manufacturing, logistics and medicine. Its top-30 list used assumed valuations at funding and was limited to startups whose latest funding round was in 2020 or later. Those assumptions are not current market valuations, and the sample does not represent every Japanese startup.
Examples of what recognition can—and cannot—tell you
Sakana AI
Sakana AI is described in its company materials as a Tokyo-based frontier AI research and development company founded in 2023. That establishes a concrete example of an AI company on the watchlist; inclusion here does not establish its revenue, profitability or commercial traction.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
ispace
ispace describes its ambition in terms of lunar resources and space infrastructure. The company reported 322 employees as of June 1, 2026. That dated headcount is a company-specific data point, not a directly comparable growth measure for all 50 organizations.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhy this is not a growth or funding ranking
The available program selections do not supply one comparable performance measure for every company. A defensible ranking would need consistent, dated evidence—for example, the same revenue-growth period, funding measure or headcount methodology across all entries. Without that, ordering the names would imply precision the evidence does not support.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Other lists may use different criteria. For example, the Japan Investment Corporation’s report described a scope based on firms founded by Japanese entrepreneurs or headquartered in Japan, selected by market valuation, with representatives highlighted for international expansion or foreign investment. That is a valuation-based approach with additional filters, not the same thing as J-Startup or SusHi Tech program recognition.
For a closer look at any one company, check its current company materials for its name, operating status, location and product, then look for dated evidence of commercial activity or financing. Treat company-reported claims as company claims unless an independent source measures the same result.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
