J-StarX Global Growth for Agri-Tech 2026: Supporting the Global Expansion of Japanese Agri-Tech Startups

Supporting Japanese agri-tech startups in building international growth strategies, market connections and strategic partnerships

Silicon Valley, CA & Tokyo, Japan, September 17, 2026 - JETRO and SVG Ventures | THRIVE today announced the launch of the J-StarX Global Growth for Agri Tech, powered by JETRO and THRIVE, a new initiative designed to help Japanese agri-tech startups scale into global markets and build deeper connections with international customers, investors, corporates and innovation ecosystems.

Japan has long been recognized for its strengths in advanced manufacturing, robotics, precision engineering, sustainability and deep technology. As global food and agriculture systems face increasing pressure from climate change, labor shortages, resource constraints and supply chain disruption, Japanese startups have an important opportunity to bring new technologies and solutions to international markets.

The J-StarX Global Growth for Agri-Tech will support that opportunity by leveraging SVG Ventures | THRIVE's global innovation platform, connecting participants with a community of more than 15,000 startups and an international network of corporations, investors, universities, and ecosystem partners. Beyond supporting individual startups, the program aims to strengthen Japan's agrifood innovation ecosystem by fostering enduring partnerships between entrepreneurs, industry, investors, research institutions, and government, creating new pathways for collaboration, commercialization, and global growth.

The program reflects a shared commitment by JETRO and SVG Ventures | THRIVE to support Japan's long-term innovation economy by helping startups move from domestic promise to global relevance. By connecting Japanese founders with international markets, the program aims to strengthen Japan's global startup pipeline, increase cross-border collaboration, and support the commercialization of technologies that can contribute to more resilient and sustainable food systems.

"Japan is home to exceptional innovation across agriculture, food, robotics, climate and deep technology," said [Nanami Suzuki, JETRO Startup]. "Through the J-StarX Global Growth for Agri-Tech, we are pleased to help Japanese startups access the global networks, market knowledge and strategic relationships they need to expand internationally. This program is designed to support the next generation of Japanese agri-tech companies as they build solutions for global markets." [Nanami Suzuki, JETRO Startup]

SVG Ventures | THRIVE has built a strong and growing presence in Japan over the past several years, working closely with Japanese startups, corporates, investors and ecosystem partners across the agri-food value chain. This includes the launch of the $50 million Sunrise Agri Fund with Kagome focused on advancing sustainability and productivity across food and agriculture, in addition to their investment in Japanese startup, EF Polymer.

The new program builds on that foundation and marks the next chapter in SVG Ventures | THRIVE's long-term partnership with Japan and its commitment to strengthening the country's agrifood innovation ecosystem. Through the J-StarX Global Growth for Agri-Tech Program, JETRO and THRIVE will work together to help Japanese founders gain international exposure, sharpen their global growth strategies, and build relationships with the partners, investors, and customers needed to scale.

"Japan has a deep history of innovation, and we believe its next generation of agri-tech startups can play a meaningful role in solving some of the world's most urgent food and agriculture challenges," said John Hartnett, Founder and CEO of SVG Ventures | THRIVE. "Through the J-StarX Global Growth for Agri-Tech, we are proud to support Japanese founders as they build globally competitive companies and bring world-class innovation to international markets".

The program kicks off with an in-person bootcamp in Tokyo and is designed for startups across areas such as smart agriculture, precision farming, robotics and automation, soil and crop data platforms, sustainable inputs, food supply chain optimization, traceability, regenerative agriculture and climate-resilient production systems.

Participating companies will receive market readiness support, mentoring and tailored international ecosystem engagement across priority global regions including the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model, the program will help each startup identify the markets, partners and pathways best aligned with its technology, customers and long-term growth objectives.

"Harvest Horizons - Agri/Foodtech to North America, our 2024 JETRO|THRIVE acceleration program for Japanese agri-tech startups, showed the strength of Japanese founders and the value of providing them structured access to global markets," said Danny O'Brien, Managing Director, SVG Ventures | THRIVE. "This new program builds on that work and takes it further. Our goal is to help companies understand where they can win internationally, build the right strategic relationships, and create a practical pathway for long-term global growth."

About SVG Ventures | THRIVE

SVG Ventures | THRIVE is a leading global innovation and investment platform headquartered in Silicon Valley. THRIVE works with startups, corporations, universities, governments and investors to advance the future of food, agriculture, climate and energy through investment, accelerator programs, corporate innovation and global market access initiatives.

With a global community of more than 15,000 startups, SVG Ventures | THRIVE helps entrepreneurs scale internationally and accelerate technologies that build more resilient, sustainable, and productive food, agriculture, climate, and energy systems.

About JETRO

JETRO is a government organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Originally established in 1958 to promote Japanese exports abroad, JETRO's core focus in the 21st century has shifted toward promoting foreign direct investment into Japan and helping Japanese startups and scaleups maximize their global potential. 

About J-StarX

J-StarX program is sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). The goal of J-StarX is to send aspiring Japanese entrepreneurs overseas. The program provides opportunities for these entrepreneurs to connect with and learn from the world's top business leaders. The aim is to help these budding entrepreneurs take on the challenge of becoming globally active entrepreneurs.