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Good practice Imported

Startup City Fukuoka — Global Startup Centre

Japan · Fukuoka · See the Japan profile · See the Fukuoka profile

Evidence: Observational / pre–post Top 54% 67/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Japan's first National Strategic Special Zone for global startups (2014), Fukuoka City created Asia's first Startup Visa for foreign founders, achieving a 7.3% founding rate (above Tokyo's 6.1%), 1,406 registered startups, and an 82% five-year business survival rate.

247
Startup Visa approvals (to Sept 2024)
82% vs 50% national avg
5-year survival rate, graduates
7.3% vs Tokyo 6.1%, Osaka 4.8%
Startup founding rate
Startup City Fukuoka — Global Startup Centre

Details

Maturity
Scaling
Promoter
Fukuoka City Government
Period
2014–present
Keywords
startups, talent attraction, ICT, entrepreneurship, policy innovation

Context

In March 2014 the Japanese government designated Fukuoka Japan's first National Strategic Special Zone for Global Startups, introducing the country's first Startup Visa, a 20% corporate tax reduction for five years, and simplified employment procedures. Fukuoka Growth Next opened April 2017 as the ecosystem's physical hub, housing 94 resident startups and 12 VC offices.

Results

By September 2024, 247 foreign entrepreneurs had been approved under the Startup Visa. Fukuoka's startup founding rate reached 7.3%, outpacing Tokyo (6.1%) and Osaka (4.8%), with an 82% five-year survival rate for graduate companies against a 50% national average; 1,406 startups are registered in the city as of 2024.

Conclusions

A peer-reviewed 2025 study in Small Business Economics confirms the ecosystem remains 'nascent': only 3 companies have exceeded USD100 million in valuation since 2015 and no unicorns have been produced, with senior technical roles unfilled 7-11 months due to a projected 4,800-person ICT talent gap by 2026.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Medium (€50k–€500k)
Time to results
Long (> 3 years)
Staffing & skills
Fukuoka Global Startup Centre English-language support staff, Fukuoka Growth Next hub managers

Conditions for success

  • National Strategic Special Zone regulatory reforms (startup visa, tax reduction)
  • Dedicated hub with international founder support
  • University entrepreneurship curriculum partnership (Kyushu University EDGE-NEXT)

Common failure modes

  • No unicorns produced since 2015, only 3 companies over USD100M valuation
  • Senior technical roles unfilled 7-11 months amid projected ICT talent gap

Commonly funded by

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Data sources

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