Japan Inclusive Ventures Lab

Japan Inclusive Ventures Lab is an acceleration program designed to help further develop and scale Japanese startups.

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Japan Inclusive Ventures Lab ("JIVL") is a startup acceleration program launched by Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. The program leverages Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures, which is operated in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa by Morgan Stanley, a strategic partner of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (“MUFG"). By leveraging the strengths of MUFG and Morgan Stanley, JIVL aims to provide a global-standard of startup acceleration in Japan.

Our Mission

The JIVL is dedicated to promoting Japanese startups founded by, or with C-suite representation from, women or diverse backgrounds. To help them target the global market from an early stage, the program provides both funding and a customized curriculum focused on the following three missions,

1. Foster a world-class startup ecosystem in Japan
2. Support positive social change and address ESG issues
3. Contribute to Japan’s sustainable growth

 

Application for Japan Inclusive Ventures Lab is closed.
Please sign up to get updates.
We will notify you when the next application cycle starts.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

CURATED CURRICULUM

JIVL customizes a curriculum including finance & sales strategy, marketing & branding, and private sessions with industry experts.

MENTORSHIP THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE 

JIVL pairs startups with experienced mentors who provide advice and counsel to help each company grow and scale its business.

POWERFUL NETWORKS

We introduce startups to our bankers with expertise in both commercial and investment banking, technology experts and others who can connect each company to their industry networks. We also give them access to potential clients and the investor ecosystem at large.

SHOWCASE AND DEMO DAY

Our six-month program culminates with a global and domestically available Demo Day during which all participants can present to a network of investors, potential business partners and customers, who could help take their companies to the next level.

2025 PARTICIPANTS

esa Inc.

esa has developed and provides technology to turn discarded composite plastics into recycled pellets, with a vision to contribute to a circular society by improving plastic recycling rate and reducing CO2 emissions and plastic waste.

FinT Co., Ltd.

FinT delivers end-to-end social media solutions from strategic design to execution with a focus on driving real business outcomes. Guided by the mission “Empowering strengths to move Japan and the world forward”, FinT is committed to supporting Japanese enterprises in achieving global success unlocking everyone’s potential.

HerLifeLab Co., Ltd.

HerLifeLab is committed to supporting women undergoing menopause by offering counseling and personalized treatment powered by data and AI. Its mission is to help women positively navigate this stage and empower them to pursue new challenges at any age.

NeuralPort Inc.

NeuralPort’s ZEN EYE PRO is an eye-tracking system that leverages Virtual Reality. Through an image-based assessment that evaluates brain fatigue, the goal is to help everyone enabling their peak performances.

Eri Fukuda

SHE Inc.
CEO / CCO

Shun Hashimoto

BASE FOOD, Inc.
CEO

Naoto Hoshi

HERALBONY Co., Ltd.
FSA

Haruka Mera

READYFOR Inc.
CEO

Shoji Miyata

Nstock, Inc.
CEO

Shintaro Yamada

Mercari, Inc.
CEO​

Miwa Seki

MPower Partners
General Partner

*In alphabetical order by last name

2024 PARTICIPANTS

ASTRA FOOD PLAN Co.,Ltd.

ASTRA FOOD PLAN Co.,Ltd. is a food-tech company that creates sustainable solutions for food loss and hidden loss in the food industry with its proprietary superheated steam drying machine.

Ms.Engineer Inc.

Ms.Engineer Inc. provides an IT engineer education platform to empower females with engineering skills and to support their financial independence, aiming to close Japan’s gender pay gap.

FOUNDER STORIES

Hear from companies that have participated in the
Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures.

Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures - ByFusion 

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Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures - eBanqo 

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Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures – Unfabled

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Application for Japan Inclusive Ventures Lab is closed.
Please sign up to get updates.
We will notify you when the next application cycle starts.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

BACKGROUND AND BASICS

What is the Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures (MSISV) based in New York and London?
MSISV is an intensive five-month accelerator program designed to help further develop and scale startups, culminating in a Demo Day and showcase presentation to the investor community. The program was launched by Morgan Stanley in the United States in 2017 and expanded to include founders in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2021. Please see here to learn more about the MSISV.

What is Japan Inclusive Ventures Lab (JIVL)?
JIVL is the Japan program launched by Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities leveraging MSISV. JIVL plans to select skilled mentors and provide tailored program most needed by Japanese startups.

Does JIVL invest financially in companies that participate in the program?
JIVL will provide participating companies with a cash contribution, a six-month curated program, mentorship, networking, and access to certain external advisors in exchange for an equity stake of 5.00%. The cash contribution is JPY25,000,000 to each company participating in the Japan-based program. 

What does the curriculum cover?
The curriculum is tailored to suit startups, but it generally includes topics such as branding your startup, developing your investor pitch, refining your value proposition and devising effective finance and sales strategies. In addition, we offer participants the opportunity to meet with industry experts for one-on-one consultations.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

What kind of mentorship will I receive during the program?
We pair cohort companies with mentors chosen specifically for their relevant expertise. Your mentor communicates with you regularly and can provide advice and counsel on company growth and scaling your business.

Will I be introduced to investors during my time at JIVL?
JIVL leverages its broad network of clients and investors on behalf of its program cohorts, making introductions and connections that aim to grow and scale each company’s business.

What is Demo Day?
Demo Day culminates the six-month program, with each founder pitching to an audience of potential investors and clients.

Does the JIVL team support its portfolio companies after the program is over?
Yes, we stay in contact with former participants and follow their successes, continuing to offer support as needed.

OTHER QUESTIONS

Do we participate in the program in-person?
We believe that the value of our program lies in part with the relationships built among the cohort and with the broader JIVL community. JIVL operates on a hybrid model with on-site participation in Tokyo, remote participation to the programs in Tokyo, New York and London as well as on-site participation to the Demo Day in either New York or London.

When will I hear back about my application?
We aim to target contacting applicants with next steps around one month after their application is submitted.

CONTACT US

For questions about Japan Inclusive Ventures Lab,
please email jivl@morganstanley.com.