The Global Connector Salon: Bridging Ecosystems
The interactive panel discusses strategies for empowering startups and creating lasting impact through value beyond initial capital. That’s Delphi Member Richard Johns on the right speaking.
The Startup Lady Association, a leading accelerator for female entrepreneurs, has successfully launched the "GoGlobal Hub" initiative, a core project supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. This hub is designed as a nexus where international founders, investors, and Japanese entrepreneurs and corporations converge to drive Startup Lady's vision of cross-border innovation. The third event, the Global Connector Salon, demonstrated the project's commitment to practical business connections. It serves to connect global talent with Japanese firms, helping businesses expand into overseas markets and fostering socially meaningful ventures across Japan. This effort directly addresses the need for a deeper understanding of cultural contexts and industry structures—a common barrier to international expansion.
Pivoting to Practical Business Matchmaking
The Global Connector Salon is an interactive exchange focused on practical business matching. It moves beyond simple networking, emphasizing concrete collaboration between foreign and Japanese entrepreneurs. Through mini-pitch sessions and focused discussions, the event cultivates an environment where shared business ideas can evolve from co-creation into practical, actionable partnerships. The third installment specifically featured a 3-minute pitch session, offering presenters a concise platform to showcase their ventures to international investors and founders, aiming for collaborative opportunities.
Keynote Insight and Event Structure
The event was held on Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Playground, the Plug and Play Japan office in Shibuya. The agenda was structured to maximize engagement and synergy. Following the opening, the core session was a panel discussion, designed as an interactive, two-way dialogue with all attendees. This was followed by the crucial 3-minute pitch session and open networking. The full event, including the networking reception with food and drinks, provided ample time for founders to build meaningful connections. All discussions were conducted primarily in English, with Japanese support available, ensuring the event was accessible to both local and international participants.
Philippe Roche presents key data on successful startup investment and geographical portfolio during his address at the Global Connector Salon.
The keynote speaker for the third session was Philippe Roche, Founder & CEO of Inovexus SAS. His insights, shared during the initial panel discussion, provided critical context and high-level perspective on global venture building. The gathering attracted a diverse target audience, including Japanese entrepreneurs, foreign founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, corporate relations personnel, and various ecosystem supporters. Attendance was capped at 40-50 participants to ensure high-quality interactions. The event underscored the Startup Lady mission to build an inclusive and international community.
The Hub's Strategic Background and Mission
Since its inception in 2017, Startup Lady has supported the growth of domestic and international startups. Experience has shown that while language proficiency is a factor, a lack of understanding regarding industrial structure and cultural backgrounds often poses a greater obstacle to overseas expansion for both Japanese and foreign founders. Conversely, entrepreneurs who actively collaborate with global counterparts tend to succeed more often in international markets.
This insight is the driving force behind the Go Global Hub. The Hub's strategic goal is to establish a platform in Tokyo that nurtures entrepreneurs, investors, and companies successful in collaborating with international partners. By leveraging the association's established operational expertise in accelerator and venture studio formats, the Hub is designed to accelerate cross-border co-creation and new venture creation. This strategy directly supports the broader Japan Market Entry landscape for foreign businesses.
Future Outlook: A Series of Global Connections
The Go Global Hub has planned a total of seven main events, structured around the key themes of co-creation, problem-solving, and business matching. These events are designed to deepen participant exchange and collaboration, ultimately leading to the generation of new business.
Cross-Border Startup Match Salon: Co-creation-focused networking events (2 sessions: September, October).
Global Connector Salon: Practical business matchmaking with overseas companies and VCs (2 sessions: November 10th, December). This type of event is critical for foreign founders seeking a viable path in Japan.
Reverse Connect Tokyo: International co-creation sessions starting with real issues faced by Japanese companies and entrepreneurs (2 sessions: January, February).
Global Partner Matching Event (Tentative): A single event focusing on global partnership support (February).
The structure is varied to prevent monotony and ensure maximum engagement. The event series is instrumental in building a robust venture ecosystem in Japan.
A Leading Global Accelerator
The Startup Lady Association is a Japan-based accelerator dedicated to the development of female entrepreneurs and next-generation leaders. Its vision is to create a dynamic, international community where women can confidently pursue their entrepreneurial goals. The association focuses on three core missions: education, inspiration, and community. Through its unique bilingual network, training programs, and mentorship, Startup Lady is committed to producing female global talent equipped with strong entrepreneurship skills. The Go Global Hub is a significant extension of this core mission.
