{"id":173828,"date":"2025-10-28T17:42:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T08:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?p=173828&lang=en"},"modified":"2025-11-09T20:47:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T11:47:44","slug":"startup-visa-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/startup-visa-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"International Startups in Fukuoka \u2014 Who\u2019s Building What in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ten years after Fukuoka became Japan\u2019s first city to offer a Startup Visa, the experiment is still alive\u2014and evolving. Over the years, dozens of founders from around the world have landed here, tested their ideas, and tried to turn them into companies. Some have graduated to Japan\u2019s Business Manager<\/strong> visa, others are still mid-journey, and many say the real win has been the community that\u2019s formed around them.<\/p>\n

You can meet many of these founders yourself on Friday, November 14 (18:00\u201320:00) at CIC Fukuoka<\/strong> during the event \u201cFukuoka City Startup Visas \u2013 2025 Update!\u201d<\/strong>. It\u2019s an evening of short introductions, open discussion, and networking with the city\u2019s international entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Admission is free and English-friendly. Think of it as a live version of this story\u2014scroll down to read about some of the people you\u2019ll meet there. Register now<\/a> <\/strong>to attend.<\/p>\n

From Experiment to Ecosystem<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When Fukuoka first introduced<\/a> the Startup Visa in 2015, the idea was bold but simple: give foreign founders time to set up before they had to meet Japan\u2019s full Business Manager requirements. That meant up to one year in Fukuoka to register a company, open a bank account, find an office, and hire staff\u2014with hands-on help from the city\u2019s Global Business Support (GBS) desk<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It worked. The combination of a livable city, accessible officials, and practical incentives\u2014like rent support and introductions to specialists\u2014helped turn a policy pilot into a small but steady pipeline of real companies. The city\u2019s young population, compact layout, and startup-friendly spaces such as Fukuoka Growth Next<\/a><\/strong> and most recently CIC Fukuoka<\/a><\/strong> added momentum. For many newcomers, it was the easiest landing spot in Japan to try entrepreneurship in earnest.<\/p>\n

\"International<\/p>\n

2025 \u2014 What\u2019s Changing<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In October 2025 the national government raised the bar for the Business Manager<\/strong><\/a> visa\u2014the status most Startup Visa holders aim for once their business takes shape. The revisions are significant: minimum capital increased from five million yen to thirty million; founders now need either at least three years of management experience or a master\u2019s degree in a related field; at least one full-time employee must be hired; and Japanese language ability equivalent to JLPT N2<\/strong><\/a> is required from either the founder or one employee. Business plans must also be reviewed by a certified expert such as a consultant, tax accountant, or CPA.<\/p>\n

There are other tightening points too. Home offices are generally no longer accepted, and immigration officers will check that taxes and social insurance payments are in order when renewals come up. Current Business Manager visa holders have a three-year grace period\u2014until October 2028\u2014to adjust.<\/p>\n

For entrepreneurs already in Fukuoka, this doesn\u2019t make the dream impossible, but it does make planning more important. Anyone on a Startup Visa now needs to think ahead: build toward that thirty-million-yen capital target, hire at least one qualifying employee, line up Japanese-language capacity, and have a professional vet the business plan. It\u2019s more paperwork\u2014but also clearer expectations.<\/p>\n

Why Fukuoka Still Makes Sense<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even with higher national standards, Fukuoka keeps its edge. The city\u2019s livability, affordability, and openness remain powerful draws. Commutes are short, offices are walkable, and help is easy to find. GBS staff can literally sit beside you to work through visa forms or introductions, something rare in larger cities. Add in the local universities, R&D centers, and the friendly scale of the startup scene, and the combination still works.<\/p>\n

As one founder put it recently, \u201cIf you\u2019re serious, Fukuoka meets you halfway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"International<\/p>\n

The Founders \u2014 People Building Here<\/strong><\/h2>\n

These eleven entrepreneurs are building in Fukuoka through the Startup Visa pathway (with several now on Business Manager). Different sectors, same spirit: make something useful here\u2014and show that international startups can thrive outside Tokyo.<\/p>\n

Siyun Park \u2014 Korea<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some founders came for Fukuoka\u2019s startup-friendly support; others simply felt it was the right-sized city to build something real.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> MenuMenu \u2014 menumenu.life<\/a><\/p>\n

A smart, QR-based multilingual menu for local restaurants. Unlike auto-translate tools, MenuMenu uses native-speaker review for cultural and linguistic accuracy. No app downloads and no POS integration are required; it can sit on top of existing systems. AI adds insights using inventory data and travel signals. Biggest lessons in Fukuoka: paperwork takes time and hiring\u2014especially sales\u2014is hard, so Siyun has been walking the streets and talking to owners directly.<\/p>\n

\"Siyun<\/p>\n

Georgii Plotnikov \u2014 Russia<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Several are tackling deeply technical challenges\u2014AI, blockchain, automation\u2014but what draws them here isn\u2019t just code; it\u2019s the quality of life around it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> Inferara \u2014 inferara.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Security tools for Web3. Inferara\u2019s \u201cInference\u201d helps developers find bugs before code ships, working with major blockchain companies in Japan and overseas. Came to Fukuoka in summer 2024 via the Startup Visa and has since moved to Business Manager. Key takeaway: you need Japanese ability to operate effectively with local partners and customers.<\/p>\n

\"Georgii<\/p>\n

Ruslan Kostenko \u2014 Crimea<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A new wave is still arriving, proof that Fukuoka\u2019s Startup Visa pipeline continues to attract fresh builders.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> Lobster Lab \u2014 lobsterlab.io<\/a><\/p>\n

A self-managing AI platform that handles the full development support cycle\u2014tickets, development, QA, delivery, deployment\u2014aimed at companies stuck with costly legacy codebases. The pitch: replace the traditional \u201cdevelopers on support\u201d model with automation. Arrived March 2025; biggest challenge so far is the language barrier.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Aizen Vest \u2014 Israel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not everyone here is chasing deep tech. Some are building cultural bridges\u2014education, language, and the softer infrastructure of understanding.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> Kompjuut \u2014 kompjuut.com<\/a><\/p>\n

A multilingual voice search engine for retail and HoReCa, targeting labor shortages and slow, manual product research. Early-stage and newly arrived (Oct 13, 2025) to tap Fukuoka\u2019s welcoming startup culture. Currently pre-traction and focused on building.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hoonseok Lee \u2014 South Korea<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Creative founders are finding room, too\u2014indie studios and culture-driven ventures see Fukuoka as a place where experimentation still feels possible.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> EVERYDAY Co., Ltd. \u2014 instagram.com\/hoonsensei_<\/a><\/p>\n

Reinventing Korean-language education with edtech built for the global K-culture wave. Chose Fukuoka for its visible support ecosystem (GBS, Startup Caf\u00e9, etc.). Biggest lesson: patience\u2014understanding the different pace of banks and government here led to deeper know-how on how systems move.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jose Maria Leon Azpiroz \u2014 Mexico<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For some, Fukuoka serves as a launch base for global operations\u2014built here, reaching well beyond Japan.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> Rewind Games \/ Rewind Japan \u2014 rewindgames.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

An indie studio focused on feel-good, flow-driven games. The first title, Tanuki Sunset, earned global attention for art direction and relaxing gameplay. Incorporated Rewind Japan in July 2025 and transitioned to Business Manager in October. Challenge: language and a more risk-averse business culture; upside: craft, responsibility, and collaboration with local developers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ara Ko \u2014 South Korea<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For some, Fukuoka serves as a launch base for global operations\u2014built here, reaching far beyond Japan.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> ARAHOME (AI Property Management Platform) \u2014 site in development<\/p>\n

PropTech to automate building operations\u2014contracts, utility payments, and communication\u2014in one multilingual mobile app. Founded in Fukuoka after years of hands-on building management and seeing how language, guarantors, and fees make housing hard for foreigners. Long-term vision: a global platform that reduces conflict, shares responsibility fairly, and supports sustainable building care.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sunny Lau \u2014 Canada<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The longer you stay, the more the same lesson emerges: progress takes patience, but relationships built here tend to last.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> Bai Hai LLC \u2014 baihai.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

AI-powered valve and pump matching for industrial projects. A proprietary database returns spec-accurate matches to reduce rework and delays. In Fukuoka, Sunny is bridging communication between global suppliers and Japanese clients, building a hybrid team of local industry experts and remote AI specialists.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sharon Cheung \u2014 Hong Kong<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even founders from the same city approach Fukuoka differently\u2014some build tech, others build bridges between markets.<\/i><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> BIXLUX \/ BIXLUXCARD \u2014 bixlux.biz<\/a><\/p>\n

BIXLUX creates AI-powered marketing and branding tools to help small businesses stand out and grow intelligently. Its flagship product, the digital BIXICARD, reimagines how professionals connect\u2014exchanging contacts seamlessly and turning networking into real opportunity. Founded in Fukuoka, BIXLUX works with clients in Japan and abroad, combining automation, design, and data to make marketing simpler, smarter, and more human.<\/p>\n

\"\".<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Gary Yeung \u2014 Hong Kong<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Increasingly, these founders see Fukuoka itself as a platform\u2014a human-scale place to test global ideas and grow beyond Japan.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> Commvia Inc. \u2014 website coming soon<\/p>\n

A digital-marketing company helping Japanese entrepreneurs reach overseas markets. Commvia supports clients with cross-border strategy, creative campaigns, and digital tools to expand beyond Japan. Gary moved to Fukuoka in July 2025, drawn by the city\u2019s friendly policies for foreign founders and its growing international outlook. Still in the early stages, he\u2019s setting up operations under the Startup Visa while monitoring how the new national visa policies will shape opportunities ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Veda Sadhak \u2014 Canada<\/b><\/h3>\n

Some founders are building deep tech for the next web\u2014tools that quietly power the shift from Web2 to Web3.<\/em><\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> Block Dance \u2014 blockdance.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

Block Dance builds a next-generation platform that lets developers easily create, deploy, and manage tokenized games. While game development is relatively simple, blockchain integration adds complexity in security, scalability, and user experience. Block Dance replaces multiple blockchain tools with one unified engine serving both developers and players. Veda moved to Fukuoka in mid-2024 for its startup support, affordability, and quick access to Asia. The language barrier remains a challenge, though translation tools help bridge the gap.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Viko Gara \u2014 Indonesia<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Together, they show a simple truth: Fukuoka\u2019s startup scene isn\u2019t about scale first\u2014it\u2019s about proving what\u2019s possible from here, one idea at a time<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Project:<\/strong> Nosuta \u2014 nosuta.co.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

Nosuta aims to finance, train, and place the next million global workers\u2014\u201cstudent loans for cross-border job preparation.\u201d By offering financial and skills-development support for blue-collar talent, Nosuta helps workers access overseas opportunities responsibly while serving employers who need reliable staff. Viko chose Fukuoka in May 2024, noting that Kyushu\u2019s economy rivals Thailand\u2019s, offering scale without Tokyo-level costs. He admits that B2B in Japan moves slower than expected, but credits Fukuoka Growth Next for strong introductions and an ecosystem that helps turn ideas into partnerships.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whether the Startup Visa eventually merges into the stricter Business Manager framework or remains as a separate entry route, the community it created is now part of Fukuoka\u2019s DNA. These founders are not just visa holders, they\u2019re part of the city\u2019s future economy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you want to see that community in action, come to CIC Fukuoka on November 14.<\/strong> You\u2019ll hear directly from the people shaping the next phase of Fukuoka\u2019s international startup story\u2014and maybe walk away inspired to start your own. Register now<\/a> <\/strong>to attend.<\/p>\n

Text by Nick Szasz, Fukuoka Now.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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