Top tech communities in Kansai to help you supercharge your career

The Kansai region is located in the central-western region of Honshu, the main island of Japan.

As the region houses multiple major cities, namely Kyoto and Osaka, which are some of the biggest tech hubs in the country, the region is also no short of great tech- and startup-focused communities that’ll especially be helpful for foreigners living in the region.

In this post, I’ll introduce some of the best tech and startup-centric communities and meetup groups you can find in the region. I’ll also introduce online communities you can become a part of from the comfort of your home, as well as startup support initiatives and organizations that can help you bring an idea to life easily.

However, let’s first start with a brief overview of the startup ecosystem and the trends that exist in the Kansai region.

The Startup Ecosystem in Kansai

When it comes to starting a business, a well-known metropolis like Tokyo might be the first city that comes to mind. However, if it’s innovation you’re looking for, Osaka and Kyoto, the two major cities in the Kansai region, might be better choices. Let me explain.

First of all, the Kansai region historically houses some of the best universities in Japan, which is a testament to its history of innovation. What’s more, the region has plenty of large companies that are especially competent in manufacturing.

In addition, the region is not only great for Japanese entrepreneurs but for foreign entrepreneurs as well. Osaka is quickly on its way to becoming the destination for foreign businesses that want to expand into Japan. The government even selected the city for its Startup Ecosystem City Plan, and one of the biggest innovation-focused events in the country, the Osaka-Kansai expo, will be held in the region.

While it may be true that Tokyo has the majority of the startups in the country, the Kansai region is slowly but surely catching up. Especially in this post-COVID era, the IT sector in the city is relocating to other cities in Japan in an effort to diffuse the immense concentration of people and businesses in Tokyo.

Currently, the region holds Japan’s second-largest economy, which is growing at a rapid pace, as the startup scene in the area that’s mostly focused on deep tech also grows. 

While the region houses only about 10% of the country’s startups as of now, this is expected to change due to the government’s and the private sector’s initiatives. Innovative, groundbreaking businesses are popping up in the region every day.

If you want to learn about the overall startup scene in Japan, I also have another post where I talked about the startups in Japan extensively.

Online Tech Communities in the Kansai Region

While it’s true that tech meetup groups and communities are a great way to meet like-minded individuals and learn new things, in-person events are also more time-consuming and can be deemed restrictive since they require physical presence. So, I’d like to introduce a few online communities before we get on with the physical meetup groups.

Besides, since the beginning of the pandemic, in-person events are becoming less and less desirable, especially when online alternatives have all but become the norm nowadays. 

Online communities provide much better accessibility since they level out the playing field for people with physical or mental disabilities, and the Kansai region is no short of tech communities you can become a part of without leaving your home. 

So, before we get to the in-person meetups and communities in Osaka and Kyoto, let’s take a look at a couple of great online communities in the Kansai Region that you can join today.

Hacker News Kansai

The primary language of this online community is English.

Hacker News Kansai, or HN Kansai, is an online community that also organizes events in Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. The group aims to bring people from all corners of the tech world together to meet and learn from one another. 

HN Kansai has a Slack group you can join where you’ll find an active community exchanging valuable information as well as sharing niche topics of interest. The Slack group has over 500 members, and the community is growing larger every day.

In addition to its online presents, HN Kansai also has in-person events where you can meet people and make new friends. Members discuss a wide range of topics that are related to technology at the meetings, as well as present their work and receive feedback from their peers.

You can check out HN Kansai’s in-person events on the group’s Meetup page and join their Slack group by requesting an invite.

HN Kansai Scrapbox

The primary language of this online community is English.

HN Kansai Scrapbox might just be one of the most helpful online resources for tech-related topics like coding, design, and even games. Essentially, the community acts as an archive and a database for the Hacker News Kansai group I introduced above.

On HN Kansai Scrapbox, you can simply browse through the topics to find something of interest, and you can also find information regarding the key people in the tech and startup world, as well as startup-related organizations. 

In addition to startup and tech-related content, you’ll also find various useful information like the best coffee places to work at or even presentations about the group member’s niche hobbies.

HN Kansai Scrapbox is an incredible resource not only for people living in the Kansai region but all foreigners living in Japan who are in the tech world. You can simply get lost browsing the mountain of content for hours, as there’s definitely a little something in there for everyone.

Osaka Meetups for Networking and Industry Insight

As I mentioned, Osaka is one of Japan’s largest cities, and it’s a great city filled to the brim with innovation, cutting-edge technology, and blossoming startups. The port city is also one of Japan’s most important commercial centers, which makes it a great place for innovation. It’s where business and technology meet.

Osaka currently houses about 1,000 startups, and as expected, the city’s ecosystem receives competitive financial backing from investors all over the world compared to other major cities in Japan, as 300 of Osaka’s startups have raised over 42 million USD in the past three and a half years. 

However, what sets the city apart from cities like Tokyo or Kyoto is the fact that it’s the perfect place for manufacturing on a medium scale. While cities like Nagoya are thriving on mass manufacturing at a large scale with big factories, Osaka’s ecosystem is more suitable for medium-scale manufacturing, which allows specific, high-quality prototypes to be built with care.

As Osaka is such a tech hub, it’s only natural that many tech-related events and meetups are happening in the city all year round. Let’s now take a look at some of the best meetup groups in the city you can join today and gain industry insight from peers.

Osaka Web Designers and Developers Meetup

The primary language of Osaka Web Designers and Developers Meetup is English. As such, the group is international and diverse.

Osaka Web Designers and Developers Meetup is a meetup group that aims to bring like-minded individuals who are in Osaka’s web community. The group was formed to create a place for the English-speaking design/tech community in Osaka and to allow them the opportunity to present their ideas and learn from their peers.

The group is open to anyone interested in web design and development, and members are free to make presentations about everything related to web development and design. The meetup also has a Kyoto counterpart, called Kyoto Web Designers and Developers Meetup, which I’ll get to in a bit.

The Osaka Web Design and Developer’s community is a great way to hone your presentation skills and make new friends with web professionals, as the group currently has over 1,400 members, with new ones joining frequently. 

The group holds regular monthly meetings, and they have a Discord channel you can join, where the online community is very active and helpful. You can follow the group's events on Discord or on the Meetup page I shared above, or follow their Twitter page for updates.

Osaka Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning

The primary language spoken at Osaka Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning meetups is English.

Osaka Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning is a meetup group created by H2O.ai, an artificial intelligence cloud company that aims to democratize AI and its implementation. As expected, the focus of the group is on subjects like AI, machine learning, deep learning, and big data.

As H2O.ai is a leading company in AI and provides services for industry leaders like AT&T, PayPal, and Capital One, among other Fortune 500 companies, the events feature presentations by top-tier professionals. The invited speakers are all among the best in their field, and the information shared during meetings is highly valuable for anyone who’s interested in AI and data science.

As the meetings and presentations are all held in English, Osaka Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning is an especially great group for foreign professionals who want to network and make new friends in Japan.

The group doesn’t host regular events, but their events are not to be missed, so make sure to follow their Meetup Page. 

Ruby Kansai (Ruby関西)

The primary language spoken at Ruby Kansai meetups is mainly Japanese, but foreign professionals are also welcome.

Ruby Kansai (Ruby関西) is the main body of several communities and meetup groups in the Kansai region that are dedicated to Ruby-related topics. The group currently has over 1,400 members.

The community hosts workshops and events that put the programming language Ruby front and center, as well as a conference dedicated to Ruby. Although the group doesn’t have regular events, they do hold at least three to four events each year. 

Even though the primary language spoken here is Japanese, the events have a diverse attendance, and foreign professionals have the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and network. So, don’t be shy if your Japanese skills aren’t exactly perfect.

You can follow Ruby Kansai’s Facebook page to make sure you don’t miss out on any events. However, If you happen to miss an event, the group also has a GitHub page where they post information and documentation related to all past workshops and events, which is an invaluable resource on its own.

PyData Osaka

The primary language of PyData Osaka is Japanese. The group is specifically for individuals and tool developers who are involved in data analysis. 

As the name suggests, the group mainly focuses on tools that utilize the Python programming language. However, they also cover a wide range of programming languages and general data analysis techniques like machine learning and data preprocessing.

PyData Osaka states that they aim to foster a supportive environment where members can share their ideas and learn from each other. This statement rings true, as the group doesn’t limit the discussion topics to Python and is open to other discussion topics as well.

The group doesn’t hold meetings regularly, but they usually have around three to four events each year. Currently, they have over 400 members, with new ones joining frequently. 

If you’re looking for more information on the group, PyData also has a Medium blog where they share information regarding past events, as well as anything related to the group’s activities. 

Kyoto Meetups for Networking and Industry Insight

Kyoto is another major city located in the Kansai Region, and, like Osaka, the city is home to some of the best tech-oriented meetup groups in Japan. Here are a few you might want to keep an eye on.

Kyoto Web Designers and Developers Meetup

The primary language of Kyoto Web Designers and Developers meetings is English, and international, non-Japanese members are also welcome.

As I mentioned, Kyoto Web Designers and Developers Meetup is the Kyoto counterpart of the Osaka Web Designers and Developers Meetup. Similarly, the group was created as a way to bring the English-speaking design and tech community in Kyoto together. 

The KWDDM meetings cover a wide range of topics, and attendees are free to bring in their own topics to present. The topics can be anything related to web development and design, and you can expect to hear presentations on topics such as 2FA security analysis, UX of forms, or even Javascript frameworks.

The group is completely not-for-profit, as the events are organized by volunteers, and all of the money they collect goes to the organization of future events. With a current member count of about 70 members, the group might seem fairly small, but the members are all active and bring valuable insight. 

Besides, the intimate nature of the group may even allow those who may feel intimidated to socialize within large groups to feel at ease and join the discussions actively. 

You can check out the group’s monthly regular meetings on their Meetup page.

GDG Kyoto

The primary languages of this meetup group are both English and Japanese.

GDG Kyoto, also known as Google Developer Group Kyoto, is a meetup group that’s centered around Google tech. It’s part of a global network of communities formed under Google — there are GDGs in other major cities all around the world as well. 

The main activities of the group are conferences, seminars, and workshops, both in person and online. While the topics are mainly centered around technologies that are provided or created by Google, GDG Kyoto is open to everything that’s related to HTML5 and UI/UX design. In addition to the educational events, GDG Kyoto also frequently holds hackathons. 

Most importantly, the culturally diverse nature of the group offers ample opportunity to meet like-minded individuals in Kyoto in an international setting. It’s a rather large community too, as they are about to hit the 700-member mark pretty soon.

While the group doesn’t hold regular meetings, they usually have at least three to four events every year. 

You can follow the group’s Connpass page and their Facebook Page for future events and announcements.

PechaKucha Night Kyoto

The primary language of PechaKucha Night Kyoto’s events is English.

PechaKucha is an online global storytelling platform that organizes presentation-focused events. PechaKucha Night Kyoto is the name of the company’s Kyoto-based events series, where attendants make presentations on various topics.

While it’s not a tech or design-specific series of events, it’s hard to describe the exact scope of the topics discussed during PechaKucha Nights. 

At each event, attendees get to watch presentations, usually in PechaKucha’s own presentation format called “20 x 20 PechaKucha,” made up of 20 slides, each lasting for 20 seconds. The topics are varied and include discussions on sustainability, local culture, history, and more. 

While you’re not guaranteed to be interested in every event, the presentations are very short, as per the program’s designated format. What’s guaranteed is that you’ll always learn something interesting, as well as have the opportunity to meet curious, like-minded people.

The group doesn’t host regular events, but they do have events at least a few times a year. You can check out their past events, as well as stay informed on upcoming events on their website.

WTM Kyoto (Women Techmakers Kyoto)

The primary language spoken at WTM Kyoto events is Japanese.

Women Techmakers Kyoto, or WTM Kyoto for short, is a sub-community of GDG Kyoto, which I introduced earlier. More specifically, WTM Kyoto is a women-focused group run by female members of GDG Kyoto.

Despite being a sub-community of the GDG, the WTM is actually not specific to technologies created by Google. The group aims to bring together all women in technology in general and present them with an additional platform.

In addition to attending the regular GDG meetups and events, WTM members can also attend Women Techmaker events, where female speakers from the Kansai region are invited to give lectures and presentations on life and technology.

The group doesn’t have frequent regular meetings, but they do hold one or two events yearly. One of them is the International Women’s Day event — a spectacular event that hosts a wide selection of great speakers each year.

While the events are in Japanese, foreign professionals will still find that the WTM events are great for networking and making new friends. You can follow the group’s upcoming events on their Connpass page.

Kyoto.rb

The primary language spoken at Kyoto.rb events is Japanese.

Kyoto.rb, as the name suggests, is a community for Ruby engineers to come together and discuss various topics that are related to the Ruby programming language. 

However, the group isn’t solely limited to Ruby-related discussions, and members are free to present or talk about everything that’s related to their jobs or projects.

The group’s website, which is their GitHub page, states that it’s a community that aims to recharge its members’ motivation. As the group also holds events online, they also accept members who don’t live in Kyoto.

What’s more, Kyoto.rb also has a Slack group you can join by filling out this form. In this group, members are free to exchange ideas, ask questions, or contribute to discussions, which makes it an invaluable resource not just for Rubyists but for all developers.

Kyoto.rb hasn’t held regular events since 2021, but they recently started hosting regular events again this year as they get together once or twice a month. They have over 300 members, and you can follow their future events by checking their Doorkeeper page regularly.

Monozukuri Hub Meetup

The primary languages of this meetup group are Japanese and English.

Monozukuri Hub Meetup is a meetup group created by the global venture capital company Monozukuri Ventures, which specializes in IoT (Internet of Things) manufacturing and startup investment.

The meetup group is aimed at anyone who’s in the world of startups, including entrepreneurs and investors. As such, the meetings don’t really have an industry-specific focus. 

While Monozukuri Ventures' specialization is IoT, they usually delve into various other topics as well. At the meetings, members are free to discuss hardware-focused issues they stumble upon on their own projects, as well as more business-related subjects like how to get a startup up and running.

Professionals, students, academics, and hobbyists can all learn something at Monozukuri Hub Meetup meetings, where expert speakers are also invited to take the stage and give presentations on interesting topics.

The diverse group has over 750 members, and they don’t have regular meetings. Follow their group’s Meetup page for more info on events.

LINE Developer Meetup

The primary language spoken at LINE Developer Meetup events is English.

LINE Developer Meetup is a series of events hosted by LINE Corporation and LINE Fukuoka Corporation that centers around the technologies used at LINE. 

The group is rather large, with over 13,000 members, and the events are held both in person and online. The in-person meetings are held at the LINE offices in Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as at the LINE Fukuoka office, in addition to various other places. 

At each LINE Developer Meetup event, engineers from LINE Corporation speak or give a presentation on topics that are related to LINE’s past and current projects, as well as the technologies they use. 

However, the topics aren’t limited to LINE’s projects and technologies. Attendees are also welcome to share how things are done at the companies they work at and discuss topics that transcend LINE as a company. 

As the meetings are held in English, LINE Developer Meetup events are especially great for foreign professionals. The diverse environment provides a great opportunity to make like-minded friends who are also expats living in Japan.

While LINE Developer Meetup doesn’t host regular events, they do hold events frequently, both offline and online, which you can follow on their Connpass page.

International Startup Events in the Kansai Region

As we’ve seen, Kyoto and Osaka have plenty of somewhat regular tech meetups, but there are also a few great one-off events that happen in the Kansai region. These might specifically appeal to entrepreneurs and investors but are really for anyone who’s in the tech world.

These events aren’t exactly meetup groups — they’re more in the vein of an international festival or a convention, which is another reason why I couldn’t group them with the ones I shared thus far. Either way, let’s take a look at these wonderful events that you won’t want to miss.

Hack Osaka

The primary language spoken at Hack Osaka events is English.

Hack Osaka is the Kansai Region’s largest annual innovation festival that welcomes attendees of all backgrounds and professions. The focus of the event is on innovation in the Kansai region, as the aim is to promote the globally active innovative startups in the region.

The latest installment of the annual festival was held in February 2023 in a hybrid system of online and offline events that allowed people who weren’t present to attend as well. 

The one-day-long event usually features several speakers with sessions covering topics related to the startup ecosystem in the Kansai region and the transformation of the region as a global tech hub. 

In addition, startups from various industries attend as speakers to share their insights, and specific fields like FinTech, Clean Tech, and Sports Tech are put under the spotlight. The event ends with the Hack Awards ceremony, where startups from various industries are awarded on the merits of innovation.

Although some parts of the event may be in Japanese, simultaneous translation from Japanese to English is available for all sessions.

GET IN THE RING OSAKA

The primary language spoken at GET IN THE RING OSAKA events is English.

GET IN THE RING is a startup event that originated in the Netherlands, and it’s now held in over 100 countries all over the world, including Japan. It’s essentially a startup pitch event that features participants in a “pitch battle.”

At GET IN THE RING OSAKA, participants prepare their best startup pitches and face off in a one-on-one competition. Participants are selected in advance and announced through the website. 

The local events, like the one held in Osaka, are preliminaries for the global competition, where the winners from each country get to compete in a Global Final. Basically, the competition is aimed at connecting startups with public and private sector partners and investors and offering them visibility and recognition. The event is held once a year. 

You can register for the event through the GET IN THE RING OSAKA’s website. 

If you don’t want to compete, merely attending the event is just as entertaining as it’s informative.

Startup Weekend Osaka

The primary language of Startup Weekend Osaka events is English.

Startup Weekend Osaka is part of a nationwide event series called Startup Weekend Japan, a three-day event for entrepreneurs, helping them bring their ideas to life. 

This condensed 54-hour program aims to bring together entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and help them create a prototype of their ideas in just three days, all while making new friends.

Startup Weekend events are usually very entertaining and educational, and the Osaka installment is no exception. The structured and practical nature of the event leaves no time to waste, and if you’re a naturally shy person, the group work involved ensures that you’ll work together with like-minded people and not just stand around.

The 54-hour program starts with everyone presenting their ideas, and participants are grouped together according to their roles after that. Each group has a designer, a programmer, and a business mind, and the groups are expected to come up with a business model.

The end of the event sees participants presenting their business models in front of a panel of judges, which provides feedback to the participating groups. All in all, it’s a very hands-on event that should be useful to anyone who wants to start a business.

Startup Weekend Kyoto

The primary language spoken at Startup Weekend Kyoto events is English.

This one needs no introduction, as it’s the Kyoto version of the nationwide event series Startup Weekend Japan I just introduced. Similar to its Osaka counterpart, Startup Weekend Kyoto is also a 54-hour-long program spread out over a weekend.

Similar to its Osaka counterpart, Startup Weekend Kyoto events are also sporadic, so make sure to check out the Startup Weekend Japan website frequently to not miss out on anything.

Monozukuri Hardware Cup

The primary language spoken at Monozukuri Hardware Cup events is English.

Monozukuri Hardware Cup is a business pitch contest held annually in Kyoto and Osaka since 2015. The contest is focused solely on hardware, as the aim of the event is to bring hardware-focused startups to the forefront. 

Over the course of the event, participants present their business plans and compete to win the award for the best business model. The judges are selected among local and overseas investors and key business people, and the participant with the best business plan pitch is awarded at the end of the event.

Prior to the pandemic, the events were held in person, but they have been online for the past few installments, which — if we look at the positive side — provides better accessibility for anyone who wants to attend. 

At the event, participants are asked to present their ideas in four short minutes, followed by a five-minute Q&A session. Then, the presented business plans are judged on criteria such as customer and market size potential and international marketability. 

You can apply to become a participant in the next year’s competition through the Hardware Cup website. 

Startup Support and Investor Networks in the Kansai Region

As I mentioned briefly, in addition to being a tech hub, the Kansai region is also an innovation haven. The region is bustling with brilliant startups, and, as a result, a plethora of organizations that aim to support startups.

While the networks I’ll introduce now aren’t exactly tech communities or meetup groups, these organizations’ sole purpose is to create startup support networks, as well as networks for investors. These networks are a valuable resource for anyone who’s interested in bringing an idea to life or supporting a company that wants to do so. 

Let’s start with the ones that operate region-wide.

KANSAI Startup Ecosystem

KANSAI Startup Ecosystem is an initiative started by a union of 11 prefectures and cities located in the Kansai region, which are collectively called the Union of Kansai Governments. 

The aim of KANSAI Startup Ecosystem is to realize the region’s potential as a tech hub and to create a network of communication for local startups, investors, and local governments. 

KANSAI Startup Ecosystem features acceleration programs, as well as seminars and workshops in Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, among other cities, for startups. You can also explore a wide variety of mentoring and consultation opportunities, incubation centers, matching services, and startup-focused events on the platform’s website under the startup support section.

Plug and Play Japan

Plug and Play Japan is part of a worldwide platform called Plug and Play that brings together startups, investors, government agencies, and venture capital corporations under the same roof and allows them to collaborate easily. The platform is active in both Kyoto and Osaka.

The innovation platform helps startups find acceleration centers or link up with investors or mentors, allowing them to pick from hundreds of featured companies and organizations. Their Japan branch has been in operation since 2017 with a mission to build a world-class startup ecosystem in Japan.

KGAP+

Keihanna Global Acceleration Program Plus, or KGAP+ for short, is a program that provides support to startups from overseas that want to operate in Japan. They also support startups that originate in Japan but want to open up their businesses to overseas markets.

The program was started by the Keihanna Research Complex project, which was created to promote innovation. The program targets IoT, life science, and blockchain-based companies and includes seminars, workshops, and mentorship and fundraising programs.

Osaka Innovation Hub

Osaka Innovation Hub is a startup community that’s backed by the local government in Osaka. The community aims to connect global startups, acceleration programs, and investors to strengthen Osaka’s startup ecosystem.

The community organizes over 250 startup-related events annually, and its network has over 300 businesses and over 700 individuals. They offer consultancy and mentorship to entrepreneurs as well as help them link up with investors or collaboration partners. The community also offers help regarding the startup visa process and finding co-working spaces. 

Osaka Business and Investment Center

Osaka Business and Investment Center, or O-BIC for short, provides an all-around support system that was created as a joint initiative of Osaka’s local government and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce. The center serves as a one-stop shop for foreign investors that want to invest in Osaka startups.

O-BIC provides information regarding startups, office spaces, and investment incentives in the area and connects professionals from a wide range of fields with startups and investors. They also host startup investment-related conferences and seminars in Osaka.

Startupbootcamp Scale Osaka

Startupbootcamp Scale Osaka is an acceleration program for high-growth mature startups from all over the world to scale their businesses in an efficient manner and expand into the Japanese market.

The program is made up of three-month cycles, and each cycle is limited to ten companies to ensure that all businesses that attend the program receive the care and attention needed. 

The program also allows participating businesses to collaborate with Startupbootcamp’s partner companies that are giants in their respective fields that can be categorized under the general topic of Smart Cities and Living.

Future Venture Capital (Kyoto)

Future Venture Capital is a venture capital firm located in Kyoto. The company mainly specializes in early-stage investments. 

Future Venture Capital also provides management support to companies that they invest in and connects their investee companies with the company’s expansive network. The company has been going strong since its establishment in 1998 with a vision of innovation and a mission to support businesses with great growth potential.

Kyoto Research Park

Kyoto Research Park (KRP) is a research and business center, and it serves as a base for creating R&D-oriented businesses in the Kyoto Prefecture by helping them grow. Essentially, it’s a district fueled by innovation where new businesses have the opportunity to be conceptualized and emerge.

The KPR district serves as a physical space where businesses can find rental office labs and spaces. It’s also a place for businesses and individuals from varying industries to interact and collaborate. The town-like district is a great place for anyone who wants to start a business in Kyoto and wants to share an innovative space with like-minded people.

Kyoto Startup Ecosystem

Kyoto Startup Ecosystem is the project of Kyoto Startup Promotion Council, which aims to support entrepreneurs and grow the startup ecosystem in Kyoto.

The main goals of the council are to build a vibrant startup ecosystem in the region, serve as an information hub for both businesses and investors, and form a network of cooperation between other cities in the Kansai region. 

To achieve these goals, the council works in collaboration with a large number of private companies and government bodies from all over Japan.

Startup Capital Kyoto

Startup Capital Kyoto is a government-powered startup growth program for overseas businesses. The program is provided by Kyoto Overseas Business Center, which aims to help overseas businesses enter the Japanese market.

Not only do they host startup-focused events, but they also provide support for businesses to obtain a startup visa. In addition, the program also helps inform businesses about any topic that may relate to operating as a business in Japan, and other related topics.

You can follow the group’s Facebook page to be notified of events and updates.

Monozukuri Ventures (Kyoto)

Monuzukuri Ventures is a venture capital company located in Kyoto. The company wants to empower entrepreneurs and help them bring their ideas to life. 

The company has invested in over 50 startups since 2017 and provided technical support to over 150 startup projects. They don’t have a specific preference when it comes to companies, as they support companies in all stages — from ideation to mass production.

Monuzukuri Ventures aims to foster a global community where businesses, investors, government bodies, and educational institutions can come together in the name of innovation.

Conclusion: Why Joining Local Tech Communities is Worth It

As you may have realized by now, the Kansai region is no short of opportunities when it comes to startups and tech. All of the major cities in the region (Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, to name a few) have robust startup ecosystems and tech scenes, as well as local governments that support innovation.

Of course, in such an environment, there’s also plenty of opportunity to network and meet like-minded people. As you can see, there are quite a large number of communities and meetup groups in Osaka and Kyoto that can help you meet collaborators or gain industry insight. However, that’s not the only thing you gain by joining a tech community.

Communities like the ones I featured in this article can help you stay current and keep yourself updated in your field. They can help you make connections with the key people in your line of business or in the industry you want to work in.

What’s more, communities can be a great way to socialize and meet new people in a city you’re foreign to, especially if you’re from overseas and looking for international, diverse groups to join. 

All in all, tech communities are a surefire way to help you get your business off the ground or to meet the right people that can help you get the job you’ve been dreaming of. 

While I tried to feature all of the major tech communities in the Kansai region in this article, there may be ones that I’m missing, so let me know on Twitter if you have other favorite communities in the Kansai region!

Also, if you’re interested in joining tech communities in other cities in Japan, you can also check out my posts on tech communities in Fukuoka and tech meetups in Tokyo.