Kansai Region Deeptech Overview (Jolt Capital)

Summary

• Kansai is Japan's second-largest economic region and represents ~17% of Japan's total GDP, comparable to the Netherlands or Switzerland.p.1
• 2,320 companies were identified in Kansai, including ~900 deeptech companies.p.1
• 16 out of Japan's 28 Nobel Prize laureates originate from the Kansai region.p.1
• Kansai university spin-offs raised 2.7x more €m in 2024 vs. 2019.p.1
• Germany (16.7%), Italy (6.0%) and France (5.6%) hold the largest shares of foreign-affiliated entities in Kansai.p.1
• The Hidden Universe comprises over 6k Japanese companies, 533 of which are located in the Kansai region.p.5

Key insights

1. Growth rounds still represent <10% of funding rounds in Kansai, pointing to a deeptech growth funding gap.p.1
2. Kansai represents 17% of Japan's GDP and 21% of Japan's exports.p.2
3. Several companies register their HQ in Tokyo for visibility and fundraising purposes while operations remain primarily in Kansai.p.1