Top 20 Japanese Companies for AI Startups to Watch in 2024
Forbes predicted in November 2022 that “artificial intelligence will become real in organizations” and declared it to be the #1 tech trend to watch for in 2023. Their call was correct in a major way. The global impact of AI in 2023, led by emergent technologies like ChatGPT, made AI ubiquitous.
The increasing tide of interest in AI was acutely felt in Japan. Google Trends shows almost a 100 fold increase in Japan for searches in the “Generative artificial intelligence” category in 2023.
Gradient Consulting founder Mike Kim has focused the better part of the past decade identifying and securing strategic growth opportunities in Japan for US-based AI startups. As we look ahead to 2024, Mike shares his Top 20 Japanese companies (by sales revenue) for US-based AI companies to watch closely. This is a great starting point if you're a US-based AI startup and Japan is on your sales roadmap. Most companies included on this list are forward leaning, open to working with US startups, likely have budget to allocate, and many of these companies have teams that are able to work in English (without need for English-Japanese translators).
This list was hand selected by Mike Kim of Gradient Consulting, a leading Asia Pacific Tokyo-based consultancy specializing in accelerating revenue growth for early to mid-stage US AI technology startups with top VC firm backing. Gradient Consulting has relationships with all of these companies in varying degrees. (Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be notified when future lists are published.)
Top 20 Japanese Companies for US AI Startups to Watch in 2024
Toyota
Mitsubishi Corporation
Honda
Mitsui & Co.
ITOCHU Corporation
NTT
Seven & I Holdings
Hitachi
Marubeni
Aeon
Panasonic
Sumitomo Corporation
Softbank Group
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Bridgestone
Canon
Fujitsu
Komatsu
NTT Data
NEC
One Japanese tech leader estimates that Japan is about 10 years behind the US in AI. This gap could be seen as an arbitrage opportunity for American forerunners in AI to bring their technology and innovation to Japanese companies hungry to catch up. This greenfield opportunity is amplified further by Japan's existential need for AI (i.e. declining population, labor needs, and the need to create new businesses and generate revenue with innovation).
If you’d like to learn more about how Gradient Consulting can help your company penetrate the market in Japan, please contact us to schedule a call.