StartupBlink

2325 Top startups in Tokyo for July 2026

We rank PayPay, Nexon and Sansan in Tokyo along with 2322 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. Tokyo startup ecosystem ranks #13 globally and #1 in Japan.

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Unicorns

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Accelerators

Top Unicorn Startups in Tokyo for 2026

Four startups have achieved unicorn status by exceeding USD 1 billion in valuation. Collectively, the top three unicorns in Tokyo have raised more than USD 4.6B.
1st
SmartNews logo
SmartNewsSB Score: 649

SmartNews uses machine learning to curate and share top-quality news stories worldwide. Discover and stay informed with ease through this innovative platform.

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Website
www.smartnews.com/en
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$410.3M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
SmartHR logo
SmartHRSB Score: 563

SmartHR provides a cloud-native human resources management platform that offers a suite of tech-enabled human resources management solutions, focusing on employee management and administration, growth, talent management, and employee productivity. Through its comprehensive range of solutions, SmartHR serves a diversified spectrum of businesses including large enterprises and SMEs.

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Website
smarthr.co.jp
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$322.2M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Playco logo
PlaycoSB Score: 450

Playco is revolutionizing gaming by creating instant multiplayer games that require no additional app downloads. With a focus on social play, Playco's games bring people together for fun and interactive experiences, making gaming accessible and enjoyable for all.

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Website
www.play.co
Employee range
51 – 100
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$143.5M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:4

Best Startups in Tokyo for 2026

1st
PayPay logo
PayPaySB Score: 748

PayPay is an online payment application. This benefit is not applicable when paying with PayPay online payment service. For PayPay, per person, the granting limit for one payment is equivalent to 15,000 yen, and the total granting limit for one month is equivalent to 30,000 yen.

View Full Page
Website
paypay.ne.jp
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$489.1M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Nexon logo
NexonSB Score: 634

Nexon is an entertainment software developing company that creates free-to-play online games. Nexon is a pioneer in the world of interactive entertainment software. They introduced the world to the first graphic MMORPG, The Kingdom of the Winds, back in 1995. Since then, they've become the industry leader in massively multiplayer online games, continuing to redefine the genre with each of their innovative titles.

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Website
company.nexon.co.jp/en
Employee range
5,001 – 10,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$61.9M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Sansan logo
SansanSB Score: 605

Since its founding in 2007, Sansan has focused on delivering its cloud based contact management service to customers in Japan and beyond. Sansan is setting the standard in Japan for cloud-based contact management, with annually doubling numbers of users from over 7,000 premium corporate users including the Japanese Government (METI). Sansan Inc. is based in Tokyo, Japan and has its subsidiary Sansan global Pte. Ltd. in Singapore since October 2015. The company began offering its business card app Eight in 2012. It has over 1.5 million registered users as a new business network that incorporates a social media framework to transform business cards into business connections. Founded: June 11, 2007 URL: https://www.corp-sansan.com/ Address: Aoyama Oval Building, 13F, 5-52-2, Jingu-mae Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-0001 Business scope: Planning, development, and sales of cloud-based business card management services Sansan for business users: https://www.sansan.com Eight for individual users: https://8card.net

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Website
www.sansan.com
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$120.5M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
Timee logo
TimeeSB Score: 603

Timee is an online platform that facilitates part-time job matching services. Workers can commence employment immediately without the need for a resume or interview by simply selecting their preferred job, and they can receive payment right after starting. Businesses can easily specify the required time and skills, and workers who fulfill these criteria will be automatically matched. The platform also provides information on activities and initiatives in collaboration with local governments and organizations, along with research and studies related to spot work.

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Website
timee.co.jp
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$34.5M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
5th
Andpad logo
AndpadSB Score: 600

Andpad provides a construction management application for users throughout Japan. It began operation on September 1, 2015, with its headquarters in Tokyo in Japan.

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Website
andpad.jp
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$179.5M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
6th
Retty logo
RettySB Score: 598

Retty is a social gourmet site where you can share the restaurants you have been to or want to go to with your friends. Choosing where you want to eat will become much easier with Retty! The iPhone and Android apps are coming soon. You'll be able to use Retty on the go on your smartphone.

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Website
retty.me
Employee range
51 – 100
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$23.5M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
7th
TableCheck logo
TableCheckSB Score: 596

TableCheck empowers restaurant operators worldwide to maximize guest engagement, reservations, and table utilization. We analyze and evaluate data from restaurants and use this information to create a more vibrant dining experience for their customers. Our team of creative minds is continuously seeking to drive innovative solutions to support our restaurant partners. TableCheck’s restaurant management tools give restaurants the power and flexibility to provide seamless customer experiences for every guest from the moment they make reservations. "

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Website
www.tablecheck.com/en/join
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$22.2M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
8th
Raksul logo
RaksulSB Score: 593

Raksul.inc is a fabless B2B platform builder. It aims to redesign and simplify value chains in legacy industries. It has enabled the "sharing economy" business model in printing, logistics and advertising, by connecting SME customers directly to excess capacities of existing players in various industries at a low cost.

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Website
corp.raksul.com/en
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$71.8M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
9th
UQ Communications logo
UQ CommunicationsSB Score: 590

UQ Communications is a Japanese company that specializes in providing WiMAX mobile services. Their goal is to build a WiMAX network to make mobile broadband access available everywhere. Their key stakeholders are, KDDI CORPORATION, Intel Capital Corporation, East Japan Railway Company, KYOCERA Corporation, Daiwa Securities Group Inc., and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. They received $43 million from Intel Capital in June.

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Website
www.uqwimax.jp
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$43M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
10th
One Tap BUY logo
One Tap BUYSB Score: 586

One Tap BUY provides my banker, the financial smartphone application. The application allows its users to select the stocks they want to buy and sell, helps them to decide amounts, and buy stocks by spending a lesser amount of money. Stocks can be traded throughout the day and it also allows its users to buy and sell only profits and keep the stocks with them.

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Website
paypay-sec.co.jp
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$114.3M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
11th
Ubie logo
UbieSB Score: 577

Ubie is a developer of an AI symptom checker software that will provide its patients with individualized evaluation report. The company offers AI-based healthcare products such as the hospital SaaS product, “Ubie for Hospital”, also known as AI Monshin (Monshin means an interview with a doctor/record taking in Japanese) is an AI-driven medical questionnaire software targeting users at medical institutions, to support document creation of clinical records under supervision from specialists.

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Website
ubiehealth.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$86.3M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:1581

Most Funded Startups in Tokyo for 2026

The top three most funded startups in Tokyo have raised total funding of more than USD 4.98B. Rapidus has 7.23% more funding than PayPay.
2nd
PayPay logo
PayPaySB Score: 748

PayPay is an online payment application. This benefit is not applicable when paying with PayPay online payment service. For PayPay, per person, the granting limit for one payment is equivalent to 15,000 yen, and the total granting limit for one month is equivalent to 30,000 yen.

View Full Page
Website
paypay.ne.jp
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$489.1M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Tier IV logo
Tier IVSB Score: 493

Tier IV is a federated academic startup embracing research and development of intelligent vehicles. Founded in December 2015, Tier IV has led the development of open-source software for self-driving technology, also known as Autoware, and applied it for the proof of concept of last-mile driverless mobility and logistics. Tier IV aspires to achieve “Democratization of Intelligent Vehicles”, where any individuals and organizations can contribute to a grander vision of future intelligent vehicles, leading to a better society in which all the people receive new spatio-temporal values.

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Website
tier4.jp
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$464.3M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:1581

Top Hiring Startups in Tokyo by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in Tokyo have an median employee size that is between [10001+]
1st
RECLO logo
RECLOSB Score: 573

RECLO is a luxury brand consignment application that allows the user to consign and sell branded products. Anyone can purchase a wide range of second-hand brand items (including new and rare items) such as clothes, bags, watches, accessories, and jewelry at up to 90% off. All products have been judged by experienced appraisers. Responsible quality assurance. In addition, since you can return the product after purchase, customers who are uneasy about purchasing online, such as size and condition, should shop with peace of mind.

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Website
reclo.jp
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$186.2M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Ricoh Company logo
Ricoh CompanySB Score: 412

Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions.

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Website
www.ricoh.com/products/iqui/?_ga=2.4297587.1731023326.1644765654-648183396.1644765654
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
WFrontier logo
WFrontierSB Score: 387

Wfrontier is developing and operating a shopping agency platform.In the past three years, we have become a "public infrastructure (infrastructure)" that changes society. The first thing to address is the “shopping issues” that the child-rearing generation has.Wfrontier support people who are busy with childcare, housework, work, and those who are too far away from shopping, as a shopping agency platform.

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Website
wfrontier.jp
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$2.2M
National Rank(Japan)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:2325

Explore More Top Startups

Explore the Startup Ecosystem of Tokyo

National Rank

(Japan)

1st

0

Regional Rank

(East Asia)

3rd

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Global Rank

(WorldWide)

13th

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Top Cities for Startups in Japan - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
2026 National Rank CityGlobal RankTotal Score & National ShareAnnual GrowthQuantity ScoreQuality ScoreBusiness Score
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