In a pioneering series of events, the Japanese government agency JETRO and Ago-ra IT Consulting, with the informational support of Kyiv IT Cluster, introduced Ukrainian IT companies to the Japanese market for the first time. Spanning three installments from December 2022 to March 2023, the pitch events showcased 10 standout Ukrainian startups in the fields of healthtech, HR tech, and IoT—areas of particular interest to Japanese companies and investors.

Amid fierce competition in the Ukrainian IT industry in recent years, there has been a significant shift in focus from recession-prone Western countries to Asia, especially Japan, an ally of Ukraine. Among Ukrainian entrepreneurs, the phrase “Go to Japan” is fast becoming a mantra. This series of events not only demonstrates Japan’s support for Ukraine but also reflects the mutual interest between Ukrainian companies eager to enter the Japanese market and Japanese companies intrigued by Ukraine’s IT sector.