Tired of ads? Enjoy an ad-free experience by signing up.
👩‍🍳 How we use AI at Tech in Asia, thoughtfully and responsibly.
🧔‍♂️ A friendly human may check it before it goes live. More news here

Antler Japan invests $1.5m in 10 early-stage startups

Antler Japan invested 240 million yen (US$1.5 million) in 10 startups in 2025, focusing on early-stage companies building for international markets.

The firm announced a new six-week Inception Residency for 2026, increasing initial funding to US$150,000 per startup.

Selected companies operate in fields such as robotics, AI, logistics, legal tech, and biotech, with each receiving about 24 million yen (US$155,630) in pre-seed funding.

Antler received over 2,100 applications for its Japan program last year, selecting roughly 0.5 percent.

The updated program aims to provide founders with more capital early on, with additional support of up to US$250,000 within 6-9 months.

The next cohort launches in May 2026, targeting founders with clear visions and global ambitions.

🔗 Source: Antler

Recent Antler Japan developments

Stay ahead in Asia’s tech landscape

You've reached your 2 free content limit for the month. Sign up for free to read the full story.

🏄 For casual readers / 👶 Free

Basic

US$0

Free forever

Get instant access to this article and more every month

0 premium content

Unlimited news briefs

5

5 articles

Ad-free reading experience

Just US$0 per day

⌛Sign up in 20s. No payment details needed.

📖 For learners / 👍 Starter

Lite

US$4.92/month

Billed annually at US$59/year

Get instant access to this article and more every month

4

4 premium content

Unlimited news briefs & articles

Ad-free reading experience

Just US$0.17 per day

Cancel anytime

Our subscriber community includes professionals from these companies:

Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.

Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.