On September 16, 2025, Shibuya City and Berlin’s economic development agency, Berlin Partner, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and support the growth of both cities’ startup ecosystems.
Shibuya has long been known as a center of culture, trends, and creativity, while also serving as the birthplace of many of Japan’s leading tech startups. The city aims to further accelerate the development of its growing creative-tech sector by building on this foundation of culture × technology. Berlin, on the other hand, has become one of Europe’s largest startup hubs, attracting entrepreneurs and investors across technology, creative industries, and sustainability. Both cities share a common foundation in technology and creativity, driving the emergence of new businesses and culture.
Through this MoU, Shibuya and Berlin Partner will establish a framework that facilitates smoother market entry for startups across both cities. The collaboration will deepen knowledge exchange, expand international networks, and promote joint initiatives in innovation and digital-related sectors. These efforts aim to drive sustainable ecosystem growth and global business expansion.
On the morning of the MoU signing, Shibuya Startup Support (SSS) hosted a morning reception at SHIBUYA BRIDGE for a Berlin delegation of 30 representatives, including startups, companies, and ecosystem builders. Among the attendees were Berlin Partner, Gudrun Sack, CEO of Tegel Project—a large-scale initiative transforming Berlin’s former airport into a smart city innovation and research hub—and Sebastian Sooth, Startup Manager at DB mindbox, Deutsche Bahn’s startup incubation program.
SHIBUYA BRIDGE, located near Shibuya Station, serves as a key SSS base and features open spaces and a rooftop event area. It also functions as a workspace and networking venue for startup visa holders. During the reception, SSS introduced its support programs and provided an overview of Shibuya’s startup ecosystem. The networking session that followed brought together participants from various fields and fostered meaningful exchanges and new connections between startups from Shibuya and Berlin.
Stefan Franzke, CEO of Berlin Partner; Franziska Giffey, Deputy Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises; and Ken Hasebe, Mayor of Shibuya City, attended the MoU signing ceremony.
A discussion titled “Exchange of views on startup policies and the MoU between Shibuya City and Berlin” was also held. The dialogue explored opportunities for cooperation within the startup ecosystem, as well as potential partnerships across other fields such as smart cities and the creative initiatives connected to DIG SHIBUYA, which is an immersive culture event blending technology and art scheduled for February 2026.
Through this MoU, Shibuya City and Berlin Partner will strengthen collaboration in areas such as startup support, delegation exchange, and information sharing to further develop their ecosystems. The two cities aim to enhance their global recognition as hubs where startups can continue to challenge and grow by deepening cooperation in creative and technological industries.
Shibuya Startup Support will continue to strengthen partnerships with overseas startups and provide support for their entry into Japan. If you are a creative startup interested in expanding to Japan or collaborating with SSS, feel free to reach out. Stay up-to-date with upcoming events and seminars by following us on social media!
More information on Shibuya’s Startup Visa program: https://shibuya-startup-support.jp/sws/
Shibuya Startup Support’s social media accounts:
LinkedIn：https://www.linkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support/
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/shibuya.startup.support
X (formerly Twitter)：https://twitter.com/ShibuyaStartup
Shibuya Bridge B-5,
1-29-3 Higashi, Shibuya City, Tokyo
JAPAN 150-0011
Shibuya Startup Support
