Shinhan Financial Group expands support for domestic startups entering Japan

[Financial News] Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. is expanding its support for domestic startups seeking to expand overseas by leveraging its financial network in Japan.
According to financial industry sources on the 12th, Shinhan Financial Group held the Shinhan Futures Lab Japan Demo Day in Tokyo, Japan, on the 11th, jointly with Shinhan Bank Japan, Shinhan Bank’s local subsidiary, and Japan’s Kiraboshi Bank.
Shinhan Financial Group launched Shinhan Futures Lab Japan at the end of 2022 and has since supported domestic startups seeking to enter the Japanese market. In 2023, Shinhan Venture Investment and Japanese venture capital firm Global Brain jointly established the Shinhan-GB FutureFlow Fund, worth about ¥5 billion, laying the groundwork for investment connections.
The Demo Day was organized through a partnership between Shinhan Bank Japan and Kiraboshi Bank, which has a strong network of small and midsize businesses in Japan’s metropolitan areas. It aimed to foster exchanges between domestic startups and Japanese companies and investors, and to broaden opportunities to enter the Japanese market.
Twenty-two South Korean startups, including companies supported by Shinhan Futures Lab, took part in the event and showcased innovative technologies and services. About 500 people attended, including representatives of Japanese companies and venture capital firms, local startups, and accelerators.
The program included investor relations (IR) presentations to attract investment, exhibition booths showcasing technologies and services, a panel discussion on ways to foster cooperation between the South Korean and Japanese startup ecosystems, and networking with local companies and investors. The participating companies introduced their business models to local stakeholders, shared areas of interest for collaboration, and explored opportunities to attract investment and form business partnerships.
A Shinhan Financial Group official said, “In addition to nurturing startups, fostering collaboration with group companies, and connecting them with investment, Shinhan Futures Lab also supports their expansion into overseas markets.” The official added, “Shinhan Financial Group will continue to leverage its local financial networks and investment capabilities to help South Korean startups find tangible business opportunities overseas and grow.”
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