Build companies on a global scale.

Build companies on a global scale.

Build companies on a global scale.

DelightX is a startup accelerator designed for Japanese and Japanese-American entrepreneurs who aspire to build companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This 6-month on-site program provides sessions and mentoring opportunities from top-tier investors and peer Japanese founders, and exclusive networking opportunities within the Bay Area ecosystem.

Participants receive up to $60,000 in funding to accelerate their journey, from ideation and validation to incorporation and fundraising.

DelightX envisions a future where Japanese founders build successful companies on a truly global scale.



DelightX is a startup accelerator designed for Japanese and Japanese-American entrepreneurs who aspire to build companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.


This 6-month on-site program provides sessions and mentoring opportunities from top-tier investors and peer Japanese founders, and exclusive networking opportunities within the Bay Area ecosystem.
Participants receive up to $60,000 in funding to accelerate their journey, from ideation and validation to incorporation and fundraising.
DelightX envisions a future where Japanese founders build successful companies on a truly global scale.
DelightX is a startup accelerator designed for Japanese and Japanese-American entrepreneurs who aspire to build companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
This 6-month on-site program provides sessions and mentoring opportunities from top-tier investors and peer Japanese founders, and exclusive networking opportunities within the Bay Area ecosystem.
Participants receive up to $60,000 in funding to accelerate their journey, from ideation and validation to incorporation and fundraising.
DelightX envisions a future where Japanese founders build successful companies on a truly global scale.

Program Overview

Program Overview

Selection Stage

Selection Stage

1.5 Months

October - Mid-November in 2026

@Online

1.5 months
October -
Mid-November 2026

@Online

1.5 months

October - mid-November 2026

@Online

・Startup preparation support, including initial validation and networking

・Hypothesis formulation, customer interview validation

・Creation of LP, mockups, and demos using AI

・Acquisition of customer traction

・Creation of validation plans in the United States

・Startup preparation support, including initial validation and networking

・Hypothesis formulation, customer interview validation

・Creation of LP, mockups, and demos using AI

・Acquisition of customer traction

・Creation of validation plans in the United States

・Startup preparation support, including initial validation and networking

・Hypothesis formulation, customer interview validation

・Creation of LP, mockups, and demos using AI

・Acquisition of customer traction

・Creation of validation plans in the United States

6 Months

(From January 2027)

@San Francisco

・Startup preparation support, including initial validation and networking

・Hypothesis formulation, customer interview validation

・Creation of LP, mockups, and demos using AI

・Acquisition of customer traction

・Creation of validation plans in the United States

Pitch&Judge
Program Start

Pitch&Judge
Program Start

Pitch&Judge
Program Start

Pitch&Judge
Program Start

6 Months

From January 2027

@San Francisco

6 Months

(From January 2027)

@San Francisco

・Comprehensive startup preparation, including in-depth validation

・Sessions with Bay Area mentors

・Team building and co-founder matching

・$60,000 in funding provided by Delight Ventures

・Incorporation of a U.S. entity (Delight Ventures takes a 5% equity stake)

・Fundraising activities

・Comprehensive startup preparation, including in-depth validation

・Sessions with Bay Area mentors

・Team building and co-founder matching

・$60,000 in funding provided by Delight Ventures

・Incorporation of a U.S. entity (Delight Ventures takes a 5% equity stake)

・Fundraising activities

Raise

Raise

Funding in the United States
Funding in the United States

Support

Support

Bay Area mentors

Face2Face lectures by top VCs and serial entrepreneurs active in the Bay Area.

Japanese entrepreneurs based in the Bay Area

Mentoring from active Japanese entrepreneurs living in the Bay Area.

Mentoring by the operation members

1-on-1 sessions facilitated by experienced operation members in entrepreneurship and fundraising.

Office hours

Casual brainstorming opportunities with Delight Ventures capitalists and DeNA/ex-DeNA AI business experts.

Travel & Startup Preparation Package

Provision of useful resource collection for travel and business considerations.

Financial Support

Provide participants $60,000 (before various taxes), and will consider additional funding upon successful fundraising in the United States.

"DelightX Info Session"

July 28, 2026 (Tuesday)

18:00-19:30 JST

DelightX Info Session


July 28, 2026 (Tuesday)

18:00-19:30 JST

Details

On-site and online

On-site and online

Contents

Panel Discussion

QA Session

Panel discussion
QA session

Panel Discussion
QA Session

Kiyo Kobayashi

Founder of Noxx

Satoru Naito

Founer of Anyplace

Shunsuke Yamada

Founder of Retreat

Tomoko Namba

Tomoko Namba

Join the Info Session

Join the Info Session

Mentor
VC, Serial Entrepreneur

Mentor
VC, Serial Entrepreneur

Eric Bahn

Co-Founder, General Partner of Hustle Fund

Siqi Chen

Co-Founder of Runway, Serial Entrepreneur, Angel Investor

Steve Chen

Co-founder, YouTube

Mar Hershenson

Founding Managing Partner of Pear VC

Katrina Lake

Founder, Executive Chairperson of Stitch Fix

Holly Liu

Capitalist, exCo-Founder of Kabam

Ann Miura-Ko

Co-Founding Partner of Floodgate

Tom Moss

Multi-exited Entrepreneur, Investor

Tae Hea Nahm

Co-Founding Managing Director of Storm Ventures

Ho Nam

Managing Director, Altos Ventures

Craig Sherman

General Partner at Meritech Capital

Tiffine Wang

Founder & Managing Partner, Onsen Global

John Whaley

Founder of Inception Studio, Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University, Serial Entrepreneur

Elizabeth Yin

Co-Founder, General Partner of Hustle Fund

Mentor
Japanese Entrepreneurs

Mentor
Japanese Entrepreneurs

Mentor
Japanese Entrepreneurs

Kiyo Kobayashi

Founder of Noxx, Serial Entrepreneur

Steve Satoru Naito

Founder of Anyplace

Kazuki Nakayashiki

Founder of Glasp

Kazsa Tamai

Founder of Zypsy

Shunsuke Yamada

Founder of Retreat

Hiro Hasegawa

Founder, VC

Yusuke Tanaka

Founder

Shu Oikawa

Founder of Glidely

Taka Morinaga

Founder of Trissino

And Others...

Organizer
Delight Ventures

Organizer
Delight Ventures

Tomoko Namba

Managing Partner

Ryo Bando

Managing Partner

Shuhei Kawasaki

Managing Partner / Engineer

Masato Ushio

Director, Global Strategy

Yukiko Kono

Director of Program & Ecosystem (DeNA)

Yuka Tamai

SF Community Manager

Application Guidelines

Application Guidelines

<MUST>

  • Able to stay in San Francisco from January 2027 onwards and commit full-time entrepreneurial activities for at least six months while fundraising in the US, if you pass the final pitch of the Selection Stage.

  • Capable of securing your own B-1 visa and housing in the Bay Area (these may be arranged during the preparation period after acceptance).

  • Able to cover necessary expenses for the program independently. (as DelightX will not cover everything with its financial support).

  • Strong determination to found and lead a global-scale startup (Delaware C-Corp) as the owner.

  • Native-level proficiency in Japanese and functional English communication skills for conducting business.

<WANT>

  • Ability to prototype the product independently or within your founding team.

  • Strong interest in the advancement of AI in the Bay Area.

  • A concrete business idea you are eager to pursue.

  • Bring passion and grit!

<MUST>

  • Able to stay in San Francisco from January 2027 onwards and commit full-time entrepreneurial activities for at least six months while fundraising in the US, if you pass the final pitch of the Selection Stage.

  • Capable of securing your own B-1 visa and housing in the Bay Area (these may be arranged during the preparation period after acceptance).

  • Able to cover necessary expenses for the program independently. (as DelightX will not cover everything with its financial support).

  • Strong determination to found and lead a global-scale startup (Delaware C-Corp) as the owner.

  • Native-level proficiency in Japanese and functional English communication skills for conducting business.

<WANT>

  • Ability to prototype the product independently or within your founding team.

  • Strong interest in the advancement of AI in the Bay Area.

  • A concrete business idea you are eager to pursue.

  • Bring passion and grit!

<MUST>

  • Able to stay in San Francisco from January 2027 onwards and commit full-time entrepreneurial activities for at least six months while fundraising in the US, if you pass the final pitch of the Selection Stage.

  • Capable of securing your own B-1 visa and housing in the Bay Area (these may be arranged during the preparation period after acceptance).

  • Able to cover necessary expenses for the program independently. (as DelightX will not cover everything with its financial support).

  • Strong determination to found and lead a global-scale startup (Delaware C-Corp) as the owner.

  • Native-level proficiency in Japanese and functional English communication skills for conducting business.

<WANT>

  • Ability to prototype the product independently or within your founding team.

  • Strong interest in the advancement of AI in the Bay Area.

  • A concrete business idea you are eager to pursue.

  • Bring passion and grit!

FAQ↗

FAQ↗

FAQ↗

Apply Now

Apply Now

Application Deadline: August 31, 2026, 23:59 JST

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