By presenting startups and Hub71’s ecosystem of funding, market access and growth programmes at WebX and the Blockchain Leaders Summit in Tokyo, Abu Dhabi reinforced its position as a hub for global innovation and investment.
Hub71, the capital’s global technology ecosystem, has deepened its ties with Japan through a series of prominent engagements at WebX and the Blockchain Leaders Summit in Tokyo. The activities highlighted Abu Dhabi’s role as a gateway for international investment and technological collaboration.
This latest programme of activity builds on previous engagements in Japan earlier this year, such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF) Tokyo and SusHiTech Tokyo. During these, Hub71 signed a strategic partnership with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), enabling Japanese startups to connect with Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem and benefit from access to capital, market opportunities, and innovation initiatives.
At WebX, Asia’s flagship Web3 event, Hub71 highlighted Abu Dhabi-based startups developing solutions that align with Japan’s innovation priorities, including artificial intelligence, spatial data intelligence, sustainable water technologies, and blockchain governance.
As the title sponsor of the Blockchain Leaders Summit, Hub71 opened the event with a keynote address, emphasising Abu Dhabi’s partnership potential for Japan’s technology community. The participation built on earlier exchanges in Tokyo and explored how both regions can serve as complementary gateways for startups with global ambitions. Among the participating ventures were bitgrit, xMap, Aqua Development, Chainsight, Nodeshift, Bit2Me and 1Money, which met with Japanese corporates, investors, and founders to assess opportunities across Asia and the Middle East.
Peter Abou Hachem, Head of Growth and Strategy of Hub71, commented: “Our ongoing engagement with Japan underscores the value of global connectivity. Japan’s leadership in technology and innovation, particularly in Web3, aligns closely with Hub71’s vision. Through sustained collaboration, with partners like JETRO, we are unlocking opportunities for startups from both ecosystems to access capital, markets and talent, while advancing new frontiers in Web3 innovation and strengthening economic ties between our nations.”
Continuing this momentum, Hub71 will host seven Japanese Web3 startups in Abu Dhabi through the J-StarX Programme, developed with JETRO and Elixir Capital. This initiative further positions both Japan and the UAE as strategic gateways for startups seeking to scale across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Through these collaborations, Hub71 is accelerating the pace of cross-border innovation between the UAE and Japan, creating new pathways for startups to expand globally and reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position at the centre of the international tech landscape.