“We feel really proud and honored to be the first and only Dutch startup picked for this program,” said Hamza Khan, CEO and founder of Suburbia, an Amsterdam-based tech company providing alternative data solutions. “Standing out in a crowded field only proves that our technology is truly innovative and highly scalable - what we’ve built in Europe can work just as well in Asia-Pacific or the Americas... or anywhere!”

Suburbia was selected by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) from a pool of over 120 applicants located in 29 countries, alongside 11 other startups. They were reviewed and chosen based on their innovative technologies and business models “which do not yet have a presence in Japan”.

The initiative, first launched in 2017, is part of the Japanese government’s four-year campaign to revitalize Tokyo’s financial sector and cement the city’s status as a global financial hub. TMG considers fintech a key element in achieving its goals. The program aims to provide startups with access to some of the nation’s leading companies and support them with their entry into the market.

Startups that have been accepted into the program are provided with support in localization, mentoring from top Japanese banks, and networking and business matchmaking opportunities. Three of the 19 foreign companies that have participated in the program in the past two years now have a footprint in Japan.

As part of the program, Suburbia will be going to Japan to meet with local companies and investors. This will culminate with a pitch in November where the company will present a business plan developed during the course of the program.