Women on the Rise
2025 - 2027
Accelerate Japan’s Female Founders to Grow into Europe
Women on the Rise is a Europe-focused acceleration programme jointly developed by CROSSBIE and Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC, designed for women founders who are ready to achieve true Product-Market Fit (PMF) abroad and grow internationally.
The programme supports highly committed Japanese female founders to enter and grow in the European market through tailored mentorship, hands-on business development support, and access to top-tier investors, role models, and global networks.
With Japanese female founders still underrepresented in global startup ecosystems, this programme aims to create real global traction, PMF validation, and concrete outcomes—far beyond traditional “acceleration programme.”
The programme starts in March 2026, and applications are open now. We are looking forward to meeting passionate founders ready to take your ideas to the next level.
What is Women on the Rise?
Who is this for?
✔️ Already progressing toward PMF or preparing for PMF abroad
✔️ Ready to pursue Europe as a concrete market
✔️ Motivated to build global businesses
✔️ Leading a scalable and innovative product or service
✔️ Comfortable (or willing to become comfortable) with pitching in English
“Women on the Rise” is for Japanese female founders who are truly committed to global expansion. We’re here to connect you with European markets where impact and these themes are valued and rapidly growing.
The impact startups we are particularly looking for (but not limited to)
Femtech
Foodtech
Healthtech
Sustainability
Education
Community Design
What makes Women on the Rise different?
Unlike generic startup support, we provide a step-by-step, proven approach to European PMF and market entry.
Tailored acceleration, not one-size-fits-all
Sector-specific market selection. We are NOT just “go to Silicon Valley”
Direct access to women leaders and investors in Europe
Hands-on support from CROSSBIE’s European experts and networks
Community-building among women entrepreneurs committed to global growth
Joint knowledge from CROSSBIE×EY, combining global expansion and women-founder empowerment expertise from pre-seed to IPO
What’s included in the programme?
1. Market Hypothesis and Sector Fit
Target country understanding
Demands analysis & competitive landscape
2. Lean Research & User Discovery
Expert interviews
Customer validation
Local regulation & business customs review
3. MVP Development & Local Testing
PoC or test marketing
Early-user feedback loops
Target country selection
4. Localisation & Go-to-Market Design
Product/service localisation
Pricing, UX/UI optimisation
Channel strategy & messaging
5. PMF Confirmation
Clear customer adoption signals
Repeat usage
Monetisation validation
6. Scaling & Partnerships
Finding distribution partners
Setting up local operations
Investor and CVC matching
Key dates
Applications open now
1st December, 2025
Applications close
29 March, 2026
Initial selection of startups
Late March 2026
Programme kick-off
13th April 2026
Semi-selection (5 startups) to go Europe
June 2026
Final selection (3 startups) to go Europe
July 2026
Mentoring for the Europe delegation
July 2026
The Europe delegation (1 week)
Sometime in September – November 2026
Review + Demo day + Networking
February 2027
Why Europe?
Europe offers one of the world’s most inclusive, impact-driven, and innovation-friendly environments fit for female founders.
Germany, especially Berlin, is the programme’s starting point — offering impact, diversity and openness, multi-national talent pools, operating in English, and easy access to the broader EU market.
Mature ecosystems in femtech, healthtech, climate, and impact sectors
Strong startup support infrastructure and operations in English
Rich networks of diverse investors and global accelerators
High social acceptance and support visibility of women founders
Access to EU-wide scaling opportunities
Cultural affinity with Japanese values such as impact, quality, care, and design sensibility
Mentors
Dai
Hirakawa
Medical Net, Inc.
Representative Director, Group CEO
Gen Tsuchikawa
T&T Business Associates
Representative director
Takahiko
Ito
N9 PTE LTD
CEO
Toshihisa Kiyomiya
Sega Sammy Holdings Inc.
Director of investment
Shuji
Honjo
Tama Graduate School of Business
Visiting Professor
Tadafusa Tomitaka
Tomy Venture Partners
President
Taisuke Alex Odajima
EDGEof INNOVATION, LLC
CEO
Takaaki Adachi
Japan Post Capital Co.,Ltd.
President
Takako Kotake
Cookpad Inc. General Manager of Public Relations Division
Takanobu Sakamoto
Femto Partners Inc. Director
Takeshi Fuyuno
MIT-VentureForum Japan
Member of the Board
Yojiro Koshi
KoshiWorks Inc.
CEO
Yukiko Kato
SBI Investment Co., Ltd.
Director&Executive Officer, Head of Corporate Venture Capital Dept.
Alice
Chan
Chan Venture
Founder & Investor
Bettina Scheibe
United Founders
Managing Partner
Bjoern Eichstaedt
Storymaker GmbH
Managing Partner / Co-Owner
Emilie Dellecker
HackGroup
CEO & Co-Founder
Mali M
Baum
WLOUNGE / MAGDA Group
Founder and CEO
Jonas Schorr
Urban Impact
Nathalie
Colin
Maison Minuit / BYKARBON
Co-founder Maison Minuit, Partner BYKARBON, Creative Director
Oliver
Hasse
INAM - the Innovation Network for Advanced Materials and Humboldt-Innovation
Managing Director
Roland Fassauer
CODE University of Applied Sciences
Smart Infrastructure Ventures
Investor
Sandrine Guétin
Villa Eugénie
Deputy General Manager
Melissa Koenigsberg
Atlantic
Head of Finance
Nana Bit-Avragim
DHL
Senior Manager Life Sciences & Healthcare
Become a partner
Are you…?
European accelerators & innovation hubs
Corporates seeking co-creation partners
Investors (VC/CVC/angels)
Female entrepreneur communities
Universities and ecosystem builders
Media supporting diversity & innovation
Partner with us — let’s bridge cultures and create global impact.
