From Tracks to Tech: Tokyo Metro Opens the Rails to Startups

Japan's busiest subway system is making room for innovation.

On March 17, 2025, Tokyo Metro officially launched Tokyo Metro Ventures, a ¥3 billion (~$20M) corporate venture fund designed to partner with startups that can improve station experiences, boost foot traffic, and solve key challenges across its subway lines.

This is Tokyo’s version of “next stop: the future.”

🚉 Not Just a Subway — A Living Lab for Startups

Tokyo Metro Ventures isn’t your average CVC. The company is inviting startups to literally plug into its infrastructure, offering:

① Go-To-Market: Test in the Real World

Imagine piloting your product inside one of the busiest metro systems in the world.Startups can run live business verifications using station premises, trains, and even underpasses. Past examples include:

🏢 Space Market Co., Ltd. – Opened Musubeya Metro Ayase, a shared community space under the Chiyoda Line.
🥡 Matilda Co., Ltd. – Launched a take-out station at Kiyosumi Shirakawa on the Hanzomon Line.

And yes, Tokyo Metro employees—including the CVC team—are there to help refine the experiments.

② Value Up: Built-in Buzz

With access to train and station ad space, startups can dramatically boost visibility. From in-car window posters to station signage, this media access can turn a test into a trend.

③ Touch Point: Millions in Motion

This isn’t a niche market. Tokyo Metro serves 6.52 million riders per day, and boasts 900,000+ Metro Point Club members. Startups get direct access to a massive, urban, tech-savvy audience.

④ Finance: Strategic Investment

Of course, the fund brings capital too. Investments will go to companies that partner with Tokyo Metro for joint growth—plus, selected VC funds will receive allocations as well.

🌇 Why It’s a Game-Changer

This isn’t Tokyo Metro’s first rodeo. Since 2016, they’ve operated a startup accelerator and already backed multiple alumni. Now, with Tokyo Metro Ventures, they’re formalizing their role as a platform for innovation—not just a transit operator.

Their interests span real estate, distribution, and communications, giving startups multidimensional opportunities.

This makes Tokyo Metro Ventures a unique example of what happens when public infrastructure meets startup agility.

🌍 A Global Signal for Smart Cities

From MTA’s Transit Tech Lab in NYC to European railway pilots, cities around the world are exploring how to turn transportation systems into startup sandboxes.

Tokyo’s model stands out for its scale, structure, and clear win-win approach: startups get users, visibility, and testing grounds; Tokyo Metro gets smarter, more valuable infrastructure.

🚀 At Elpis Labs, We’re Watching—and Cheering

📢 Stay tuned with Elpis Labs for more opportunities to run PoCs with Japanese giants and bring your innovation to the global stage.

Because in 2025, the most exciting journey might just start underground.