MTR Lab announces its partnership with LiSH (TAKANAWA GATEWAY Link Scholars’ Hub), a business creation facility under East Japan Railway Company (JR East), to deepen Hong Kong–Japan pipeline to identify high-potential startups and technologies for prospective investment, and to support cross-border scale-up pathways in core sectors. These include smart mobility (RailTech, MaaS, and new mobility modes), climate, AI and robotics, PropTech and RetailTech, and financial and data services —with a strong commitment to sustainability and smart city development.
Bridging the global innovation scale-up gap
Global venture markets are becoming more selective, with founders seeking investors who deliver more than capital — including networks, partners, and market access. The climate and urban transition are driving demand for low‑carbon mobility and built‑environment solutions, while corporate venture capital remains vital for scaling startups. Japan is a high‑quality source of innovation, yet startups often face scale‑up bottlenecks: global expansion requires faster connectivity, commercial networks, and cross‑border support not always readily available domestically.
Through this partnership, MTR Lab and LiSH will implement a structured mechanism that includes referrals of high-potential startups for potential investment, regular joint reviews to prioritise focus areas and track deal flow, and the development of a forward‑looking investment pipeline.
Unleash Japan’s innovation potential
LiSH is part of JR East’s startup ecosystem in TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, designed to connect startups and partners to create new business and address social challenges, including through real-world experimentation within the City. For LiSH and its community, the key need is not just co-creation — it is a clearer pathway from “innovation built in Japan” to “growth unlocked beyond Japan.”
By introducing Japanese startups to MTR Lab, LiSH is linking innovators to MTR Lab’s ecosystem, leveraging MTR Lab’s strategic investment capabilities to enable cross‑border scale‑up, while bolstering its local deal-sourcing capabilities in Japan.
Connect to Hong Kong’s fast-moving capital and growth engine
This partnership reinforces MTR Lab’s role as an international investor and startup scale-up platform. The strategic value of MTR Lab is anchored in three core capabilities:
- Investment pathway — advancing structured pipeline for investment opportunities, aligned with thesis and criteria
- Market connectivity — providing cross-border access to curated networks, partners and growth opportunities across Asia and beyond
- Scale-up support — empowering startups to accelerate market entry and expansion through reciprocal ecosystem connections
Both parties will further facilitate cross-border scale-up by connecting high-potential startups with market-entry support and strategic networks in Hong Kong and Japan, with the shared vision of co-creating a smarter, greener future.
