🚀 The 1,000 Milestone & The Deep Tech Shift
Happy Monday!
First, a massive thank you. Our LinkedIn Newsletter APAC’s Founder Collective has officially crossed 1,000 subscribers! Seeing this community grow—from founders and devs to senior tech leaders—validates the work we are doing to bridge the APAC ecosystem.
If you haven't seen it yet, check out Newsletter #45, where we dive into Defense Tech Risings, TSMC’s New Moves & The Fukuoka Pulse. 👉 [Read & Subscribe on LinkedIn]
Now, let's recap a massive week of growth, deals, and new connections.
🍣 You Are Invited: SusHi Tech 2026 Delegation (Members Only)
Ready to conquer Asia’s biggest startup stage? We are organising an exclusive Manabu Hubs Delegation to SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026. This is a "no-fluff" experience designed to get you connected with the Japanese, Taiwanese, and ASEAN ecosystems without the massive price tag.
The "Tokyo Retreat" Package:
🗓️ When: April 27–28, 2026
📍 Where: Tokyo Big Sight & Private Venues
✨ What’s Included:
🎫 80% OFF Tickets: Exclusive Ambassador code for the main event.
🥂 VIP Founder Dinner: Intimate networking with ecosystem leaders (Included).
🤝 Global Intros: Exclusive side-events with our Taiwan & ASEAN partners.
Pricing:
General Pass:
$199 USDManabu Hubs Members: $159 USD (Save 20%)
⚠️ Strictly Limited to 15 Spots. We are keeping this small to ensure high-quality connections. 👉 Secure your spot on Luma
🇹🇼 Taiwan Pivot: From Manufacturing to "Deep Tech Island"
We were analising the latest 2025 White Paper from Taiwan's MOEA, and the data is undeniable: Taiwan is pivoting.
The Shift: 2,300 startups are now operating in the "Five Trusted Sectors" (AI, Semiconductors, Military/Defense).
The Export Boom: Startup exports surged 29.3% last year.
The Demand: Exports to Southeast Asia are up +125% and Japan +46%.
This isn't an ecosystem of simple apps anymore. It is an ecosystem building the "hard stuff"—Healthcare, Biotech, and Hardware—that powers the global economy. As we discussed in Newsletter #45, the demand for "Dual-Use" tech is reshaping the corridor, and Taiwan is perfectly positioned to supply it.
🤝 Welcome New Startup : Momen App
We are excited to officially welcome Momen to the Manabu Hubs partner network!
We recently connected with Yaokai, the US-based founder who is now eyeing aggressive expansion into Asia. What is Momen? It is a no-code, full-stack web app builder. But unlike others, it is designed to deploy AI-powered apps, marketplaces, and SaaS platforms with complex data structures without writing a single line of code.
Stay tuned for upcoming offline sessions and workshops with their team!
🇯🇵 Event Recap: Fukuoka x Bangkok 20th Anniversary
Last week at Venture Café Fukuoka Thursday Gathering was special. Fukuoka celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Fukuoka and Bangkok! 🇹🇭🇯🇵
The energy was electric, with over 10 Thai startups pitching their innovations to the local community. It was a fantastic reminder that our ecosystem isn't just local; it is a gateway to ASEAN. Read More…
🎤 Founder’s Note: The "Endgame" Playbook
Last week, I had the privilege of judging the Aus x Japan Pitch Night, organised by Innovators Campus and Startup Today (powered by Tekkon).
Watching early-stage founders from both nations pitch, one thing became clear: Do not Focus on Silicon Valley, and put your eyes in Asia '& Australia!
For many Australian and Japanese startups, the real scale opportunity isn't across the Pacific it's right on our doorstep in APAC. The founders who realise this early are the ones building sustainable, scalable engines.
💰 Investment Round-Up
🇦🇺 Australia
On the House Group | A$1.7M Seed: Social-impact startup for free period products. (Led by Purpose Ventures).
Gigacomm | A$65M Growth: Gigabit internet provider challenging the NBN. (Palisade Impact).
Evolt Health | Undisclosed: Intelligent body-composition scanning. (Strategic investment from Selvas Healthcare).
🇯🇵 Japan
Startale Labs | ¥2.0B Series A: Web3 infrastructure developer. (Sony Innovation Fund).
Setsuro Tech | ¥320M Series A5: Genome-editing contract services. (Expansion for R&D).
bellFace | ¥750M: AI-powered sales tech behind bellSalesAI.
Explore more about these funding on our partner newsletter
⚠️ Final Call: 2026 Global Partnership & Startup Cohort Closing Soon! 🚀
Hi everyone! We are reaching an exciting milestone at Manabu Hubs, but it also means our application window is drawing to a close.
To maintain the high quality and confidentiality of our services, we are limiting the number of startups joining our global programs, hub activities, and incubation for 2026. Our private Discord community has already reached a high-caliber group of over 80+ startups, founders, and senior leaders, and we are committed to keeping this ecosystem focused and impactful.
📅 Important Deadlines, Our Global Actitivities & Details:
Startup & Cohort Applications Program and Events: Closing February 28th.
Global Partnerships & Sponsorships: Closing February 28th.
Next Opportunity: While we are closing now to focus on our current projects, we will open limited sponsorship and partnership windows later in the year.
Don’t miss your chance! If you want to join one of the most dynamic startup ecosystems and access our private incubation channels, make sure to finalise your application and access before the month ends. ⏱️
Partner Event: Growth Summit Melbourne
Growth Summit Melbourne 2026
When: February 25
What: A full-day summit for founders on scaling, hiring, and fundraising.
Deal: Get $50 OFF with code
PARTNERTSN2026.
🎥 New Feature: Our Fukuoka Startup Journey!
Hey everyone! I hope you had a relaxing, chill weekend at home. ☕️
Last week, our good friend Chris a local YouTuber here in Fukuoka with over thousands subscribers interviewed Kevin and Pablo (Our Founder). We took a deep dive into our startup journeys, the reality of entrepreneurship in Japan, and shared some honest facts about the scene here.
We’d love to invite you all to watch, comment, and share below!
Every bit of support helps us grow our global incubator, tech community and expand the Manabu Hubs mission globally. Thank you for being part of this journey, and stay warm on this cold day! ❄️✨
Until next week—keep building bridges! 🌉
The Manabu Hubs Team