Hyderabad, Aug 20: T-Hub, the world’s largest home for startups, and Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (OKI), a Japanese information and telecommunication manufacturer with more than 140 years of engineering expertise, have partnered to launch a program designed to bring Indian startups to global markets, validate their technologies and explore commercial opportunities in Japan. The program drew more than 150 applications from deep-tech startups across India. Following a multi-stage evaluation, eight startups have been shortlisted to work with OKI through T-Hub’s PACE program – a solution accelerator that enables corporates to find innovative solutions by directly working with startups.
As part of the collaboration, T-Hub worked closely with OKI to identify priority sectors where Indian startups could address real industrial challenges and create long-term business value. These sectors include Water Infrastructure and Logistics and Supply Chain. Leveraging its deep understanding of the global startup ecosystem, T-Hub designed a program with scaled outreach to deeptech startups matching them with OKI’s own growth priorities.
The shortlisted startups are applying their core technologies to build direct or adjacent solutions across water infrastructure and logistics and supply chain, areas of growing strategic importance for both India and Japan. Through the program, they will engage directly with OKI’s business and technical teams, receive mentorship on product-market fit for Japanese industrial use cases, and explore opportunities for pilot projects and co-development.
The collaboration comes at a time when India and Japan are looking to expand cooperation across technology, innovation, and industrial partnerships. It also comes ahead of the India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons 2027, which will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Kavikrut, CEO, T-Hub, said:
“As OKI expanded its presence in India, it sought a meaningful way to co-build with startups across India and Japan. We worked closely with their leadership to translate business priorities into problem statements that founders could solve and create long-term value. This collaboration reflects our commitment to creating meaningful market access opportunities that enable Indian startups to scale globally.”
Yusuke Takahashi, Global Marketing Center, Executive Professional, OKI, said:
“The startups participating in the program demonstrated strong technical depth and market readiness. The discussions reinforced India’s growing strength in addressing complex challenges across water infrastructure and logistics. Together with T-Hub, we look forward to advancing discussions with the shortlisted startups and exploring opportunities that create long-term value for both sides.”
This partnership is part of T-Hub’s broader effort to help Indian founders build and scale globally from the outset. Building on this vision, T-Hub has expanded its engagement with Japan through collaborations with leading corporations and institutions, including Panasonic, Suzuki, Toyota, JETRO, JICA and Beyond Next Ventures. These collaborations are creating opportunities for Indian startups to engage with global industry leaders and access international markets.
