Global Launch: Silicon Valley for Irish Startup

April 7 - May 22, 2026

Global Launch: Silicon Valley for Irish Startups

500 Global has propelled over 3,000 startups and backed more than 5,000 founders globally, from pre-seed to IPO¹.

The J-StarX Silicon Valley Extended Program is an immersive program tailored for Japanese startups. This 11-week program, split between Tokyo and the US, focuses on global market validation, global VCs attraction, and strategic business growth through workshops and personalized mentoring.

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A six-week global expansion program designed to support Irish companies preparing to enter or scale within the U.S. market. Through structured virtual preparation and an immersive experience in Silicon Valley, founders gain the clarity, confidence, and execution readiness needed to take their next step globally.

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Deadline: March 13, 2026

Hear from 500 Global

Clayton Bryan, Partner at 500 Global, speaks about an exciting new opportunity for ambitious Japanese startup founders.

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From Ireland to the U.S.

Ireland has a strong track record of producing ambitious, globally minded technology companies. For many of these businesses, U.S. expansion represents a defining next step that requires clarity, preparation, and an informed approach to execution.

This 6-week program is designed for Irish companies that have achieved product-market fit in the home market and are preparing to expand into the U.S. market or looking to validate their U.S. strategy. It combines structured preparation with an immersive, Silicon Valley experience to help founders approach U.S. expansion with confidence and intent.

Program Dates: April 7 – May 22, 2026

Dates: November 3-6, 2024

Ideal Candidates:

Irish technology companies with a validated product and demonstrated traction in technology categories such as SaaS, AI, and DeepTech
Teams that have achieved product-market fit in their home market
Founders refining their U.S. strategy or with a clear ambition to expand into the U.S. market
An established core team ready to execute on international growth

Submit a Nomination

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The program offers founders

A focused, execution-led approach to U.S. expansion, designed to prepare companies for long-term growth beyond their home market.

Structured Preparation for U.S. Expansion

Founders engage in 4-weeks of guided preparation to clarify their U.S. go-to-market strategy, refine positioning, and align internal teams before entering the market.

Immersive, In-Market Experience

The program includes a two-week in-person immersion in Silicon Valley, providing direct exposure to the U.S. startup ecosystem and practical insight into how companies operate, sell, and scale in-market.

Increased Growth Readiness

By combining preparation with real-world validation, the program helps companies build the confidence, clarity, and foundations required for sustained international growth.

About the Program

The program runs over six weeks, combining virtual preparation with an in-person immersion to Silicon Valley. Each phase is designed to build on the last, forming a single journey from preparation to validation.

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PHASE 1: Aug 18 - 29

The program Fee for Phase 1 is $35,000 per startup, excluding travel expenses. This fee covers the comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources provided throughout Phase 1.

By completing Phase 1, startups is expected to gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for successful market expansion.

4 Weeks (Virtual)

In-depth Preparation

The first phase focuses on preparing companies to enter or scale effectively in the U.S. market. Through a combination of workshops, cohort sessions, and 1:1 mentorship, founders work on sharpening strategy and aligning execution plans.

Areas of focus include:

U.S. go-to-market strategy and customer definition
Sales and partnership dynamics in the U.S.
Lead generation and customer discovery approaches
Product-market fit in a global context
Storytelling and positioning for international audiences

This phase ensures companies arrive in the U.S. with clear objectives and informed assumptions.

Phase 2: Sep 8 - 26

2 weeks in Silicon Valley (In-Person)

Global Market Validation

The in-person phase takes place in Silicon Valley, placing founders inside one of the world’s most influential startup ecosystems.

During this phase, founders:

Participate in curated sessions with experienced operators and ecosystem leaders
Engage in targeted outreach and conversations aligned with their U.S. expansion goals
Gain first-hand exposure to how companies build and scale in the U.S. market

This experience is intentionally focused on prioritizing relevance and application to help founders challenge and validate key assumptions, observe real sales motions, and develop a deeper understanding of how companies operate, sell, and scale within the US.

Phase 4: Nov 3 - 14

1 week (Virtual)

Follow-on Support

Support continues after the US-leg of the Program with a debrief and roadmap for next steps. Furthermore, startups will continue to check-in to discuss progress, participate in community events and receive coaching support as needed to help sustain momentum for outcomes in their market expansion efforts.

(Optional) Additional Expansion

Up to 12 weeks in Palo Alto, US

Continued Personalized Mentoring

Optional portion of the program offers continued personalized mentoring, providing startups with tailored guidance and support to address their unique challenges and opportunities.

*Startups that are eligible for this Phase will be determined through discussions.

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Companies we've supported through Global Launch Programs

Autonomous AI Agent for online retailers

Conducted 33 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Used learnings from the program to secure 10 PoCs (10 contracts) with SMEs in the US

30 new customers registered on the waitlist

4 partnerships in US with digital marketing agencies

Identified new ICP, targeting mid-size apparel brands on Shopify, mid-size digital marketing agency, mid-size Shopify consulting firm

AI-driven behavioral intelligence platform

Leveraged learnings from the program to raise their valuation 2x and close their JPY 550M Series A round

Conducted 47 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Hired 18 new team members to expand their business globally to set up U.S. office within 5 months

Identified new ICP, targeting Private Equity firms and large corporates active in M&A

Discovering novel enzyme using proprietary microbial data

Conducted 130 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Leveraged learnings from the program to close their JPY 400M Seed Extension round

Hired 1 new team member, Chief Business Officer (CBO), in the U.S. for global expansion

Revised mid-term strategy, created company-wide north star and KPIs

Identified new ICP, targeting major companies in pharma/life science and industry BioTech

Autonomous AI Agent for online retailers

Conducted 33 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Used learnings from the program to secure 10 PoCs (10 contracts) with SMEs in the US

30 new customers registered on the waitlist

4 partnerships in US with digital marketing agencies

Identified new ICP, targeting mid-size apparel brands on Shopify, mid-size digital marketing agency, mid-size Shopify consulting firm

AI-driven behavioral intelligence platform

Leveraged learnings from the program to raise their valuation 2x and close their JPY 550M Series A round

Conducted 47 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Hired 18 new team members to expand their business globally to set up U.S. office within 5 months

Identified new ICP, targeting Private Equity firms and large corporates active in M&A

Discovering novel enzyme using proprietary microbial data

Conducted 130 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Leveraged learnings from the program to close their JPY 400M Seed Extension round

Hired 1 new team member, Chief Business Officer (CBO), in the U.S. for global expansion

Revised mid-term strategy, created company-wide north star and KPIs

Identified new ICP, targeting major companies in pharma/life science and industry BioTech

Autonomous AI Agent for online retailers

Conducted 33 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Used learnings from the program to secure 10 PoCs (10 contracts) with SMEs in the US

30 new customers registered on the waitlist

4 partnerships in US with digital marketing agencies

Identified new ICP, targeting mid-size apparel brands on Shopify, mid-size digital marketing agency, mid-size Shopify consulting firm

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Companies we've supported through Global Launch Programs

Autonomous AI Agent for online retailers

Leveraging learnings from the program, the following were achieved by the startup, as reported to 500 Global¹:

Conducted 33 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Secured 10 PoCs (10 contracts) with SMEs in the U.S.

30 new customers registered on the waitlist

4 partnerships in the U.S. with digital marketing agencies

Identified new ICP, targeting mid-size apparel brands on Shopify, mid-size digital marketing agency, mid-size Shopify consulting firm

AI-driven behavioral intelligence platform

Leveraging learnings from the program, the following were achieved by the startup, as reported to 500 Global¹:

Raise their valuation 2x and close their JPY 550M Series A round

Conducted 47 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Hired 18 new team members to expand their business globally to set up U.S. office within 5 months

Identified new ICP, targeting Private Equity firms and large corporates active in M&A

Discovering novel enzyme using proprietary microbial data

Leveraging learnings from the program, the following were achieved by the startup, as reported to 500 Global¹:

Conducted 130 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Closed their JPY 400M Seed Extension round

Hired 1 new team member, Chief Business Officer (CBO), in the U.S. for global expansion

Revised mid-term strategy, created company-wide north star and KPIs

Identified new ICP, targeting major companies in pharma/life science and industry BioTech

Autonomous AI Agent for online retailers

Leveraging learnings from the program, the following were achieved by the startup, as reported to 500 Global¹:

Conducted 33 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Secured 10 PoCs (10 contracts) with SMEs in the U.S.

30 new customers registered on the waitlist

4 partnerships in the U.S. with digital marketing agencies

Identified new ICP, targeting mid-size apparel brands on Shopify, mid-size digital marketing agency, mid-size Shopify consulting firm

AI-driven behavioral intelligence platform

Leveraging learnings from the program, the following were achieved by the startup, as reported to 500 Global¹:

Raise their valuation 2x and close their JPY 550M Series A round

Conducted 47 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Hired 18 new team members to expand their business globally to set up U.S. office within 5 months

Identified new ICP, targeting Private Equity firms and large corporates active in M&A

Discovering novel enzyme using proprietary microbial data

Leveraging learnings from the program, the following were achieved by the startup, as reported to 500 Global¹:

Conducted 130 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Closed their JPY 400M Seed Extension round

Hired 1 new team member, Chief Business Officer (CBO), in the U.S. for global expansion

Revised mid-term strategy, created company-wide north star and KPIs

Identified new ICP, targeting major companies in pharma/life science and industry BioTech

Autonomous AI Agent for online retailers

Leveraging learnings from the program, the following were achieved by the startup, as reported to 500 Global¹:

Conducted 33 meetings during the program with investors and potential clients

Secured 10 PoCs (10 contracts) with SMEs in the U.S.

30 new customers registered on the waitlist

4 partnerships in the U.S. with digital marketing agencies

Identified new ICP, targeting mid-size apparel brands on Shopify, mid-size digital marketing agency, mid-size Shopify consulting firm

Partner

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. Through its global network and long-standing commitment to supporting Irish companies, Enterprise Ireland plays a central role in helping businesses scale internationally.

Why 500 Global?

Our first program was founded in Silicon Valley in 2010. With a proven track record of accelerating startups globally, 500 Global is among the first US-based VCs to offer accelerator programs for startup founders in Japan. We launched our initial program in 2016 and have since conducted 13 successful programs in Japan, supporting over 300 startups to date².

We’re committed to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs in Japan. Read more about our recent engagement in the region.

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years of experience in startup acceleration

190+

Startup program batches launched³

3,000+

Startups accelerated worldwide⁴

300+

Japanese startups supported⁵

Why 500 Global?

→

years of experience in startup acceleration

170+

Startup program batches launched⁴

2,900+

Startups accelerated worldwide⁵

300+

Japanese startups supported⁶

Disclaimer

1. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES WERE PURSUED AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE STARTUP THROUGH ITS OWN INITIATIVES.

THIS PROGRAM IS OPERATED BY 500 STARTUPS INCUBATOR, L.L.C (TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, “500 GLOBAL”). ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IN THIS WEBPAGE IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. 500 GLOBAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS WEBPAGE. WHILE 500 GLOBAL HAS TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS WEBPAGE IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS. NOTHING IN THE CONTENT DELIVERED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SHALL CONSTITUTE OR IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE LEGAL, TAX OR INVESTMENT ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL (INCLUDING INVESTMENT ADVICE AS DEFINED IN THE U.S. INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940). THIS WEBPAGE IS UPDATED AS OF JANUARY 2026. THIS IS A NON-INVESTMENT PROGRAM, AND PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM DOES NOT INCLUDE OR GUARANTEE AN INVESTMENT FROM 500 GLOBAL, OR ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES. HOWEVER, PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM DOES NOT PRECLUDE 500 GLOBAL AND ITS AFFILIATES FROM CONSIDERING FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN A PARTICIPATING COMPANY. THE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THE PROGRAM ARE CONDUCTED SOLELY IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PARTICIPANTS’ BONA FIDE COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, OR FINANCIAL OPERATIONS AND ARE NOT BEING UNDERTAKEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECTLY PROMOTING THE PUBLIC OR POLITICAL INTERESTS OF “GOVERNMENT OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY” OR “FOREIGN POLITICAL PARTY”, AS DEFINED AT 22 U.S.C. SECTION 611.