UC Berkeley SkyDeck announced the expansion of its Japan-focused initiatives and the appointment of Cole Harry as Japan Program Manager. The move reflects SkyDeck’s growing role in Japan’s evolving innovation ecosystem.
SkyDeck has expanded its presence in Japan over the past six years through partnerships with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan External Trade Organization. The accelerator has also supported Japanese startups through its accelerator program, Innovation Partner Program, and startup bootcamps hosted across the country.
In the coming year, SkyDeck plans to expand the number of bootcamps it hosts in Japan. The programming will include activities at STATION Ai in Nagoya this summer.
SkyDeck also plans to deepen relationships with leading Japanese universities. These institutions include Institute of Science Tokyo, Kyoto University, Kyushu University, Osaka University, and Tohoku University.
As Japan Program Manager, Harry will serve as the senior operational lead for SkyDeck’s expanding programs in Japan. His responsibilities will include overseeing startup bootcamps, programming at the Global Startup Expo in Osaka, and entrepreneurial immersion programs for Japanese university students at SkyDeck in Berkeley.
Harry brings experience across entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems, and international program management. He most recently served as Programme Director for Imperial College London’s San Francisco office.
SkyDeck said Japan has significantly increased national investment in entrepreneurship and startup development. Government agencies such as METI and JETRO have been deepening collaborations with global accelerators and venture ecosystems to help develop internationally competitive founders and emerging technologies.
Caroline Winnett, Executive Director of UC Berkeley SkyDeck, will participate in Japan’s Global Startup Expo. She is expected to speak alongside Silicon Valley venture capitalists and deep-tech founders on AI, semiconductors, and emerging technologies.
The expanded Japan efforts are part of SkyDeck’s broader international growth strategy. The accelerator is building direct relationships with high-potential innovation ecosystems, particularly in markets with strong deep-tech research capabilities across AI, semiconductors, robotics, and life sciences.
UC Berkeley SkyDeck is UC Berkeley’s flagship startup accelerator and entrepreneurship hub. SkyDeck startups have raised more than $3 billion in aggregate, and participating companies have access to 980 advisors, 70 industry partners, and a network of more than 613,000 UC Berkeley alumni.
KEY QUOTES:
“Japan is entering an incredibly important moment in the evolution of its startup ecosystem. There is extraordinary technical talent coming out of Japan’s universities and research institutions, particularly in fields like AI, semiconductors, robotics and life sciences. What we’re seeing now is a growing national commitment to helping those founders commercialize globally. Cole’s role is to ensure that as we scale our programming, we’re delivering world-class experiences that give those founders real pathways to build globally competitive companies.”
Caroline Winnett, Executive Director of UC Berkeley SkyDeck
“SkyDeck has built a unique position at the intersection of world-class research and global entrepreneurship. Japan has an incredible depth of technical talent and scientific innovation, and there is growing momentum around helping founders build companies that can compete globally. I’m excited to help expand programs that connect Japanese entrepreneurs and students directly with the Berkeley and Silicon Valley ecosystems.”
Cole Harry, Japan Program Manager at UC Berkeley SkyDeck
