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Find a Startup Job in Kyoto

Already over 2,100 startup jobs are available in Kyoto. Be among the first 50 entrepreneurial professionals to explore opportunities and discover roles that match your skills and ambitions.

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Startup Job Search in Kyoto

Map of Kyoto

Startup Job Search in Kyoto

Startup Job Search in Kyoto

Kyoto offers a distinctive startup job market that uniquely balances traditional Japanese heritage with cutting-edge innovation, particularly in cultural technology, advanced materials, and sustainable solutions. The employment landscape spans technical roles in engineering and software development alongside specialized positions leveraging the city's exceptional strengths in cultural preservation, traditional craftsmanship, and university research. Compensation typically combines moderate base salaries with increasing equity opportunities in early-stage ventures, particularly those commercializing research from prestigious institutions like Kyoto University. The innovation scene centers around initiatives like Kyoto Research Park and university spinoff programs, creating environments where academic excellence translates into commercial applications. The work culture uniquely balances Kyoto's cultural appreciation with technological forward-thinking, where early employees develop specialized expertise while contributing to ventures often addressing the intersection of tradition and innovation. The ecosystem particularly values professionals who combine technical capabilities with appreciation for cultural context, creating distinctive opportunities in heritage technology, tourism innovations, and sustainable applications. For international talent, Kyoto offers unparalleled cultural surroundings with strong quality of life and growing openness to global perspectives. The startup roles provide unique exposure to specialized challenges including cultural digitalization, traditional craft modernization, and sustainability solutions, with particular opportunities for those interested in ventures that respect heritage while embracing technological advancement, creating a highly distinctive innovation environment that differentiates from Japan's more corporate-focused technology centers.

Kyoto offers a distinctive startup job market that uniquely balances traditional Japanese heritage with cutting-edge innovation, particularly in cultural technology, advanced materials, and sustainable solutions. The employment landscape spans technical roles in engineering and software development alongside specialized positions leveraging the city's exceptional strengths in cultural preservation, traditional craftsmanship, and university research. Compensation typically combines moderate base salaries with increasing equity opportunities in early-stage ventures, particularly those commercializing research from prestigious institutions like Kyoto University. The innovation scene centers around initiatives like Kyoto Research Park and university spinoff programs, creating environments where academic excellence translates into commercial applications. The work culture uniquely balances Kyoto's cultural appreciation with technological forward-thinking, where early employees develop specialized expertise while contributing to ventures often addressing the intersection of tradition and innovation. The ecosystem particularly values professionals who combine technical capabilities with appreciation for cultural context, creating distinctive opportunities in heritage technology, tourism innovations, and sustainable applications. For international talent, Kyoto offers unparalleled cultural surroundings with strong quality of life and growing openness to global perspectives. The startup roles provide unique exposure to specialized challenges including cultural digitalization, traditional craft modernization, and sustainability solutions, with particular opportunities for those interested in ventures that respect heritage while embracing technological advancement, creating a highly distinctive innovation environment that differentiates from Japan's more corporate-focused technology centers.

Startup Jobs in Kyoto

Startups in Kyoto on Foundersbase are offering a wide range of opportunities for professionals across different backgrounds. 44% of all open positions are technical, while 56% are focused on non-technical roles, showing a healthy balance between engineering, business, and creative skill sets. In terms of compensation, most job offers fall within the $30–50K salary range, with additional roles spanning both lower and higher brackets. 64% of listings are for full-time positions, offering steady involvement in fast-moving startup environments, while part-time roles remain a relevant option as well. The most active hiring sectors include Industrial Technology, Education, and Energy, with high demand for skills in areas such as Lawyer / Legal Advisor, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Customer Support Manager, and HR Manager. Whether you’re a specialist, generalist, or explorer looking to support an early-stage team, the startup landscape in Kyoto presents a rich mix of industries, challenges, and opportunities to grow with.

Job Offerings

See how startup jobs are split between technical and non-technical roles, showing you where current demand lies.

Technical 44%

Salary Distribution

Explore how startup salaries are distributed across different pay ranges, helping you find opportunities that match your compensation expectations.

Employment Type

Discover the balance between full-time and part-time startup opportunities, reflecting different ways to engage with innovative companies.

Full-time 64%

Top Hiring Sectors

Browse the industries where startups are actively looking for talent to join their teams.

Industrial Technology
Education
Energy
Artificial Intelligence
Space Technology
Biotechnology
Blockchain
Games

Skills in Demand

These are the most sought-after skills that startups are looking for in potential team members.

Lawyer / Legal Advisor
Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Customer Support Manager
HR Manager

Work in a Startup in Kyoto

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