Organization · Grant Maker
Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment
The Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment (ESPRE) is Japan's first microfinance institution dedicated to supporting refugees and asylum seekers. It aims to foster entrepreneurship within the refugee community to enhance social integration and economic empowerment.
Overview
What Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment does
What Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment is
The Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment (ESPRE) is Japan's first microfinance institution dedicated to supporting refugees and asylum seekers. It aims to foster entrepreneurship within the refugee community to enhance social integration and economic empowerment.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports grantor capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Grant Maker
- Founded
- Founded in 2012
- Approximate age
- About 14 years
- Structured capabilities
- Grantor
- Last reviewed
- March 28, 2026
Official channels
Find Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment as a grantor
Grant thesis
The Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment (ESPRE) aims to support refugees in achieving economic independence through entrepreneurship by providing management support and microfinance.
Focus narrative
ESPRE focuses on providing financial and management support to refugee entrepreneurs in Japan. The organization offers microloans of up to 1,000,000 yen and business management assistance to help refugees navigate the challenges of starting a business, including access to financial resources and understanding the local market.
Value and support
Beyond funding, ESPRE provides essential business management support, helping refugee entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of starting and running a business in Japan.
Process and recipient context
Application process
ESPRE provides microloans with a repayment period of up to 5 years and tailored business management support to assist refugee entrepreneurs in establishing and growing their businesses. The application process involves assessing the business idea and the entrepreneur's needs to provide appropriate support.
Recipient context
Notable past grantees include Mohamed, an engineer from the Middle East who opened a halal restaurant; Amed, a refugee from Africa who conducted a tasting event for his African cuisine; and Tan Siu and Tan Tan, a couple from Myanmar who opened a well-regarded restaurant called 'Siu Myanmar' in Takadanobaba.
Common questions
What to know about Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment
Upseed classifies Entrepreneurship Support Program for Refugee Empowerment under the Grant Maker organization type. Its current public profile includes grantor capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 28, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.