Launch of the "Finance Mix Accelerator" 2nd Batch to Realize Optimal Fundraising According to Growth Phases
INQ Inc. has started accepting applications for the 2nd Batch of its "Finance Mix Accelerator" program, an initiative adopted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "TOKYO SUTEAM". Startups that achieve multiple fundraising methods during the program will receive a 1 million yen incentive.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
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With the mission of "Turning those who build into those who achieve," INQ Inc. (Headquarters: Tachikawa City, Tokyo; CEO: Teppei Wakabayashi; hereinafter "INQ"), which supports finance, is now accepting applications for the 2nd Batch of its "Finance Mix Accelerator" program. This program is a "TOKYO SUTEAM" project adopted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and aims to realize fundraising through multiple means such as equity, debt, venture debt, and subsidies.
Started in November 2025, this program adopted 10 diverse startups in its 1st Batch and is currently working together with them through daily programs to realize their finance mix.
The current 2nd Batch will continue to work alongside startups that keep taking on challenges as an initiative to open up the future they believe in.
Details and Application here
Overview of this Program
This is a program aimed at realizing fundraising through multiple means, such as equity, debt, venture debt, and subsidies.
[Program Structure]
Three components aiming to create opportunities for systematic and practical learning leading to business growth:
Finance Mix Lectures
Mentoring
Pitch Events
[Mentors]
Mentors for the finance mix lectures and mentoring include diverse finance specialists such as CFOs, VCs, financial institutions, and certified public accountants. *Updating sequentially
[Primary Target]
Primarily targeting startups from the early founding stage to seed/early stages:
- Currently located in Tokyo, or planning to expand to Tokyo in the future
- Generally under 10 years since founding, with growth orientation, novelty, and investment utilization potential
- Representative directors with representative rights must be able to proactively participate in the main schedule of the approximately 6-month program as a general rule
[Incentives]
In this program, startups that take on the challenge of "Finance Mix = Securing funding through multiple fundraising means" and achieve it within the period will be provided with an incentive of 1,000,000 yen. *Conditions apply
[Expected Commitment]
Expected commitment per month is 4 to 6 hours
(2 lectures × 90 mins + 2 mentoring/monitoring sessions × 60 mins + pitch preparation, etc.)
[Selection Schedule]
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Applications open
Friday, May 22, 2026
Application deadline
~End of May 2026
Screening
- Primary screening (Document review)
- Secondary screening (Presentation review)
~End of May 2026 (Scheduled)
Notification of adoption
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Kickoff
We look forward to applications from everyone aiming for business growth through a finance mix.
Apply here
Message from Program Manager Teppei Wakabayashi
In recent years, the government's 5-year startup development plan has progressed, and players on the funding side such as VCs, financial institutions, and local governments have certainly increased. However, at the same time, due to the impact of rising interest rates and revisions to the listing maintenance criteria of the Growth Market, funds are concentrated in certain companies with high certainty of growth, and the polarization of the fundraising environment is becoming prominent.
Under these circumstances, fundraising that relies solely on equity can undermine future fundraising capacity and become a bottleneck for growth. Therefore, the "Finance Mix" becomes important. It is an approach to secure growth funds while leaving capacity for the next round of fundraising by combining multiple means such as equity, debt, venture debt, and cash flow support services according to the phase.
What I feel through the practical experience with the 10 companies in the 1st Batch is a renewed recognition of the importance of the diversity of means expanding the possibilities of business strategy itself and its practical examples.
There is no single correct answer. That is why we want to return specific examples gained from practice as "shared knowledge" to increase the feasibility of the future envisioned by startups.
Increasing financing options means increasing future possibilities.
Let's definitely work on this together.
[About INQ Inc.]
With the mission of "Turning those who build into those who achieve," we support the debt finance of ventures and startups, with a cumulative total of over 1,300 supported companies and over 13 billion yen (*).
We provide support to relieve the anxiety and hassle in the financing process for entrepreneurs, freeing up time and funds for them to concentrate on the core tasks that only entrepreneurs can do. We aim to contribute to a society with a startup ecosystem, including entrepreneurs, by supporting business launches and subsequent growth from a financial perspective.
*As of November 2025
Location: TAMA MIRAI SQUARE 2F B08, 2-8-28 Akebonocho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-0012
Established: 201
Started in November 2025, this program adopted 10 diverse startups in its 1st Batch and is currently working together with them through daily programs to realize their finance mix.
The current 2nd Batch will continue to work alongside startups that keep taking on challenges as an initiative to open up the future they believe in.
Details and Application here
Overview of this Program
This is a program aimed at realizing fundraising through multiple means, such as equity, debt, venture debt, and subsidies.
[Program Structure]
Three components aiming to create opportunities for systematic and practical learning leading to business growth:
Finance Mix Lectures
Mentoring
Pitch Events
[Mentors]
Mentors for the finance mix lectures and mentoring include diverse finance specialists such as CFOs, VCs, financial institutions, and certified public accountants. *Updating sequentially
[Primary Target]
Primarily targeting startups from the early founding stage to seed/early stages:
- Currently located in Tokyo, or planning to expand to Tokyo in the future
- Generally under 10 years since founding, with growth orientation, novelty, and investment utilization potential
- Representative directors with representative rights must be able to proactively participate in the main schedule of the approximately 6-month program as a general rule
[Incentives]
In this program, startups that take on the challenge of "Finance Mix = Securing funding through multiple fundraising means" and achieve it within the period will be provided with an incentive of 1,000,000 yen. *Conditions apply
[Expected Commitment]
Expected commitment per month is 4 to 6 hours
(2 lectures × 90 mins + 2 mentoring/monitoring sessions × 60 mins + pitch preparation, etc.)
[Selection Schedule]
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Applications open
Friday, May 22, 2026
Application deadline
~End of May 2026
Screening
- Primary screening (Document review)
- Secondary screening (Presentation review)
~End of May 2026 (Scheduled)
Notification of adoption
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Kickoff
We look forward to applications from everyone aiming for business growth through a finance mix.
Apply here
Message from Program Manager Teppei Wakabayashi
In recent years, the government's 5-year startup development plan has progressed, and players on the funding side such as VCs, financial institutions, and local governments have certainly increased. However, at the same time, due to the impact of rising interest rates and revisions to the listing maintenance criteria of the Growth Market, funds are concentrated in certain companies with high certainty of growth, and the polarization of the fundraising environment is becoming prominent.
Under these circumstances, fundraising that relies solely on equity can undermine future fundraising capacity and become a bottleneck for growth. Therefore, the "Finance Mix" becomes important. It is an approach to secure growth funds while leaving capacity for the next round of fundraising by combining multiple means such as equity, debt, venture debt, and cash flow support services according to the phase.
What I feel through the practical experience with the 10 companies in the 1st Batch is a renewed recognition of the importance of the diversity of means expanding the possibilities of business strategy itself and its practical examples.
There is no single correct answer. That is why we want to return specific examples gained from practice as "shared knowledge" to increase the feasibility of the future envisioned by startups.
Increasing financing options means increasing future possibilities.
Let's definitely work on this together.
[About INQ Inc.]
With the mission of "Turning those who build into those who achieve," we support the debt finance of ventures and startups, with a cumulative total of over 1,300 supported companies and over 13 billion yen (*).
We provide support to relieve the anxiety and hassle in the financing process for entrepreneurs, freeing up time and funds for them to concentrate on the core tasks that only entrepreneurs can do. We aim to contribute to a society with a startup ecosystem, including entrepreneurs, by supporting business launches and subsequent growth from a financial perspective.
*As of November 2025
Location: TAMA MIRAI SQUARE 2F B08, 2-8-28 Akebonocho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-0012
Established: 201