Recruitment for "Challengers" aiming to start businesses at the entrepreneurship creation hub "AGORA Hon-atsugi"!

Kanagawa Prefecture is promoting the creation of entrepreneurs through its "HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program," which provides intensive hands-on support to promising aspiring entrepreneurs ("challengers") to help them commercialize their businesses, thereby continuously generating new entrepreneurs from the region. Starting today, we are recruiting "challengers" (First Half of FY2026) who aim to start businesses at "AGORA Hon-atsugi," an entrepreneurship creation hub in Atsugi City.

Regarding the recruitment of "AGORA Hon-atsugi" Challengers (First Half of FY2026):

**Target:** Individuals who aim to start a business in Kanagawa Prefecture and are working on commercializing new business ideas with innovative concepts and technologies.

**Support Period:** From early July to October 2026 (a results presentation is scheduled for late October 2026).

**Support Details:** * Holding courses to learn necessary entrepreneurship skills * Free access to online learning content (e.g., how to create a business plan) * Mentoring for business commercialization by experts * Opportunities for interaction with senior entrepreneurs and local businesses * Free use of activity bases (seats) at "AGORA Hon-atsugi" (limited to the support period) * Provision of information on prefectural and other support for entrepreneurship, and benefits such as reduction of registration and license tax at the time of company establishment and reduced lending rates for the prefecture's "Startup Support Loan" and credit guarantee rates (certified as a Specific Startup Support etc. Project by Atsugi City*). * *For details, please refer to Atsugi City's website: https://www.city.atsugi.kanagawa.jp/soshiki/sangyoshinkoka/9/9/6724.html

**Number of Recruits:** Approximately 15 people

**Application Period:** From 2:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2026, to 5:00 PM on Thursday, June 4, 2026

**Details and Application:** https://www.agora-office.com/post/20260501

[Scenes from past support programs]

[Reference 1] Regarding recruitment for the Second Half of FY2026 and challengers at other hubs: Information regarding the recruitment of "AGORA Hon-atsugi" Challengers for the Second Half of FY2026 and challengers at the Kamakura and Odawara hubs will be announced at a later date.

[Reference 2] HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program At three hubs within the prefecture (Kamakura, Atsugi, Odawara), this support program provides intensive hands-on support (challenger system) to promising aspiring entrepreneurs, including mentoring by experts and opportunities for interaction with senior entrepreneurs. It aims to foster Kanagawa-born entrepreneurs and form entrepreneur communities in each region. https://startups.pref.kanagawa.jp/program/hatsu/

[Reference 3] Overview of the entrepreneurship creation hub "AGORA Hon-atsugi" **Hub Name:** Coworking Space & Share Office AGORA Hon-atsugi **Location:** Hon-atsugi Mylord ① 6F, 1-1 Izumi-cho, Atsugi City **Operator:** Odakyu SC Development Co., Ltd. **Facilities:** * Private rooms/fixed booths: 22 seats, Free space: 19 seats * Registration possible, drop-in available, meeting space, telephone booths, Wi-Fi, multifunction device, mailboxes, lockers, free drinks **Business Hours:** 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Non-AGORA members can use only on weekdays from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM). Not available on Hon-atsugi Mylord closing days. **Website:** https://www.agora-office.com/ **Contact:** Kanagawa Prefectural Government, Department of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Industry Division Manager, Space Industry & Venture Support, Koshiba Phone: 045-285-0213 Venture Support Group, Industrial Promotion Division, Ueno Phone: 045-210-5646