Tokyo Metropolitan Government Women's Venture Growth Promotion Project "APT Women" 11th Term Student Recruitment Begins!

Zero One Booster Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: George Goda; hereinafter "01Booster"), a business creation company that supports open innovation and new business development for corporations, will continue to discover, nurture, and support women aspiring to start businesses as the operator of the 11th term of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Women's Venture Growth Promotion Project "APT Women (*)", following the 6th to 10th terms.

We are pleased to announce that "APT Women" has begun accepting applications for its 11th term students.

*APT Women (pronounced: Aputo Wimenn) is an abbreviation for Acceleration Program in Tokyo for Women.

For domestic programs, we offer a 3-month program consisting of group mentoring and lectures to help growth-oriented women's ventures acquire the management knowledge, skills, and networks necessary for scaling up and overseas expansion. For those selected from domestic program participants, we also offer an overseas program aimed at gaining a foothold for overseas expansion, such as visiting startup stakeholders and facilities in New York and Singapore, supporting female entrepreneurs aiming for global success starting from Tokyo.

APT Women is the largest-scale support program in Japan specifically for female entrepreneurs, having selected 320 ventures to date, with a total of approximately 28.7 billion yen in funding raised and over 1,190 collaborations with major companies. Continuing from the 10th term, the 11th term will be conducted in close collaboration with GLOBIS, which operates "G-STARTUP," an accelerator program for graduate business schools and startups, with the vision of "creating an ecosystem of people, capital, and knowledge related to management to create and transform society." By leveraging high-quality instructors, educational curricula, and investment support achievements, we will reliably connect to the startup ecosystem and support the further scaling up of female entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, in anticipation of the start of the 11th term program, a kickoff event will be held on September 11, 2026 (Fri.), where 40 selected 11th term students will present.

As a guest speaker, Ms. Ayumi Chikamoto (CEO of ICHIGO Inc.) will share her experiences and a message for aspiring female entrepreneurs aiming to start or expand their businesses.

This event is open to anyone interested in supporting venture companies or considering starting a business.

What is APT Women

APT Women is a program that provides various platforms and opportunities for women aiming to start businesses and grow as entrepreneurs, offering the knowledge and skills necessary for management and scaling up, as well as opportunities to meet and collaborate with entrepreneurs with similar aspirations and with collaborators and supporters who can accelerate their businesses.

Through diverse lectures by instructors with broad knowledge and experience, mentoring for individual company problem-solving, backup for global expansion, and encounters with invaluable peers with high aspirations, we support "people who create the future" who will change Japan and the world in the future, and who will become role models for many women.

Official Website: https://apt-women.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/index.html

11th Term Student Recruitment Overview

We are seeking women's ventures that will serve as role models for women who have already started businesses in Tokyo or have the potential to do so, to foster a growth mindset among women living in Tokyo and to present entrepreneurship as a new life choice for contemporary women.

1. Recruitment Overview

There are no industry restrictions for applications. We look forward to applications from many growth-oriented women's ventures.

[Application Qualifications]

Female representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises (including second startups with new service releases within the last 10 years) who have been in business for less than 10 years, or women planning to start a business in Tokyo.

*Limited to those who are operating a business in Tokyo or plan to expand their business into Tokyo.

*Includes general incorporated associations, limited liability companies, sole proprietors, NPOs, etc.

*Includes individuals who identify as women.

[Application Period]

July 7, 2026 (Tue) - August 3, 2026 (Mon) 23:59

[How to Apply]

For details, please check the "Recruitment Guidelines" on the APT Women official website and apply from the URL below. There will be a first screening (document review) and a second screening (interview).

https://apt-women.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/recruit/index.html

2. Program Overview

□ Domestic Program Overview

We offer mandatory lectures, elective lectures, and group mentoring by mentors.

[Schedule]

1 Mandatory Lectures: September 9, 2026 (Wed) - November 25, 2026 (Wed) (11 sessions total)

2 Elective Lectures: October 7, 2026 (Wed) - November 30, 2026 (Mon) (5 sessions total)

3 Throughout the program period, we will support students in solving individual issues through office hours, Slack consultations, study sessions, MVP development support, tax and labor consultations, and legal consultations.

[Format]: Online (some elective lectures, study sessions, and networking events are planned to be held offline)

[Lecture Content]: For details, please visit the "Domestic Program" page on the APT Women official website.

https://apt-women.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/program/acceleration/index.html

□ Overseas Program Overview

We select 20 participants from the domestic program and offer a program aimed at providing a foothold for overseas expansion, such as dispatching them for about 10 days to overseas cities with thriving venture support (New York and Singapore are planned for this year).

[Schedule]: Scheduled for January 2027

[Format]: In-person travel planned

[Lecture Content]: For details, please visit the "Overseas Program" page on the APT Women official website.

https://apt-women.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/program/abroad/index.html

*The format of the program and overseas travel may be subject to change depending on the local situation.

Events

Kickoff Event (Scheduled for September 11, 2026)

Pitch Event (Scheduled for December 2026)

Results Presentation Event (Scheduled for February 2027)

How to Participate in the Kickoff Event

[Date and Time]: September 11, 2026 (Fri) 17:00 - 18:30 (scheduled)

18:30 - 19:30 Networking Reception (optional participation)

[Venue]

In-person viewing: Tokyo Innovation Base (3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Sushi Tech Square)

Online viewing: APT Women Official YouTube

[How to Participate]

If you wish to attend in person, please apply in advance through the dedicated site below.

https://form.run/@apt11-kickoff

*In-person attendance is limited to the first 100 people.

*11th term students will participate in person at the venue, Tokyo Innovation Base.

*For online viewing, please watch on the APT Women Official YouTube channel below (archived viewing will also be available later).

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11qoIRzUPOnrAp3mtjWRww

[Program]

・Business Overview Explanation

・Guest Speaker Ms. Ayumi Chikamoto (CEO of ICHIGO Inc.) Lecture

・Introduction of 11th Term Students

・Organizer's Greeting

*Please note that the schedule and content are subject to change without notice.

"Alumni Consultation Sessions" for 11th Term Applications

We will hold "Alumni Consultation Sessions" where prospective applicants for the 11th term can consult with APT Women graduates about application points and how to utilize the program. Participation or viewing is not mandatory for applying to the 11th term.

□ Alumni Consultation Session 1

[Date and Time]: July 15, 2026 (Wed) 12:00 - 13:00 (online broadcast)

[How to Participate]: Online viewing (Zoom Meeting). Please apply in advance from below.

https://form.run/@apt11-alumnibriefing01

*Application deadline: July 15, 2026 (Wed) 11:00

[Speakers]: Ms. Rika Yajima (Representative Director, WAERU Inc.) APT Women 10th Term

Ms. Arisa Yamawaki (Representative Director, Artisans Inc.) APT Women 10th Term

□ Alumni Consultation Session 2

[Date and Time]: July 29, 2026 (Wed) 12:00 - 13:00 (online broadcast)

[How to Participate]: Online viewing (Zoom Meeting). Please apply in advance from below.

https://form.run/@apt11-alumnibriefing02

*Application deadline: July 29, 2026 (Wed) 11:00

[Speakers]: Ms. Erika Oguro (CEO, ShelterMate Inc.) APT Women 10th Term

Ms. Shiori Hori (Representative Director and CEO, SalesTailor Inc.) APT Women 10th Term

"Special Lecture" for 11th Term Applications

A special "Business Plan Brush-up and Document Creation Lecture" will be held for those considering applying for the 11th term. The latter half of the lecture will include a Q&A session. Participation or viewing is not mandatory for applying to the 11th term. [Date and Time]: July 8, 2026 (Wed) 15:00 - 17:00 (online broadcast) [How to Participate]: Online viewing (Zoom Webinar). Please apply in advance from below.

https://form.run/@apt11-special

*Application deadline: July 8, 2026 (Wed) 14:00

*Archived viewing is also available for those who apply, whether in advance or after the event.

[Lecturer]: Mr. Koji Takahara (Manager, GLOBIS Inc.)

About Zero One Booster Inc.

Zero One Booster Inc., with the philosophy of "Changing the world with the power of business creation," collaborates with corporations, governments, and universities to create and grow businesses that have a social impact and industries that lead the world.

We handle everything from connecting corporate management policies with new businesses, to establishing and operating systems, implementing business development, promoting open innovation, and nurturing business creation human resources.

Furthermore, through collaboration with diverse players such as municipalities, universities, companies, startups, and support organizations, we are working to build a sustainable industrial creation ecosystem, including startup creation and growth support, overseas expansion support and attraction of overseas startups, industry-academia-government collaboration, regional corporate transformation support, and the formation of industrial clusters.

In addition, we promote business creation in a multifaceted way, including operating the media "01Channel" which disseminates knowledge related to business creation, and venture investment through our group company 01Booster Capital.

Company Name: Zero One Booster Inc. Representative: George Goda, President and CEO Location: 1F, Shin Tokyo Building, 3-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 Established: March 2012 Business Activities: Shared office for entrepreneurs, planning and operation of corporate accelerator and intrapreneur accelerator programs, corporate entrepreneur training, investment and fundraising support, business creation consulting, M&A brokerage support, etc. URL: https://01booster.co.jp *Corporate Accelerator is a registered trademark of 01Booster.