AlphaDrive to Launch New Business Creation Program "ELEVATE" for Kariya City SMEs in FY2026, Fostering "AX Architects" with AI to Support 6 Companies (Planned) Over Six Months.

AlphaDrive Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO/CAXO: Yoichi Aso; hereinafter "AlphaDrive"), a company specializing in new business development and AX (AI Transformation: business transformation through AI), has been entrusted with the operation of the FY2026 "Kariya City Innovation Business Creation Program 'ELEVATE'" organized by Kariya City (Industry and Environment Department, Commerce and Industry Promotion Division), which will commence in July 2026.

This program is an approximately six-month initiative aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kariya City identify new revenue streams and shape them into businesses, starting from on-site challenges or their own technologies and strengths. It consists of two main components: two seminars open to everyone, and support for the selected 6 companies (planned). A key feature is fostering "AX Architects" – individuals who can create new value and results with AI – within local companies by utilizing generative AI in all aspects of business development.

This program is a continuation of Kariya City's initiative that began in FY2024, with 12 local SMEs participating so far, each undertaking challenges in new business creation.

This program also serves as an early implementation case of "Regional AX (Regional AI Transformation)" advocated by AlphaDrive, a strategic concept that enhances the added value of regional companies and evolves the regional economy itself, centered around AI for revenue evolution. Please also refer to the white paper "Regional AX: Regional Economic Policy Report for the Era of Regional Revitalization 2.0" (link here), which discusses "Regional AX" and was released on May 21, 2026, exclusively for mayors, council members, and municipal staff.

▼ Seminar Application (Free)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHhnnkw4BS0XtBGwYuij6edNLJg3zoEs_HrmnNlsx9XK-5qA/viewform

▼ Accompanying Support Program (Participating Companies) Application (Free)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVzFWQwhbiQV8naOdRVzBfHSSJuZ-NFmfnpPWPWzmHCqeYdQ/viewform

Background

"We have solid technology, but we can't envision our next pillar." – Even in Kariya City, a hub for manufacturing, many SMEs face such challenges. New business creation might sound like something for large corporations, but many new revenue streams arise not from special inspiration, but from on-site issues or the technologies companies have built up over time.

Furthermore, another change that SMEs must address now is "AI." For many companies, AI remains a tool for "efficiency" and has not become a weapon for "creating new value and results." This program aims precisely for that future – to foster "AX Architects," individuals who create value with AI, within Kariya's regional companies.

AlphaDrive is a comprehensive company in the business development field, specializing in supporting new business development and AX. Since its founding in 2018, it has supported over 260 companies and more than 23,800 business creation projects, from large corporations to regional SMEs, and has systematized its methodologies. In this program, this practical knowledge will be provided tailored to the realities of regional SMEs. Additionally, generative AI will be fully integrated into the business development process, and participating companies that wish to do so will be provided with Claude (generative AI tool) accounts. The design allows participants to acquire AI utilization skills simultaneously while advancing new businesses.

What is an AX Architect: Refers to individuals who create new value and results with AI. Defined by the combination of "business architect capabilities" for conceptualizing and designing businesses and "AI capabilities" for mastering AI, these are individuals who can leverage AI for "value creation" beyond mere "efficiency." This program cultivates the first step towards this from regional SMEs.

Context of Regional AX: AlphaDrive has systematized such initiatives as "Regional AX." The most critical issue for Regional AX is "to foster and retain individuals who create new value with AI within the region's companies, rather than simply dispatching them from outside." Please also refer to the policy report "Regional AX: Regional Economic Policy Report for the Era of Regional Revitalization 2.0" (link here), which discusses "Regional AX" and was released on May 21, 2026, exclusively for mayors, council members, and municipal staff. It presents a blueprint for regional economic revitalization centered on fostering AX Architects.

Program Overview

Program Name: FY2026 Kariya City Innovation Business Creation Program "ELEVATE"

Organizer: Kariya City, Industry and Environment Department, Commerce and Industry Promotion Division

Operator: AlphaDrive Inc.

Target: SMEs with business locations in Kariya City (6 companies planned for accompanying support)

Period: July 2026 - March 2027 (approx. 6 months)

Participation Fee: Free

▼ Program Special Site

https://kariyaelevate.jp/

Seminars (2 sessions total)

Approximately 30 participants will be recruited for each session. Individual consultations will be held from 17:00 to 17:30 after the sessions.

1st Seminar

Date and Time: July 31, 2026 (Fri) 15:00 - 17:00 (Seminar), 17:00 - 17:30 (Individual Consultation)

Theme: "Creating New Value in the AI Era"

Speaker: Yoichi Aso (AlphaDrive President & CEO/CAXO)

Venue: Kariya City Central Lifelong Learning Center, Training Room 401

2nd Seminar

Date and Time: August 25, 2026 (Tue) 15:00 - 17:00, 17:00 - 17:30 (Individual Consultation)

Theme: "How to Proceed with New Business in the AI Era"

Speaker: Hiroshi Furukawa (AlphaDrive Director & Group Executive Officer, COO)

Venue: Kariya City Industry Promotion Center, Conference Room 305

※Application Deadline for 1st Seminar: July 29, 2026 (Wed)

※Application Deadline for 2nd Seminar: August 21, 2026 (Fri)

Accompanying Support Program (6 months, 6 companies planned for selection)

For companies that feel motivated after the seminars, mentors specializing in new business development will provide accompanying support for six months to the selected 6 companies (planned).

・Free accompanying support from experts: Mentors who have supported business creation for regional companies nationwide will provide support twice a month for a total of 10 sessions.

・Starting from "What to do": Participation is welcome even if the theme is not yet decided. Support will be provided from the theme setting stage of how to increase sales.

・Building the ability to create value with AI within the company: AI will be utilized in each stage of business development. The goal is to retain the ability to create new value and results with AI as "AX Architects" within the company through business creation, not just efficiency. Claude (generative AI tool) accounts will be provided to those who wish.

・Schedule: Seminars, applications, and selection from July to September. Workshops (3 sessions) and start of accompanying support from October to December, hypothesis testing from January to February, and results presentation meeting in March.

※Application Deadline for Accompanying Support Program: September 25, 2026 (Fri)

Comments from Staff

Shingo Toyoyoshi / AlphaDrive Inc., Regional Co-creation Business Division, Project Manager

AlphaDrive has a track record of supporting business creation for many companies in Kariya City, nurturing on-site challenges and solid technologies into "next pillars." For the past few years, I myself have sat down with the people of Kariya City's companies and witnessed numerous new business creation initiatives. What I strongly feel is that the technologies and knowledge that Kariya's manufacturing has built up hold the potential to transform into unseen new sales simply by changing their target audience slightly. And now, AI is the weapon that can multiply that potential. We want to foster the ability to create new value with AI as "AX Architects" together with you all through six months of accompanying support, not stopping at "efficiency." While equipped with the new weapon of generative AI, we will provide our full support to contribute to Kariya City's innovation. It's okay even if you don't know where to start. First, let's take the first step together at the seminar.

Operation and Mentors

Members who have supported business creation for regional companies nationwide at AlphaDrive will be in charge.

Shingo Toyoyoshi (Regional Co-creation Business Division, Project Manager / Main Operation Lead & Mentor)

Masayuki Ishikawa (AlphaDrive Tokai, Regional Co-creation General Manager / Operation Manager & Mentor)

Kota Nakamura (Corporate Transformation Business Division, Incubation Lead / Mentor)

About AlphaDrive REGION

AlphaDrive REGION works with administrative bodies and regional companies in the areas of regional revitalization and regional economic policy, engaging in industrial promotion, regional human resource development, corporate attraction, and creation of related populations. Beyond consulting, they have been active in over 30 prefectures, including businesses operated in regions where they take on risk themselves. In addition to implementation functions in these regions, through the "AlphaDrive Regional Economy Research Institute," which serves as a think tank, they research regional economic revitalization models and propose policies, redefining regional economic policies for the AI era as "Regional AX." They also work on fostering AX Architects in regions, contributing to regional economic revitalization in the era of Regional Revitalization 2.0. Details: https://region.alphadrive.co.jp/

About AX for Revenue

AX for Revenue is a new domain launched by AlphaDrive in May 2026, advocating and implementing "Revenue Evolution AI Systems" that use AI to achieve non-linear evolution of corporate revenue. It promotes the application of AI in business development and the systematization of human resource development methods for the AI era. Recognizing the era of "Completion Cost Collapse," it supports revenue evolution that goes beyond efficiency, centered on unique concepts such as Full-Product Launch, AI Orchestration, and Field Intelligence. It also includes support for fostering and organizational implementation of "AX Architects," the human resource profile responsible for business development in the AI era. Details: https://axfr.ai

[Inquiries Regarding This Press Release]

AlphaDrive Inc.

Public Relations Contact https://corp.alphadrive.co.jp/contact/

[Inquiries Regarding This Program] Operation Secretariat (within AlphaDrive Inc.) Contact: Toyoyoshi, Ishikawa E-mail: kariya-elevate@alphadrive.co.jp