Okinawa Prefecture x eiicon x Ryukyu Mirai "Boost Up OKINAWA 2026"

eiicon Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Ayuko Nakamura, hereinafter referred to as eiicon), operator of "AUBA," Japan's largest open innovation platform, announces that 10 startups have been selected for the startup support program "Boost Up OKINAWA 2026" (operated by eiicon, hereinafter referred to as the Program), which aims to accelerate businesses and services in Okinawa and is organized by the Okinawa Prefectural Government. The program recruited startups aiming to launch businesses, conduct PoCs (Proof of Concepts), and commercialize in Okinawa.

https://eiicon.net/about/boostup-okinawa2026

The program recruited startups from within and outside Okinawa Prefecture aiming to launch businesses, conduct PoCs (Proof of Concepts), and commercialize. From a large number of applications, 4 startups from Okinawa Prefecture and 6 startups from nationwide were selected, totaling 10 companies.

Selected startups will proceed with business verification by leveraging collaboration opportunities with companies and local governments in Okinawa Prefecture, and will refine their businesses towards the DEMODAY (results presentation meeting) scheduled to be held in late December 2026. They are also scheduled to participate in and present at "KOZAROCKS," a leading startup conference in Okinawa, aiming to create connections with businesses and investors from within and outside the prefecture.

Startups Aiming to Create New Businesses from Okinawa Selected

This program aims to create new industries and businesses that solve regional issues by combining the technologies and ideas of startups from within and outside Okinawa Prefecture with the assets of companies and local governments in Okinawa Prefecture.

This year, startups from a wide range of fields applied nationwide. After screening based on business viability, growth potential, and affinity with Okinawa Prefecture, the selected companies were decided.

□ Okinawa Prefecture x eiicon x Ryukyu Mirai "Boost Up OKINAWA 2026" 10 Selected Startups

(Company Name, Field, Representative, Headquarters Location) Listed in Japanese alphabetical order within each category.

Okinawa Prefecture Startup Slot

WALLTECH Inc. (Sakiko Haseba, Okinawa City)

ORION COSMETICS Inc. (Rina Kobashigawa, Nanjo City)

LANDO Inc. (Yuki Koshi, Nanjo City)

Rywell Inc. (Akira Izumi, Naha City)

Nationwide Startup Slot

OYASAI Inc. (Circular Economy, Hayata Kunimura, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)

KAERU Inc. (Healthcare, Tomonori Okada, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)

Challengetech Inc. (Energy, Atsushi Shimizu, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)

MI-ZA Inc. (Healthcare, Mie Ishizuka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Mix & Match Inc. (Energy, Circular Economy, Shingo Mori, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)

Mobirta Inc. (Tourism, Shoichi Tajima, Showa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture)

End

□ Kick-off Event to be Held on July 10 (Fri) at "KOZAROCKS 2026"

Connecting with startups nationwide! Okinawa Co-creation Session x Pitch will be held.

* This event will be held as part of "KOZAROCKS 2026 (Urban Conference & Festival originating from Koza, Okinawa)." Networking with stakeholders in Okinawa Prefecture is planned alongside the pitch.

"KOZAROCKS 2026" https://kozarocks2026.koza.rocks/

"Boost Up OKINAWA 2026" Kick-off Event

Date & Time: July 10, 2026 (Fri) 15:00 - 18:30

Venue: X-BORDER KOZA (2F, 1-15-14 Chuo, Okinawa City)

Commentators:

Hakusei Ito (Representative Partner, MTG Ventures Inc.)

Yutaka Shinohara (Representative Director, Everconnect Inc.)

Ryuji Tokiwagi (Parallel Career Evangelist / Director, Founder CTO CSO, EBILAB Inc. / Director, Military Strategist, DX Promotion Division, Okano Valve Mfg. Co., Ltd. / eiicon Regional Revitalization Ambassador)

Details & Participation Application: *Held as a content of "KOZAROCKS 2026"

Connecting with startups nationwide! Okinawa Co-creation Session x Pitch

https://kozarocks2026.koza.rocks/sessions/day1-xborder-1500

*Schedule is subject to change.

□ Schedule After Kick-off Event

During the six-month mentoring period, we will provide business support, small-group seminars, and networking opportunities to foster the rapid growth of startups.

July - November 2026 Incubation Program

(Support from the secretariat, primarily conducted online)

* Seminar Participation (Funding / Intellectual Property Law / Public Relations / PMF / Human Resources, etc.) * Lectures and consultations with experts (mentoring) * Networking (Okinawa networking events, etc.)

Late December 2026 DEMODAY (Results Presentation) @ Naha

* Includes networking with stakeholders in Okinawa Prefecture

Okinawa Prefecture "FY2026 Startup Acceleration Project" Overview

Okinawa Prefecture is currently in a highly volatile environment due to economic globalization and changes in industrial structure. Startups that create new value with innovative technologies and business models are expected to be drivers of innovation.

This project aims to foster and produce human resources and startups that will lead new industrial growth and solve various social issues by leveraging Okinawa's advantages and potential.

Reference: Last year's "Boost Up OKINAWA 2025" DEMODAY (Results Report) Feature Article

Accelerating Okinawa's Industrial Revitalization in Four Areas - What are the Challenges and Next Steps for Startups?

https://tomoruba.eiicon.net/articles/5448

□ Inquiries Regarding This Program

"Boost Up OKINAWA 2026" Operating Secretariat (Operated by: eiicon Inc. and Ryukyu Mirai Inc.)

TEL: 03-6670-3273

Mail: okinawa-startup@eiicon.net

*Please convert (@) to @.

eiicon Company Overview https://corp.eiicon.net/

Company Name: eiicon Inc.

Representative: Ayuko Nakamura, President and CEO

Establishment Date: April 3, 2023

Headquarters: 2F, Toranomon 36 Mori Bldg., 3-4-7 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo *Relocated to the above address from April 1, 2026

Okinawa Base 1 (Lagoon KOZA / KSA Works): 1-7-8 Chuo, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture

Okinawa Base 2 (Have a good day): 18-4 Higashi-machi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture

Tokai Branch: STATION Ai, 1-2-32 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

Shizuoka Base: B1F FUSE, The Zaza City Hamamatsu Chuo-kan, 100-1 Kaji-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Kanagawa Base (WeWork Ocean Gate Minatomirai): 8F, Ocean Gate Minatomirai, 3-7-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Kansai Base (Kigyo Plaza Hyogo): KiP, 56 Naniwa-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture

Singapore (eiicon Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.): 20 Anson Road, #11-01 Twenty Anson, Singapore 079912

Business Description:

Operation of the open innovation platform "AUBA," event planning and support services, sourcing services, etc.

eiicon Inc. supports commercialization through hands-on consulting specializing in open innovation (OI) and Japan's largest open innovation platform, tailored to the business phase of companies.

What is Open Innovation?

A methodology for creating innovative new value by combining internal and external media and technologies, proposed by Henry W. Chesbrough (USA) in 2003. It is an approach that advocates for actively incorporating external collaborations, not just relying on internal resources.

eiicon's Services

Japan's Largest Open Innovation Platform "AUBA"

An open innovation-focused web platform, one of the largest in Japan, with over 39,000 registered companies. It provides an ALL IN ONE system for creating businesses, achieving discontinuous growth, and ensuring business continuity. AUBA is a service for intentionally creating innovation. ISO 56001 certified.

https://auba.eiicon.net/

Cross-border Co-creation Platform for Overseas Companies Supporting and Accelerating International Co-creation (Overseas Companies x Japanese Companies)

"AUBA for Global"

An open innovation platform that supports and accelerates approaches from overseas companies and organizations aiming for co-creation with Japanese companies and organizations. It provides support through innovation advisors, including connections with Japanese companies and organizations registered on "AUBA" and applications for acceleration programs operated by eiicon and AUBA for companies and local governments. Many overseas companies and organizations, primarily from Southeast Asia, are registered, accelerating encounters between overseas and Japanese companies and aiming to create an environment where cross-border co-creation can occur more intentionally.

https://corp.eiicon.net/forglobal

Full Hands-on Support Service "AUBA Enterprise"

Including internal new business and open innovation projects, our consultants with extensive experience in supporting business creation design support tailored to the specific concerns and needs of each company. We support commercialization through services tailored to the company's phase, from business strategy support to creating concrete opportunities for partner co-creation and team building support, and new business creation support.

https://corp.eiicon.net/service/enterprise

Media to Vitalize Business "TOMORUBA"

A "media to vitalize business" for business professionals who create businesses. It delivers information on funding, funding provision, joint research, and know-how for creating businesses from startups, SMEs, and large corporations across various industries and regions, as well as local governments and universities.

https://tomoruba.eiicon.net/

Major Awards

In December 2022, received the Excellence Award at the "4th Japan Service Awards" for its innovative and excellent service.

https://service-award.jp/result04.html

In February 2023, received the Commissioner's Award of the Japan Sports Agency at the "5th Japan Open Innovation Awards" for its series of open innovation initiatives, including matching and co-creation between national sports teams/organizations and partner companies through acceleration programs.

https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/stmain/20230120oip.html

* Information posted is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that it may be subject to change without notice.

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: ビジネス