Recruiting Participants for "ICT Mentor One on One Match 2026 powered by NICT" to Connect Regional ICT Startups with VCs and Entrepreneurs Nationwide

Hitas Inc. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representatives: Ryo Hara / Tsuyoshi Ozawa) will jointly organize the "ICT Mentor One on One Match 2026 powered by NICT" with Four Ideals Japan Inc. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Michiko Sugihara). This program, supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT; President: Hideo Ohno), offers mentoring opportunities for business growth to ICT startups from regions across Japan, provided by ICT Mentors from the ICT Mentor Platform.

1. Background

MIC and NICT annually implement the "National Accelerator Program (Kigyoka Koshien / Kigyoka Banpaku)" with the aim of solving regional issues and revitalizing the economy by fostering "Regional ICT Startups"*1, and supporting the discovery, development of next-generation ICT human resources*2, and business expansion of regional ICT startups.

This program identifies next-generation ICT human resources and promising regional ICT startups at regional collaboration competitions, and provides mentoring and business plan refinement by NICT ICT Mentors*3. The results are presented at "Kigyoka Koshien" (for students) and "Kigyoka Banpaku" (for early-stage entrepreneurs) held every March.

For details, please visit the NICT website "ICT Startup Support Center (https://www.nict.go.jp/venture/)".

As part of the "National Accelerator Program (Kigyoka Koshien / Kigyoka Banpaku)", we will hold "ICT Mentor One on One Match 2026 powered by NICT" to provide mentoring opportunities that lead to business growth for regional ICT startups and others.

Please review the application guidelines and participate.

*1: Startups that conduct business utilizing ICT in each region.

*2: Students (junior high school, high school, college of technology, vocational school, university, graduate school students, etc.) aspiring to start businesses utilizing ICT.

*3: NICT commissions venture capitalists and successful entrepreneurs as "ICT Mentors".

2. Program Objectives

This is a short, intensive program where each startup will have several 25-minute mentoring sessions with ICT Mentors active in the business world. By receiving advice from multiple perspectives from ICT Mentors, participants can expect new insights, triggers for business growth, and networking opportunities with venture capitalists and others.

Scenes from last year's event

We encourage startups facing the following challenges to participate:

Startups with limited opportunities for investment and mentoring from venture capitalists.

Startups seeking advice from diverse perspectives.

Startups lacking opportunities to refine their business plans.

Startups wanting to know how their business plans measure up in the real world.

Startups aiming for fundraising.

Startups interested in participating in Kigyoka Koshien / Kigyoka Banpaku.

Others

Regional ICT startups that receive advice will, in principle, be required to apply to a designated collaboration competition after the program concludes. Those who participate in a collaboration competition and win the NICT Award will be granted the right to participate in "Kigyoka Koshien" (March 11, 2027 (Thu)) or "Kigyoka Banpaku" (March 12, 2027 (Fri)), held at Marunouchi Building Hall & Conference Square.

*Reference: List of Collaboration Competitions https://www.nict.go.jp/venture/event_2026.html

NICT designates business plan contests in each region as "Collaboration Competitions" for the "National Accelerator Program (Kigyoka Koshien / Kigyoka Banpaku)". Winners of the "NICT" Award at each collaboration competition will present at Kigyoka Koshien / Kigyoka Banpaku scheduled for March next year, aiming to win awards from the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, the NICT President, and various partner companies.

(1) Schedule and Venue

Date: August 7, 2026 (Fri) 13:30 - 17:00 *End time may vary slightly.

Venue: NICT Innovation Center or Online (In-person participation recommended)

(103-0027 Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi 2-7-1, Tokyo Nihonbashi Tower 15F)

Participation Fee: Free

- For those participating in person at the venue, there will be an opportunity to interact with NICT ICT Mentors at the venue on the day.

- Travel and transportation expenses to the venue will be borne by the participant.

(2) Eligibility Requirements

Must be a startup (corporation, individual, or pre-startup) with an ICT-utilizing business plan.

Must have already started business operations or have a business idea.

Must be aiming for fundraising.

Must not be an anti-social force such as a crime syndicate.

Representative (CEO, etc.) must be able to participate on August 7, 2026 (Fri), the date of the event.

Must enter a designated collaboration competition after the program concludes.

(3) Participating ICT Mentors (Titles omitted)

Hitoshi Uehara

General Partner, Coalis / Visiting Professor, Kobe University

Motofumi Shoji

Director COO, Head of Local Business Division, Media Business Department, CS-C Inc.

Atsushi Nakajima

Managing Partner, Archetype Ventures

Fumiaki Nagase

Partner, D4V

*Reference: ICT Mentor List https://www.nict.go.jp/venture/ictmpre.html

(4) Application Form (Deadline: July 25, 2026 (Sat))

Please apply via the website below. Selection will be based on the content of the application form. Notification of selection results is scheduled for around July 31, 2026 (Fri).

https://www.nict.go.jp/venture/mentoringsession2026.html

*Kigyoka Koshien and Kigyoka Banpaku are registered trademarks of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.