Aichi Prefecture's "America Support Organization Collaboration Project" Awarded to Plug and Play Japan
Plug and Play Japan has been commissioned by Aichi Prefecture to implement the "America Support Organization Collaboration Project." This initiative aims to strengthen Aichi's startup ecosystem by facilitating the entry of local startups into the North American market through partnerships with key US support organizations and local ecosystems, including the University of Texas at Austin and Berkeley SkyDeck.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 11:56 (54 min after Collected)
Plug and Play Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Vincent Philip; hereinafter "Plug and Play Japan") is pleased to announce that it has been commissioned by Aichi Prefecture (Governor: Hideaki Omura) to implement the "America Support Organization Collaboration Project."
**About the America Support Organization Collaboration Project**
Aichi Prefecture is promoting the formation of a startup ecosystem based on the "Aichi-Startup Strategy" with the aim of strengthening industrial competitiveness by leveraging startups as a catalyst.
Plug and Play Japan has collaborated with Aichi Prefecture to date, working on initiatives such as the "Singapore Startup Ecosystem Collaboration Project" and supporting collaborations between local companies and startups, as well as exhibition support, to foster business creation and overseas expansion for companies within the prefecture.
This project further develops these efforts by collaborating with major US support organizations and local ecosystems to provide comprehensive support for startups entering the North American market, from knowledge provision to local network building and practical business development support. Plug and Play Japan will promote this project by leveraging its global network, including its Silicon Valley and Texas bases, and its track record of collaboration with local governments and corporations.
Specifically, it will collaborate with the University of Texas at Austin (UTA) and the University of California, Berkeley's accelerator "Berkeley SkyDeck" to accelerate the North American expansion of Aichi Prefecture startups.
**Recruitment for North American Expansion Hands-on Support Program**
As a core initiative of this project, we will implement the "A2 (Aichi-Austin) Innovation Kick-start Program ~North American Expansion Hands-on Support Program~" and begin recruiting participating startups.
In this program, in collaboration with mentors from US university institutions and others, we will provide startups aiming for global growth with the knowledge necessary for US market entry and opportunities to build networks.
In addition, we will provide individually optimized hands-on support tailored to each startup's business phase and industry characteristics, supporting the creation of business negotiation opportunities with local customers and partners, and business development.
Furthermore, through continuous support before and after travel, based on the knowledge gained in the North American market, we will also connect this to business collaboration with companies in Aichi Prefecture and the creation of open innovation.
**Application Overview**
* **Program Name:** A2 (Aichi-Austin) Innovation Kick-start Program ~North American Expansion Hands-on Support Program~
* **Eligibility:** Startups with a base in Aichi Prefecture (however, domestic startups that are STATION Ai members are also eligible even if outside the prefecture)
* **Number of Companies Selected:** Approximately 3 companies
* **Support Content:** Mentoring by US experts, creation of business negotiation opportunities with local companies and investors, support for participation in exhibitions and networking, hands-on support before and after travel (travel period: approximately 1 week)
* **Participation Fee:** Free (partial subsidy of up to 500,000 JPY per company for exhibition fees, travel expenses, accommodation, etc.)
* **Application Period:** From Friday, April 24, 2026, to Wednesday, June 24, 2026
* **How to Apply:** You can apply from the URL below:
https://contents-jp.plugandplaytechcenter.com/a2-aichi-austin-innovation-kick-start-program-north-america-2026
**Other Implementation Programs (Overview)**
In addition to the above, this project will multi-layeredly support the growth of startups through the following programs, aiming to strengthen the entire ecosystem of Aichi Prefecture.
* Individual consultations (office hours) by lecturers from the University of Texas at Austin
* Support for exhibiting at SXSW, etc.
* Entrepreneur dispatch program to Texas
* Overseas expansion support program in collaboration with Berkeley SkyDeck
**Comment from Plug and Play Japan**
Masaki Makihara, Senior Manager, Mobility / Head of Tokai Base, Plug and Play Japan Co., Ltd.
Aichi Prefecture is a world-renowned hub for manufacturing, and the greatest key to forming the next-generation ecosystem is to integrate this overwhelming foundation of "monozukuri" (craftsmanship) with global "advanced technology."
I myself have been involved in business creation from both "large corporations and startups" and "technology and business" perspectives, through technology development as an engineer at a major automobile manufacturer, business planning at a mobility service company, and founding a startup.
In this project, we will collaborate with world-class institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin and Berkeley SkyDeck.
**About the America Support Organization Collaboration Project**
Aichi Prefecture is promoting the formation of a startup ecosystem based on the "Aichi-Startup Strategy" with the aim of strengthening industrial competitiveness by leveraging startups as a catalyst.
Plug and Play Japan has collaborated with Aichi Prefecture to date, working on initiatives such as the "Singapore Startup Ecosystem Collaboration Project" and supporting collaborations between local companies and startups, as well as exhibition support, to foster business creation and overseas expansion for companies within the prefecture.
This project further develops these efforts by collaborating with major US support organizations and local ecosystems to provide comprehensive support for startups entering the North American market, from knowledge provision to local network building and practical business development support. Plug and Play Japan will promote this project by leveraging its global network, including its Silicon Valley and Texas bases, and its track record of collaboration with local governments and corporations.
Specifically, it will collaborate with the University of Texas at Austin (UTA) and the University of California, Berkeley's accelerator "Berkeley SkyDeck" to accelerate the North American expansion of Aichi Prefecture startups.
**Recruitment for North American Expansion Hands-on Support Program**
As a core initiative of this project, we will implement the "A2 (Aichi-Austin) Innovation Kick-start Program ~North American Expansion Hands-on Support Program~" and begin recruiting participating startups.
In this program, in collaboration with mentors from US university institutions and others, we will provide startups aiming for global growth with the knowledge necessary for US market entry and opportunities to build networks.
In addition, we will provide individually optimized hands-on support tailored to each startup's business phase and industry characteristics, supporting the creation of business negotiation opportunities with local customers and partners, and business development.
Furthermore, through continuous support before and after travel, based on the knowledge gained in the North American market, we will also connect this to business collaboration with companies in Aichi Prefecture and the creation of open innovation.
**Application Overview**
* **Program Name:** A2 (Aichi-Austin) Innovation Kick-start Program ~North American Expansion Hands-on Support Program~
* **Eligibility:** Startups with a base in Aichi Prefecture (however, domestic startups that are STATION Ai members are also eligible even if outside the prefecture)
* **Number of Companies Selected:** Approximately 3 companies
* **Support Content:** Mentoring by US experts, creation of business negotiation opportunities with local companies and investors, support for participation in exhibitions and networking, hands-on support before and after travel (travel period: approximately 1 week)
* **Participation Fee:** Free (partial subsidy of up to 500,000 JPY per company for exhibition fees, travel expenses, accommodation, etc.)
* **Application Period:** From Friday, April 24, 2026, to Wednesday, June 24, 2026
* **How to Apply:** You can apply from the URL below:
https://contents-jp.plugandplaytechcenter.com/a2-aichi-austin-innovation-kick-start-program-north-america-2026
**Other Implementation Programs (Overview)**
In addition to the above, this project will multi-layeredly support the growth of startups through the following programs, aiming to strengthen the entire ecosystem of Aichi Prefecture.
* Individual consultations (office hours) by lecturers from the University of Texas at Austin
* Support for exhibiting at SXSW, etc.
* Entrepreneur dispatch program to Texas
* Overseas expansion support program in collaboration with Berkeley SkyDeck
**Comment from Plug and Play Japan**
Masaki Makihara, Senior Manager, Mobility / Head of Tokai Base, Plug and Play Japan Co., Ltd.
Aichi Prefecture is a world-renowned hub for manufacturing, and the greatest key to forming the next-generation ecosystem is to integrate this overwhelming foundation of "monozukuri" (craftsmanship) with global "advanced technology."
I myself have been involved in business creation from both "large corporations and startups" and "technology and business" perspectives, through technology development as an engineer at a major automobile manufacturer, business planning at a mobility service company, and founding a startup.
In this project, we will collaborate with world-class institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin and Berkeley SkyDeck.