JR East Startup Program 2026 to be Held - Twice Yearly Recruitment in Spring and Autumn
JR East Startup Co., Ltd. and East Japan Railway Company are launching the 'JR East Startup Program 2026' to foster business creation through collaboration with venture companies and individuals with innovative ideas. The program, which has been running since 2017, will accept applications twice a year, in spring and autumn, focusing on themes of 'Regional Co-creation', 'Digital Co-creation', and 'Global Co-creation (SDGs)'. Successful applicants will leverage JR East Group resources for demonstration experiments and potential commercialization.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 20:35 (6h 3m after Collected)
East Japan Railway Company (President: Yoichi Kise) and JR East Startup Co., Ltd. (President: Yutaka Shibata) will hold the 'JR East Startup Program 2026', a business creation activity through collaboration with venture companies and individuals with excellent business ideas.
The 'JR East Startup Program' has been held since FY2017, and has adopted a total of 142 proposals to date. Demonstration experiments have been conducted in a wide range of fields, including mobility and life solutions businesses, with some initiatives leading to practical application.
Continuing from last year, recruitment will be held twice this year, in spring and autumn. Furthermore, with the three themes of 'Regional Co-creation', 'Digital Co-creation', and 'Global Co-creation (SDGs)', we will advance future-oriented collaborations with venture companies.
1. What is the 'JR East Startup Program'?
This is a program that solicits proposals for businesses and services from venture companies and individuals with various ideas, utilizing the management and information assets of the JR East Group businesses, including stations and railways, and realizes them through refinement.
The 'JR East Startup Program' received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 1st Japan Open Innovation Awards in FY2018, hosted by the Cabinet Office, and the Minister of the Environment Award at the 3rd Japan Open Innovation Awards in FY2020.
Scene from the Startup Program 2025 Spring 'Demo Day'
2. Business Areas
Under its Group Management Vision 'Yusho 2034', the JR East Group is challenging itself to create new value that delivers peace of mind and excitement through Lifestyle Transformation (LX). This program seeks proposals that contribute to the realization of this value creation.
(1) Creation of services that connect people, goods, and information in a timely manner, enhancing convenience and experiential value.
(2) Creation of comfortable mobility services that seamlessly connect departure points to destinations.
(3) Technological innovation that contributes to safe and stable transportation, facility management, and improvement of operational safety levels and quality.
(4) Creation of vibrant places and services that enhance the value of railways, stations, and towns, attracting diverse people.
(5) Creation of initiatives that contribute to tourism promotion, creation of mobile populations, and revitalization of local industries through co-creation with regions.
(6) Solutions to social issues for the realization of a sustainable society, such as energy, resource circulation, and reduction of environmental impact.
3. Target Companies
We are targeting companies that have their own products, services, or prototypes, and are generally within 10 years of establishment, aiming to conduct demonstration experiments within one year (by March for the spring recruitment, and by September of the following year for the autumn recruitment).
4. Themes
(1) 'Regional Co-creation'
Creating new value from assets such as stations in lifestyle along the lines, through utilization of tourism resources, new ways of travel and work via MaaS, and new business creation through collaboration with local industries.
(2) 'Digital Co-creation'
Creating a lifestyle that integrates real and digital experiences, such as improving productivity with AI, robotics, and drones, and utilizing data assets like Suica.
(3) 'Global Co-creation (SDGs)'
Challenges towards realizing a sustainable society, such as carbon neutrality, energy, and circular economy.
5. Application Method
You can apply from the dedicated homepage below. The homepage also features information on the JR East Group's co-creation activities.
Application Period: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 – Thursday, May 21, 2026
Autumn Application Period: Scheduled for mid-October 2026
*Autumn recruitment will be announced separately.
URL: https://jrestartup.co.jp/
Startup Program Logo
About JR East Startup Co., Ltd.
JR East Startup Co., Ltd. is a corporate venture capital that promotes co-creation between the JR East Group and startup companies.
Location: Tokyo Yard Building 6・7F, 2-21-42 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: President Yutaka Shibata
Shareholder: East Japan Railway Company (100%)
Establishment Date: February 20, 2018
Investment Framework: 5 billion yen
Contact:
E-mail: pr@jrestartup.co.jp
Homepage: https://jrestartup.co.jp
Recruitment Guidelines for JR East Startup Program 2026 (Spring Recruitment)
Recruitment will be conducted as follows. For details, please refer to the dedicated homepage for the JR East Startup Program (URL: https://jrestartup.co.jp/2026-entry-spring/).
1. Target Applicants
・Companies that already possess their own products, services, or prototypes.
・Companies generally within 10 years of establishment.
2. Application Conditions
・The proposed content must be novel.
・Must utilize the resources and assets of the JR East Group.
・Must lead to new business development for both the applicant and the JR East Group.
・Must be able to aim for demonstration experiments within one year (by March for spring recruitment, by September of the following year for autumn recruitment).
3. Notes
・The plan content must not violate public order and morals.
・The applicant shall bear the costs associated with the application.
・In principle, intellectual property rights such as patents originally owned by the applicant belong to the applicant. The applicant is responsible for necessary rights protection procedures upon entry, and the organizer assumes no responsibility.
However, please understand that the JR East Group may already be developing or may develop identical or similar products, services, or technologies independently, regardless of this public offering program.
・It is assumed that resources will be prepared for the realization of co-creation initiatives with us during and after the program period.
・If we so desire, we request that you be open to discussions regarding the handling of intellectual property rights for the proposed plan.
・The outline of the plan will be publicly disclosed (please apply within the scope that can be publicly disclosed without issue).
・Please note that adoption may be canceled if it is found that the application violates the application conditions or notes.
4. Schedule
May 21 (Thu): Application Deadline
Late June: Notification of Document Screening Results
July: Presentation Screening (Private)
Mid-August onwards: Acceleration Period
December: Demo Day (Public)
Presentations of demonstration experiment and co-creation plans for each course.
December onwards: Conduct demonstration experiments using JR East Group resources and assets.
*Schedule is subject to change.
5. Support Content
During the acceleration period, you can utilize information, IT tools, promotional facilities, and commercial/logistics networks owned by the JR East Group. Mentors will also be assigned to each business proposal to support the realization of demonstration experiments and co-creation plans.
The 'JR East Startup Program' has been held since FY2017, and has adopted a total of 142 proposals to date. Demonstration experiments have been conducted in a wide range of fields, including mobility and life solutions businesses, with some initiatives leading to practical application.
Continuing from last year, recruitment will be held twice this year, in spring and autumn. Furthermore, with the three themes of 'Regional Co-creation', 'Digital Co-creation', and 'Global Co-creation (SDGs)', we will advance future-oriented collaborations with venture companies.
1. What is the 'JR East Startup Program'?
This is a program that solicits proposals for businesses and services from venture companies and individuals with various ideas, utilizing the management and information assets of the JR East Group businesses, including stations and railways, and realizes them through refinement.
The 'JR East Startup Program' received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 1st Japan Open Innovation Awards in FY2018, hosted by the Cabinet Office, and the Minister of the Environment Award at the 3rd Japan Open Innovation Awards in FY2020.
Scene from the Startup Program 2025 Spring 'Demo Day'
2. Business Areas
Under its Group Management Vision 'Yusho 2034', the JR East Group is challenging itself to create new value that delivers peace of mind and excitement through Lifestyle Transformation (LX). This program seeks proposals that contribute to the realization of this value creation.
(1) Creation of services that connect people, goods, and information in a timely manner, enhancing convenience and experiential value.
(2) Creation of comfortable mobility services that seamlessly connect departure points to destinations.
(3) Technological innovation that contributes to safe and stable transportation, facility management, and improvement of operational safety levels and quality.
(4) Creation of vibrant places and services that enhance the value of railways, stations, and towns, attracting diverse people.
(5) Creation of initiatives that contribute to tourism promotion, creation of mobile populations, and revitalization of local industries through co-creation with regions.
(6) Solutions to social issues for the realization of a sustainable society, such as energy, resource circulation, and reduction of environmental impact.
3. Target Companies
We are targeting companies that have their own products, services, or prototypes, and are generally within 10 years of establishment, aiming to conduct demonstration experiments within one year (by March for the spring recruitment, and by September of the following year for the autumn recruitment).
4. Themes
(1) 'Regional Co-creation'
Creating new value from assets such as stations in lifestyle along the lines, through utilization of tourism resources, new ways of travel and work via MaaS, and new business creation through collaboration with local industries.
(2) 'Digital Co-creation'
Creating a lifestyle that integrates real and digital experiences, such as improving productivity with AI, robotics, and drones, and utilizing data assets like Suica.
(3) 'Global Co-creation (SDGs)'
Challenges towards realizing a sustainable society, such as carbon neutrality, energy, and circular economy.
5. Application Method
You can apply from the dedicated homepage below. The homepage also features information on the JR East Group's co-creation activities.
Application Period: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 – Thursday, May 21, 2026
Autumn Application Period: Scheduled for mid-October 2026
*Autumn recruitment will be announced separately.
URL: https://jrestartup.co.jp/
Startup Program Logo
About JR East Startup Co., Ltd.
JR East Startup Co., Ltd. is a corporate venture capital that promotes co-creation between the JR East Group and startup companies.
Location: Tokyo Yard Building 6・7F, 2-21-42 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: President Yutaka Shibata
Shareholder: East Japan Railway Company (100%)
Establishment Date: February 20, 2018
Investment Framework: 5 billion yen
Contact:
E-mail: pr@jrestartup.co.jp
Homepage: https://jrestartup.co.jp
Recruitment Guidelines for JR East Startup Program 2026 (Spring Recruitment)
Recruitment will be conducted as follows. For details, please refer to the dedicated homepage for the JR East Startup Program (URL: https://jrestartup.co.jp/2026-entry-spring/).
1. Target Applicants
・Companies that already possess their own products, services, or prototypes.
・Companies generally within 10 years of establishment.
2. Application Conditions
・The proposed content must be novel.
・Must utilize the resources and assets of the JR East Group.
・Must lead to new business development for both the applicant and the JR East Group.
・Must be able to aim for demonstration experiments within one year (by March for spring recruitment, by September of the following year for autumn recruitment).
3. Notes
・The plan content must not violate public order and morals.
・The applicant shall bear the costs associated with the application.
・In principle, intellectual property rights such as patents originally owned by the applicant belong to the applicant. The applicant is responsible for necessary rights protection procedures upon entry, and the organizer assumes no responsibility.
However, please understand that the JR East Group may already be developing or may develop identical or similar products, services, or technologies independently, regardless of this public offering program.
・It is assumed that resources will be prepared for the realization of co-creation initiatives with us during and after the program period.
・If we so desire, we request that you be open to discussions regarding the handling of intellectual property rights for the proposed plan.
・The outline of the plan will be publicly disclosed (please apply within the scope that can be publicly disclosed without issue).
・Please note that adoption may be canceled if it is found that the application violates the application conditions or notes.
4. Schedule
May 21 (Thu): Application Deadline
Late June: Notification of Document Screening Results
July: Presentation Screening (Private)
Mid-August onwards: Acceleration Period
December: Demo Day (Public)
Presentations of demonstration experiment and co-creation plans for each course.
December onwards: Conduct demonstration experiments using JR East Group resources and assets.
*Schedule is subject to change.
5. Support Content
During the acceleration period, you can utilize information, IT tools, promotional facilities, and commercial/logistics networks owned by the JR East Group. Mentors will also be assigned to each business proposal to support the realization of demonstration experiments and co-creation plans.