K.S. Rogers Co., Ltd. Joins Kobe City's 'AI-Focused Support Program: SET SAIL' as Development Partner Alongside AlphaDrive and Kobe Shimbun

K.S. Rogers Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; CEO: Kazuhiro Taminawa; hereinafter "KSR") announces its participation as a partner in the Kobe Business Program 'AI-Focused Support Course: SET SAIL,' hosted by Kobe City and operated by AlphaDrive Inc. In this role, KSR will support the AI product development track of the program.

Through this collaboration, KSR will promote its brand message 'Kansai AX (AI Transformation)' by showcasing its expertise in AI product development support, expanding its impact from the Kansai region to nationwide.

## Background and Objectives

In recent years, the rapid advancement of AI technologies, particularly generative AI, has dramatically increased the importance of 'AI product planning and implementation capabilities' in corporate new business development. However, many startups and local companies in Kobe express challenges such as 'having ideas but not knowing how to turn AI into products or services' or 'being blocked by technical barriers that prevent commercialization.'

The 'AI-Focused Support Course: SET SAIL,' jointly operated by Kobe City and AlphaDrive, is a top-tier Kansai program designed for startups and local companies aiming to refine their business plans over a six-month period. KSR will join as a specialized partner for AI product development support, providing strong technical assistance to help participants effectively implement AI in their ventures.

By elevating participants' business concepts into implementable and competitive AI products, KSR aims to showcase successful cases of AI-driven new business creation from Kobe to the entire nation.

## KSR's Support: AI Product Development Assistance

Within this program, KSR will provide the following support to participating companies:

- AI Product Planning and Design Support: Technical advice and design assistance to concretize business concepts into AI-powered products
- PoC (Proof of Concept) and Prototype Development Support: Hands-on assistance to rapidly transform ideas into functional prototypes
- Generative AI Implementation Support: Expertise in product development using LLMs (Large Language Models)
- On-Site Support via FDE (Forward Deployed Engineer): KSR’s active AI engineers will work side-by-side with business teams, advancing practical AI implementation aligned with real business workflows

Through these initiatives, KSR will continuously showcase successful cases of AI-driven innovation from Kansai to the rest of Japan.

## Statement from Kazuhiro Taminawa, Representative Director and CEO

'We are deeply honored to have the opportunity to provide hands-on support in AI development and implementation for the 'AI-Focused Support Course: SET SAIL.' We sincerely thank Kobe City and AlphaDrive for this collaboration.

K.S. Rogers will generously share our accumulated expertise in product development, including AI, with all participants in this program. We will provide strong technical support to address challenges faced by startups and new business teams—such as 'how to shape ideas into AI products' and 'how to overcome technical barriers'—to significantly enhance the competitiveness of their business concepts.

Under our 'Kansai AX (AI Transformation)' vision, we look forward to disseminating successful cases of AI-powered new business creation from Kobe across Japan. Through this program, we will accelerate innovation originating from the Kansai region.'

## Kobe City, Economic and Tourism Bureau, New Industries & Science and Technology Division

'Kobe City is committed to the sustainable growth of its economy by providing integrated support—from ideation to implementation and commercialization—for startups and local businesses. The 'AI-Focused Support Course: SET SAIL' is a practical new business support program aimed at implementing AI-powered products and scaling them into viable businesses.

With K.S. Rogers Co., Ltd. joining as an AI product development support partner and offering hands-on, individualized support from active AI engineers, participants will now be able to advance their ventures more swiftly. We expect this program to become a powerful catalyst for startups and local companies to transform their business concepts into real-world products.'

## AlphaDrive Inc.

'In the AI-Focused Support Course, we place strong emphasis on carefully guiding startups and local companies with AI-based business ideas through the journey from concept to product implementation and commercialization. With K.S. Rogers joining as a product development support partner, we now have the environment for selected participants to overcome technical barriers in AI implementation and proceed with higher-confidence product development.

We are confident that K.S. Rogers’ practical engineering capabilities and on-site support strength will strongly empower ventures emerging from Kobe. Together, we will build successful cases of Kobe-born products reaching society.'

## About 'AI-Focused Support Course: SET SAIL'

- Organizer: Kobe City
- Operators: AlphaDrive Inc., K.S. Rogers Co., Ltd., Kobe Shimbun Co., Ltd.
- Overview: A Kobe City initiative aimed at fostering a startup ecosystem and sustainable growth. The program targets the end-to-end completion of 'AI-powered product implementation and prototype development' within the selection period. Participating companies will aim for global market expansion from Kobe, supported by individualized engineering guidance and technical support.
- Venue: ANCHOR KOBE (15F, Kobe Sannomiya Hankyu Building, 4-2-1 Kanadacho, Chuo Ward, Kobe City)

## 'SET SAIL!' Application Guidelines and Procedures

- Eligibility: Companies based in Kobe City or startups planning to enter Kobe
- Support Provided: Various support necessary for product implementation, including individualized on-site support and technical assistance from engineers
- Application Period: Friday, June 5, 2026 – Tuesday, June 30, 2026
- How to Apply: Complete the required fields on the application form and submit your entry
- Contact: Heisei 8th Year Kobe Business Program Secretariat
(c/o AlphaDrive Inc.)
Email: kobe-business-program@alphadrive.co.jp
Hours: Weekdays 10:00–17:00

## About 'Kansai AX (AI Transformation)'

'Kansai AX' is KSR’s unique brand message. Amid the rapid evolution of AI technologies like generative AI, KSR aims to redefine and evolve the valuable management insights and operational know-how of Kansai-based companies into digital assets through AI implementation, thereby strengthening their global competitiveness. KSR will lead this transformation, building a solid reputation as the go-to partner for AI implementation originating from Kansai—this is the essence of 'Kansai AX.'

## About K.S. Rogers Co., Ltd.

Since its founding, K.S. Rogers has maintained an organizational structure based on 'fully remote, fully flexible, and free employment formats,' successfully combining flexible work styles with high-level technical expertise.