[Record High] Kanagawa Central Area Entrepreneur Support Program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger" Sees 24 Participants Complete in FY2025! 91% Satisfaction, 17 Services Launched, 9 Businesses Incorporated.

Entrepreneur creation hub "AGORA Hon-atsugi" (operated by AGORA Co., Ltd.) reports the full-year results for FY2025 of the entrepreneur support program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger," commissioned by Kanagawa Prefecture.

This fiscal year, a record total of 24 challengers were selected across the first and second halves of the year. Among them, 17 successfully launched services, and 9 achieved incorporation or business opening (including prospective cases), leading to the continuous birth of new entrepreneurs invigorating the central Kanagawa area.

## ■ Key Achievements and Results for FY2025
This fiscal year, we achieved both "maximization of selected participants" and "improvement of business commercialization quality," recording our best performance ever.

### 1. Record High 24 Participants Selected (12 in the first half, 12 in the second half)
Significantly increased from 8 participants in FY2022 and FY2023, and 18 last year, this year we supported 24 individuals. We successfully unearthed entrepreneurial needs in the region.

### 2. Overwhelming Business Progress Rate
- Service development completed / Launched: 17 participants
- New sales generated: 12 participants
- Incorporated / Business opened: 9 participants
- Funding achieved: 3 participants

### 3. High Challenger Satisfaction Rate of 91%
In the post-program survey, total satisfaction was rated as "very satisfied (66%)" and "satisfied (25%)". Particularly for "mentor's hands-on support," the majority of respondents answered "very satisfied," indicating that personalized support directly led to results.

### 4. Holding "Mirai Marché 2026 ~Local Entrepreneurs and Students Color the Future~," a Practical Event Engaging the Community
As part of this program, "Mirai Marché 2026" was held on Saturday, February 7th and Sunday, February 8th, 2026, in collaboration with challengers and local students. A total of 259 visitors attended, providing a valuable test marketing opportunity for challengers to present their services to the market. Providing such practical opportunities, not just learning, contributed to the high launch rate.

## ■ Two Key Points Leading to Success
The dramatic improvement in results this fiscal year is attributed to the following initiatives:

### Pre-briefings and Individual Follow-ups that Achieved "Increased Entries"
For those interested in starting a business but hesitant to take the first step, we conducted thorough pre-briefings and individual consultations. This prevented mismatches at the entry stage and led to the acquisition of highly motivated individuals.

### Video Content and AI Utilization that Achieved "Program Quality Improvement"
We introduced video content for acquiring basic knowledge, establishing an efficient learning environment. Furthermore, actively utilizing AI in the refinement process enabled the rapid concretization of business concepts and quality improvement.

## ■ What is the HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program?
This is an initiative by Kanagawa Prefecture aimed at forming an "entrepreneur community" where aspiring entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs, and local businesses gather, interact, and mutually support each other to foster "originating" entrepreneurs in the region.

## ■ What is "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger"?
It is a 5-month program that provides hands-on support for the growth of entrepreneurs challenging new value creation, primarily in the central Kanagawa area, including Atsugi City (Sagamihara City, Atsugi City, Yamato City, Ebina City, Zama City, Ayase City, Aikawa Town, Kiyokawa Village).
This project is commissioned by Kanagawa Prefecture and implemented at "AGORA Hon-atsugi," aiming to foster entrepreneurs within the prefecture.
*Project Entities: Kanagawa Prefecture, Odakyu SC Development Co., Ltd.
*Planning and Operation: AGORA Co., Ltd.

We recruit individuals aiming to commercialize innovative ideas, technologies, and new business ideas, and provide intensive support to selected aspiring entrepreneurs as "Challengers."

## ■ Co-working & Incubation Office AGORA Hon-atsugi
"Co-working & Incubation Office AGORA Hon-atsugi" opened in Hon-atsugi City in July 2022. It is utilized by those working remotely or taking online classes, and also serves as an entrepreneur support hub for Kanagawa Prefecture's venture support initiative, "HATSU-SHIN Kanagawa Model" (https://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/docs/sr4/venture.html). It offers comprehensive support, including various consultations by experts, opportunities for entrepreneurs to interact, and intensive support for promising aspiring entrepreneurs, thereby assisting those aiming to start businesses. Business-related events are also held about twice a month.

Name: "Co-working & Incubation Office AGORA Hon-atsugi"
Address: Hon-atsugi Mylord ① 6F, 1-1 Izumicho, Atsugi City, Kanagawa 243-0013 (Directly connected to Hon-atsugi Station on the Odakyu Line)
Business Hours: 8:00-22:00 (Weekdays 10:00-17:00 only for non-AGORA members)
Operating Company: AGORA Co., Ltd.
Seating Capacity: Private rooms/fixed booths (22 seats), Free space (19 seats)
HP: https://www.agora-office.com/