【Record-High Achievements in 4th Year】Entrepreneur Support Program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger" Opens Applications for FY2026 First Half!
AGORA Inc. has announced the start of applications for the first half of FY2026 for its "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger" entrepreneur support program. This program provides intensive 4-month support to entrepreneurs in the central Kanagawa area, boasting a record number of 24 participants adopted last year and high satisfaction.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 23:00
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AGORA Inc. (Headquarters: Machida City, Tokyo; Representative Director: Nobuki Hasebe), which operates the co-working and incubation office "AGORA Hon-atsugi" directly connected to Hon-atsugi Station on the Odakyu Line, will begin accepting applications for participants in the first half of FY2026 (7th cohort) of the entrepreneur support program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger," commissioned by Kanagawa Prefecture, starting May 1, 2026 (Friday).
■ Overview and Achievements of "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger"
This program provides intensive support over four months to entrepreneurs challenging to create new value in the central Kanagawa area, primarily Atsugi, Ebina, and Sagamihara.
Now in its fifth year, this program has produced many entrepreneurs. Particularly in the last fiscal year (FY2025), a record-high 24 challengers were selected across the first and second halves, with 19 launching services and 9 achieving incorporation or business opening (including prospective cases). A survey also showed an extremely high satisfaction rating of "91%," primarily due to the hands-on support from mentors.
*Click here for last year's achievements:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000477.000024845.html
■■ FY2026 HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger" (First Half) Application Overview
This year, the program will also be conducted in two phases: first half and second half. This time, we are recruiting "First Half Challengers," the first phase, and will thoroughly support your business commercialization through individual mentoring by experts and practical entrepreneurship academies.
Application Period: May 1, 2026 (Friday) to June 4, 2026 (Thursday)
Number of Adoptees: Approximately 15 people
Support Period: July to October 2026 (approximately 4 months)
Main Support Contents:
Hands-on Support: Individual consultations with expert mentors
Entrepreneurship Academy: 9 lectures in total (in-person camp, web, presentation session)
Facility Use: Free use of AGORA Hon-atsugi's free space during the support period
Practical Opportunities: Support for exhibiting at events and markets for test marketing purposes
Target: Those who primarily start businesses in the central Kanagawa region and aim for significant growth.
*Please check the application guidelines below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pikpBw5DSunF5cHcS2GVjiYTZY-AdM_B/view?usp=sharing
■ Application Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following qualifications:
(1) Among aspiring entrepreneurs, those who challenge to start a business with innovative ideas and technologies, primarily in Kanagawa Prefecture (second businesses and new internal corporate projects are not eligible. Primarily targets those not yet incorporated, but those already incorporated may be eligible depending on business status). Those registered outside the prefecture must transfer their registration to Kanagawa Prefecture within the Challenger program period.
(2) No unpaid prefectural taxes, etc.
(3) Not falling under the category of organized crime members, etc., based on Article 2, Paragraph 6 of the "Act on Prevention of Unjust Acts by Organized Crime Members."
(4) No serious legal violations within the past three years.
■ Requirements for Aspiring Entrepreneurs (Challengers) (Application Criteria)
(1) Must have the will to achieve commercialization (implementation of service demonstration experiments, establishment of a corporation, creation of sales, success in fundraising, etc.) within this support period.
(2) Must be considering challenging regional and social issues with Kanagawa Prefecture as the demonstration field.
(3) Must have basic business skills and experience.
(4) Ideas, insights, and technologies must have novelty, originality, and growth potential.
(5) After starting a business, must have a growth-oriented mindset that distinguishes them as a venture company.
(6) Must be able to contribute to and cooperate with fellow community members.
(7) Must have the intention to continuously cooperate with Kanagawa Prefecture's venture support initiatives even after the Challenger program ends.
(8) Must cooperate with Kanagawa Prefecture's surveys, including after the end of use.
■ Participation Fee:
Free *Transportation costs, food and drink expenses, etc., are to be borne by the participant.
■ Selection and Program Schedule
◾️ Selection Schedule
Application Period: May 1 (Friday) 14:00 to June 4 (Thursday) 17:00
Interview Screening: June 10 (Wednesday) to June 12 (Friday)
Notification of Adoption: Late June
◾️ Program Schedule
① 7/4 (Sat) 11:00-17:00 (Location: Atsugi Chamber of Commerce) *Networking event (optional) after conclusion
② 7/5 (Sun) 10:30-17:00 (Location: Atsugi Chamber of Commerce) *AGORA Hon-atsugi tour (optional) after conclusion
③ 7/21 (Tue) 18:30-20:30 (Location: WEB)
■ Overview and Achievements of "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger"
This program provides intensive support over four months to entrepreneurs challenging to create new value in the central Kanagawa area, primarily Atsugi, Ebina, and Sagamihara.
Now in its fifth year, this program has produced many entrepreneurs. Particularly in the last fiscal year (FY2025), a record-high 24 challengers were selected across the first and second halves, with 19 launching services and 9 achieving incorporation or business opening (including prospective cases). A survey also showed an extremely high satisfaction rating of "91%," primarily due to the hands-on support from mentors.
*Click here for last year's achievements:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000477.000024845.html
■■ FY2026 HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger" (First Half) Application Overview
This year, the program will also be conducted in two phases: first half and second half. This time, we are recruiting "First Half Challengers," the first phase, and will thoroughly support your business commercialization through individual mentoring by experts and practical entrepreneurship academies.
Application Period: May 1, 2026 (Friday) to June 4, 2026 (Thursday)
Number of Adoptees: Approximately 15 people
Support Period: July to October 2026 (approximately 4 months)
Main Support Contents:
Hands-on Support: Individual consultations with expert mentors
Entrepreneurship Academy: 9 lectures in total (in-person camp, web, presentation session)
Facility Use: Free use of AGORA Hon-atsugi's free space during the support period
Practical Opportunities: Support for exhibiting at events and markets for test marketing purposes
Target: Those who primarily start businesses in the central Kanagawa region and aim for significant growth.
*Please check the application guidelines below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pikpBw5DSunF5cHcS2GVjiYTZY-AdM_B/view?usp=sharing
■ Application Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following qualifications:
(1) Among aspiring entrepreneurs, those who challenge to start a business with innovative ideas and technologies, primarily in Kanagawa Prefecture (second businesses and new internal corporate projects are not eligible. Primarily targets those not yet incorporated, but those already incorporated may be eligible depending on business status). Those registered outside the prefecture must transfer their registration to Kanagawa Prefecture within the Challenger program period.
(2) No unpaid prefectural taxes, etc.
(3) Not falling under the category of organized crime members, etc., based on Article 2, Paragraph 6 of the "Act on Prevention of Unjust Acts by Organized Crime Members."
(4) No serious legal violations within the past three years.
■ Requirements for Aspiring Entrepreneurs (Challengers) (Application Criteria)
(1) Must have the will to achieve commercialization (implementation of service demonstration experiments, establishment of a corporation, creation of sales, success in fundraising, etc.) within this support period.
(2) Must be considering challenging regional and social issues with Kanagawa Prefecture as the demonstration field.
(3) Must have basic business skills and experience.
(4) Ideas, insights, and technologies must have novelty, originality, and growth potential.
(5) After starting a business, must have a growth-oriented mindset that distinguishes them as a venture company.
(6) Must be able to contribute to and cooperate with fellow community members.
(7) Must have the intention to continuously cooperate with Kanagawa Prefecture's venture support initiatives even after the Challenger program ends.
(8) Must cooperate with Kanagawa Prefecture's surveys, including after the end of use.
■ Participation Fee:
Free *Transportation costs, food and drink expenses, etc., are to be borne by the participant.
■ Selection and Program Schedule
◾️ Selection Schedule
Application Period: May 1 (Friday) 14:00 to June 4 (Thursday) 17:00
Interview Screening: June 10 (Wednesday) to June 12 (Friday)
Notification of Adoption: Late June
◾️ Program Schedule
① 7/4 (Sat) 11:00-17:00 (Location: Atsugi Chamber of Commerce) *Networking event (optional) after conclusion
② 7/5 (Sun) 10:30-17:00 (Location: Atsugi Chamber of Commerce) *AGORA Hon-atsugi tour (optional) after conclusion
③ 7/21 (Tue) 18:30-20:30 (Location: WEB)