Record-breaking Achievements in 4th Year: Entrepreneur Support Program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger" Opens Applications for FY2026 First Half!

AGORA Inc. (Headquarters: Machida City, Tokyo; Representative Director: Nobuki Hasebe) operates "AGORA Hon-atsugi," a co-working and incubation office directly connected to Hon-atsugi Station on the Odakyu Line. Applications for the first half of FY2026 (7th cohort) of the entrepreneur support program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger," commissioned by Kanagawa Prefecture, will begin on May 1, 2026 (Friday).

Overview and Achievements of "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger"

This program provides intensive support over four months to entrepreneurs challenging new value creation 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 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 rate of 91%, primarily due to the hands-on support from mentors.

*For last year's achievements, please see here:

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000477.000024845.html

FY2026 HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program "AGORA Hon-atsugi Challenger" (First Half) Application Outline

This year, the program will also be conducted in two phases: first half and second half. This time, we are recruiting "First Half Challengers," and we will thoroughly support your business commercialization through individual mentoring by experts and practical entrepreneurship seminars.

Application Period: May 1, 2026 (Friday) - June 4, 2026 (Thursday)

Number of Selected Participants: Approximately 15

Support Period: July - October 2026 (approx. 4 months)

Main Support Contents:

Hands-on Support: Individual consultations with expert mentors

Entrepreneurship Seminar: 9 sessions (in-person camp, web, presentation event)

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 aim to start a business primarily in the central Kanagawa region and seek 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) Aspiring entrepreneurs who challenge entrepreneurship with innovative ideas and technologies, primarily in Kanagawa Prefecture (second ventures and new internal businesses are not eligible. Primarily targets those before incorporation, but may include those after incorporation depending on business status). Those registered outside the prefecture must transfer their registration to Kanagawa Prefecture within the Challenger 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) Intention to achieve commercialization (e.g., implementation of service demonstration experiments, establishment of a corporation, generation of sales, or successful fundraising) within this support period.

(2) Considering challenging regional and social issues with Kanagawa Prefecture as the demonstration field.

(3) Possessing basic business skills and experience.

(4) Ideas, insights, and technologies having novelty, originality, and growth potential.

(5) Having a growth-oriented mindset to stand out as a venture company after starting a business.

(6) Ability to contribute to and cooperate with community members.

(7) Intention to continue cooperating with venture support initiatives in Kanagawa Prefecture after the Challenger program ends.

(8) Cooperation with Kanagawa Prefecture's surveys, including after the end of use.

Participation Fee:

Free *Transportation costs, food and drink expenses, etc., are self-funded.

Selection and Program Schedule

◾️ Selection Schedule

Application Period: May 1 (Friday) 14:00 - June 4 (Thursday) 17:00

Interview Screening: June 10 (Wednesday) - June 12 (Friday)

Notification of Selection: Late June

◾️ Program Schedule

① July 4 (Sat) 11:00-17:00 (Location: Atsugi Chamber of Commerce) *Networking event (optional) after the event ② July 5 (Sun) 10:30-17:00 (Location: Atsugi Chamber of Commerce) *AGORA Hon-atsugi tour (optional) after the event ③ July 21 (Tue) 18:30-20:30 (Location: WEB) ④