Call for Applications Opens for the 'Akita Northern Happinets Glocal Startup Support Fund', Supporting Young Entrepreneurs in Collaboration with a Professional Sports Team (Application Period: April 8 - May 31, 2026)
The Japan Philanthropic Foundation and Akita Northern Happinets have launched the 'Glocal Startup Support Fund' to award 10 million JPY to young entrepreneurs aiming to solve regional issues and expand globally. Applications open on April 8, 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 7, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 7, 2026 at 12:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 21:54 (321h 24m after Collected)
On April 7, 2026, the Japan Philanthropic Foundation (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kazuhisa Kishimoto; hereinafter 'the Foundation') announced that, in collaboration with Akita Northern Happinets Co., Ltd. (Location: Akita City, Akita Prefecture; President: Yuki Mizuno; hereinafter 'Akita Northern Happinets'), which operates a professional basketball team belonging to the B.LEAGUE, it has established the 'Akita Northern Happinets "Glocal Startup" Support Fund' (hereinafter 'the Fund'). This fund will award a business plan by a young startup entrepreneur aiming for nationwide or overseas expansion starting from solving regional issues, and will begin accepting applications for the award on April 8, 2026.
This fund is the Foundation's first sports philanthropy initiative, combining Sports x Philanthropy (social contribution) x Startup Support, utilizing the value of sports to support the growth of regional problem-solving businesses using donations as the source of funds. The winning organization will receive a supplementary prize of 10 million yen.
Akita Northern Happinets will cooperate in the planning and operation of this fund. At the same time, as a model case where a professional sports team produces concrete results in regional revitalization, the B.LEAGUE will also actively conduct PR activities, with plans to roll this out horizontally to clubs nationwide.
## About the "Akita Northern Happinets 'Glocal Startup' Support Fund"
■ Target of Application
Business plans tackling regional social issues with the prospect of expanding nationwide or overseas within the next 10 years. All fields are eligible.
■ Application Qualifications
Startups by young entrepreneurs that meet the following criteria:
- Corporations registered for less than 15 years (as of April 1, 2026)
- Representative is under 40 years old
- Corporation's annual sales are 10 million yen or more
- Corporation in early growth stage (pre-Series B)
- Corporation having its principal office within Japan, etc.
■ Award Details
Hosted by the Foundation, one outstanding business plan will be selected from the applications and awarded a certificate and a prize of 10 million yen.
For details, please download the application guidelines from the link below.
https://np-foundation.or.jp/information/000368.html
■ Schedule
- Application Period: April 8 (Wed) - May 31 (Sun), 2026
- 1st Screening (Document screening): June - July 2026
- Notification of 1st screening results: Early August 2026
- Final Selection (In-person pitch in Akita City): August 17 (Mon), 2026 *Details to be announced later
- Final result notification: Early October 2026 (planned)
■ How to Apply
Via the electronic application system 'Graain' or...
This fund is the Foundation's first sports philanthropy initiative, combining Sports x Philanthropy (social contribution) x Startup Support, utilizing the value of sports to support the growth of regional problem-solving businesses using donations as the source of funds. The winning organization will receive a supplementary prize of 10 million yen.
Akita Northern Happinets will cooperate in the planning and operation of this fund. At the same time, as a model case where a professional sports team produces concrete results in regional revitalization, the B.LEAGUE will also actively conduct PR activities, with plans to roll this out horizontally to clubs nationwide.
## About the "Akita Northern Happinets 'Glocal Startup' Support Fund"
■ Target of Application
Business plans tackling regional social issues with the prospect of expanding nationwide or overseas within the next 10 years. All fields are eligible.
■ Application Qualifications
Startups by young entrepreneurs that meet the following criteria:
- Corporations registered for less than 15 years (as of April 1, 2026)
- Representative is under 40 years old
- Corporation's annual sales are 10 million yen or more
- Corporation in early growth stage (pre-Series B)
- Corporation having its principal office within Japan, etc.
■ Award Details
Hosted by the Foundation, one outstanding business plan will be selected from the applications and awarded a certificate and a prize of 10 million yen.
For details, please download the application guidelines from the link below.
https://np-foundation.or.jp/information/000368.html
■ Schedule
- Application Period: April 8 (Wed) - May 31 (Sun), 2026
- 1st Screening (Document screening): June - July 2026
- Notification of 1st screening results: Early August 2026
- Final Selection (In-person pitch in Akita City): August 17 (Mon), 2026 *Details to be announced later
- Final result notification: Early October 2026 (planned)
■ How to Apply
Via the electronic application system 'Graain' or...