Investment-Guaranteed Business Co-creation Program 'Spark-Edge For Next Challengers' Expands Investment Cap to Maximum 10 Million Yen
NTT West and NTT Finance are launching the second phase of their investment-guaranteed business co-creation program, 'Spark-Edge For Next Challengers'. They are expanding the investment cap for startups to a maximum of 10 million yen and seeking partner companies in the GX domain focused on visualizing environmental impact and promoting sustainability management.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 15:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 15:58 (26 min after Collected)
NTT West Corporation (Representative Director and President: Ryota Kitamura, hereinafter NTT West) and NTT Finance Corporation (Representative Director and President: Shozo Ito, hereinafter NTT Finance) will launch the second phase of their investment-guaranteed business co-creation program, 'Spark-Edge For Next Challengers' (hereinafter, this program), targeting startups that challenge social problem-solving and create a future society, at QUINTBRIDGE, an open innovation facility operated by NTT West, starting from Monday, May 11, 2026.
In this second phase, the program has been significantly updated to increase the investment cap from 5 million yen to 10 million yen and to presuppose the provision of separate PoC (Proof of Concept) expenses. This time, with GX (Green Transformation) as the theme, we are seeking partner companies that aim to expand their business growth through various verifications in collaboration with NTT West's business development team.
In the first phase of this program*1, three partner companies aiming for business co-creation with NTT West were selected in a short period of approximately two months from application. Furthermore, NTT Finance has made investments in two of those companies*2*3*4. Business verification is currently underway, and concrete initiatives toward commercialization are steadily progressing.
In the second phase, by preparing the PoC environment in advance, the design aims to enable business commercialization decisions in a shorter period, and NTT Finance has expanded its investment cap from the conventional 5 million yen to 10 million yen. This will further accelerate co-creation with startups and promote commercialization with a sense of speed, leveraging the assets of the NTT West Group.
*1 Details of the first phase of the program here: https://www.quintbridge.jp/program/detail/202504211300.html
*2 Press release on the adoption and investment for the first theme of the first phase: https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/news/2509/250930a.html
*3 Press release on the adoption for the second theme of the first phase: https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/news/2511/251105a.html
*4 Press release on the investment for the second theme of the first phase: https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/news/2512/251226a.html
1. Program Overview
This is an investment-guaranteed business co-creation program for startups working on social problem-solving and future society creation.
From the companies that apply for the recruitment theme, NTT West will conduct a document review. Companies that pass the document review will undergo multiple interviews with NTT West and NTT Finance to decide on partner companies. If the partner company wishes, NTT Finance, a corporate venture capital of the NTT Group, will make an investment.
After selection, the partner company will conduct a PoC with NTT West, and based on the results, the transition to the commercialization phase will be considered. In addition, if necessary, NTT West will provide up to 5 million yen for PoC expenses, separate from the investment. Furthermore, NTT Finance will consider additional investment for companies that commercialize after being selected.
*For companies that pass the document review, if the applicant company wishes, a casual interview will be conducted before the interview selection.
*After considering commercialization, initiatives including service development, joint ventures, and M&A with the NTT West Group are planned.
2. Recruitment Theme
Nature-Positive Business
~Visualization of impact on nature~
Degradation of natural capital, such as water shortages, rising raw material prices, and supply chain disruptions, is already shaking the premise of corporate activities.
We aim to realize a co-creation model that visualizes the impact on nature and implements sustainability as a management strategy.
3. Application Guidelines
Application period: Monday, May 11, 2026 - Friday, June 5, 2026
Eligibility: Companies that can consider PoC and business co-creation with NTT West and aim for continuous business partnership.
Number of selected partner companies: Principle of one company
How to apply: Please apply via the website below.
(URL: https://www.quintbridge.jp/program/detail/202605111500.html)
Application is complete upon submission of application documents to the secretariat.
*Please check the website for detailed application methods.
For details on the recruitment theme, please refer to the following:
(URL: https://
In this second phase, the program has been significantly updated to increase the investment cap from 5 million yen to 10 million yen and to presuppose the provision of separate PoC (Proof of Concept) expenses. This time, with GX (Green Transformation) as the theme, we are seeking partner companies that aim to expand their business growth through various verifications in collaboration with NTT West's business development team.
In the first phase of this program*1, three partner companies aiming for business co-creation with NTT West were selected in a short period of approximately two months from application. Furthermore, NTT Finance has made investments in two of those companies*2*3*4. Business verification is currently underway, and concrete initiatives toward commercialization are steadily progressing.
In the second phase, by preparing the PoC environment in advance, the design aims to enable business commercialization decisions in a shorter period, and NTT Finance has expanded its investment cap from the conventional 5 million yen to 10 million yen. This will further accelerate co-creation with startups and promote commercialization with a sense of speed, leveraging the assets of the NTT West Group.
*1 Details of the first phase of the program here: https://www.quintbridge.jp/program/detail/202504211300.html
*2 Press release on the adoption and investment for the first theme of the first phase: https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/news/2509/250930a.html
*3 Press release on the adoption for the second theme of the first phase: https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/news/2511/251105a.html
*4 Press release on the investment for the second theme of the first phase: https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/news/2512/251226a.html
1. Program Overview
This is an investment-guaranteed business co-creation program for startups working on social problem-solving and future society creation.
From the companies that apply for the recruitment theme, NTT West will conduct a document review. Companies that pass the document review will undergo multiple interviews with NTT West and NTT Finance to decide on partner companies. If the partner company wishes, NTT Finance, a corporate venture capital of the NTT Group, will make an investment.
After selection, the partner company will conduct a PoC with NTT West, and based on the results, the transition to the commercialization phase will be considered. In addition, if necessary, NTT West will provide up to 5 million yen for PoC expenses, separate from the investment. Furthermore, NTT Finance will consider additional investment for companies that commercialize after being selected.
*For companies that pass the document review, if the applicant company wishes, a casual interview will be conducted before the interview selection.
*After considering commercialization, initiatives including service development, joint ventures, and M&A with the NTT West Group are planned.
2. Recruitment Theme
Nature-Positive Business
~Visualization of impact on nature~
Degradation of natural capital, such as water shortages, rising raw material prices, and supply chain disruptions, is already shaking the premise of corporate activities.
We aim to realize a co-creation model that visualizes the impact on nature and implements sustainability as a management strategy.
3. Application Guidelines
Application period: Monday, May 11, 2026 - Friday, June 5, 2026
Eligibility: Companies that can consider PoC and business co-creation with NTT West and aim for continuous business partnership.
Number of selected partner companies: Principle of one company
How to apply: Please apply via the website below.
(URL: https://www.quintbridge.jp/program/detail/202605111500.html)
Application is complete upon submission of application documents to the secretariat.
*Please check the website for detailed application methods.
For details on the recruitment theme, please refer to the following:
(URL: https://