STATION Ai Selected for NEDO’s 2026 “Management Personnel Matching Program (MPM)” for University-Founded Startups

STATION Ai Co., Ltd. (Station Ai; Head Office: Showa-ku, Nagoya City; Representative Director, President & CEO: Hiroshi SABASHI) has been selected as an implementing partner for the general category of the 2026 “Management Personnel Matching Program (Management Personnel Matching Program, hereinafter “MPM”)” conducted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (hereinafter “NEDO”).

Through the MPM program, STATION Ai will target early-stage university-founded startups around the Product-Market Fit (PMF) stage (Note 1), identifying Chief Operating Officer (COO) candidate talent for each company and implementing a hands-on support model to transition them from part-time to full-time engagement.

Reference: Announcement of the Implementation Framework for the 2026 “Management Personnel Matching Program for University-Founded Startups (MPM)” (https://www.nedo.go.jp/koubo/CA3_100517.html)

Note 1: PMF (Product Market Fit) refers to the state in which a product or service successfully meets market demand.

Background of MPM Application

University-founded startups are expected to serve as key drivers in commercializing academic research and technological seeds from universities, thereby creating new industries. However, transitioning from the R&D phase to the business growth phase requires the involvement of management talent capable of driving business development, sales, organizational building, and fundraising.

In particular, during the early stage around PMF, startups must simultaneously advance customer acquisition, concrete business planning, and organizational structuring alongside technology development. Yet, university-founded startups face various challenges in securing COO-level talent—from creating initial contact opportunities and accessing talent pools to evaluating candidates and preventing mismatches after onboarding.

To date, STATION Ai has provided stage-appropriate talent support for startups through HR (Human Resources) support for member startups, EIR (Note 2) talent matching support for university-founded startup candidates, and sales talent support programs for early-stage startups. Through the MPM program, the company aims to leverage these insights to establish a specialized management talent acquisition model tailored to university-founded startups.

Note 2: EIR (Entrepreneur in Residence) refers to a program in which individuals aspiring to launch a venture or join a startup’s management team are affiliated with a company or support organization for a fixed period to prepare for commercialization and management participation.

About NEDO’s 2026 “Management Personnel Matching Program for University-Founded Startups (MPM)”

NEDO implements the MPM program to diversify talent acquisition routes for university-founded startups by identifying individuals who aspire to launch ventures or join startup management, and by facilitating their matching with technological seeds from universities and university-founded startups, thereby promoting the creation and growth of such startups.

Overview of the Selected Initiative

Theme

Addressing the shortage of COO candidate talent for early-stage university-founded startups

Target

Support planned for eight early-stage university-founded startups

Project Period

From June 4, 2026, to March 31, 2028

Eligibility Criteria for Supported University-Founded Startups

Aspect

Details

Technological Seed

Must be based on a technology seed originating from a university

Location

Primary base for technology development or business activities must be located in Japan

Business Stage

Must be at an early-stage equivalent

Management Structure

Must lack personnel capable of fulfilling management functions such as COO

Future Outlook

Through its MPM initiatives, STATION Ai will support the acquisition of management talent for university-founded startups and other deep tech startups, while promoting the creation of an environment where both management talent and startups can grow together.

For more details on the hands-on support model STATION Ai will implement under NEDO’s MPM program, please visit the website below.

MPM Special Feature Article on the Official Website

About STATION Ai

“STATION Ai” provides various support services aimed at fostering the creation and growth of startup companies and promoting open innovation. Over 1,000 domestic and international startups, partner companies, venture capital firms (VCs), support organizations, and universities participate in collaborative initiatives to create new businesses. In addition to providing a comfortable office environment, STATION Ai offers study sessions and mentoring to support business growth, facilitates matchmaking among startups, and provides comprehensive support through dedicated staff. A range of programs are available to address the diverse challenges faced by startups. Member startups are located across Aichi Prefecture, Tokyo, and overseas.