Hojokin Cloud Forms First-Ever Business Alliance with Shonai Bank and Hokuto Bank in Yamagata and Akita, Offering a "Subsidy Diagnosis Service" to Corporate Clients
Stayway Inc., operator of the subsidy platform 'Hojokin Cloud,' has announced a business partnership with Shonai Bank and Hokuto Bank, both part of Fidea Holdings. This marks the first such collaboration for financial institutions in Yamagata and Akita prefectures. Through this alliance, the company will provide an AI-powered 'Subsidy Diagnosis Service' to the banks' corporate clients, promoting the use of optimal subsidies and grants to contribute to regional economic revitalization.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 17:00
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Stayway Inc. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka; CEO: Jun Sato), operator of Hojokin Cloud, has entered into a business partnership with Shonai Bank (Headquarters: Yamagata City, Yamagata; President: Takashi Sato) and Hokuto Bank (Headquarters: Akita City, Akita; President: Takashi Sato), both group companies of Fidea Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi; President and CEO: Masahiro Niino). This partnership is the first of its kind for financial institutions within Yamagata and Akita prefectures.
Background of the Business Partnership
Fidea Holdings is a holding company with Shonai Bank (Yamagata Prefecture) and Hokuto Bank (Akita Prefecture) under its umbrella. As financial institutions supporting the regional economy, they have been working to deepen their solutions to meet the diverse needs of businesses arising from regional challenges such as a lack of successors, labor shortages, and a shrinking domestic market due to population decline. Amidst this, regional companies have shown high interest in utilizing subsidies as a means for growth investment, and both banks have received numerous inquiries, making it a priority to enhance their consulting support, including providing accurate information on subsidies. Based on this background, Stayway has initiated this business partnership with Shonai Bank and Hokuto Bank to establish a system that can efficiently propose subsidies and grants matching the needs of their clients. This will streamline the subsidy support operations of both banks, promote subsidy utilization among their clients, and contribute to solving region-specific social issues and revitalizing the local economy.
Outline of the Business Partnership
Through this partnership, when clients of either bank express interest in utilizing subsidies, they will be able to use Stayway's 'Subsidy Diagnosis Service' to identify subsidies and grants that match their company's needs. Furthermore, based on the diagnosis results, they can consult with experts such as certified public accountants and administrative scriveners from Hojokin Cloud.
Comment from Jun Sato, CEO of Stayway
We are very pleased to start this business partnership with Shonai Bank and Hokuto Bank. We believe that in regions facing depopulation and aging, the utilization of subsidies is particularly important as a means to support the sustainable growth of companies. Through this partnership, we will contribute to enhancing the support capabilities of regional financial institutions by providing our Subsidy Diagnosis Service. We will also support the optimal use of these systems for the client companies of both banks, thereby contributing to the sustainable growth of regional companies and the regional economy.
About the Subsidy Diagnosis Service
The 'Subsidy Diagnosis Service' allows users to diagnose potential subsidies and grants through AI, and then consult with experts from Hojokin Cloud, such as certified public accountants and administrative scriveners, about the results. If the client wishes to apply after consultation, a 'subsidy-related application consulting' service, which provides end-to-end support from information provision and consultation to application assistance, will be proposed through a business matching agreement. Specific features of the 'Subsidy Diagnosis Service' include:
1. 24-Hour, Free Subsidy Diagnosis: By answering a few simple questions, the service diagnoses potentially available subsidies and grants.
2. Consultation with Experts: Users can consult with Hojokin Cloud's certified public accountants and administrative scriveners to determine if their company meets the requirements for the identified subsidies and grants. When applying for subsidies, experts from Hojokin Cloud with high success rates will provide support.
About the 'Hojokin Cloud' Series
'Hojokin Cloud' is a subsidy application DX service for financial institutions, businesses, and professional service firms. It aims to build a platform where all SMEs can have fair growth opportunities through subsidies by collecting and centralizing complex subsidy information scattered across national and local governments, providing information tailored to the needs of each SME, and utilizing data and technology for visualization, analysis, and efficiency.
For detailed features and pricing plans, please contact us.
'Hojokin Cloud' Website: https://www.hojyokincloud.jp/
About Stayway Inc.
Stayway is a professional firm with a strong focus on technology, composed of certified public accountants formerly from Deloitte. The team, primarily consisting of members with experience in M&A advisory, financial due diligence, valuation, and IPO support at major firms, provides these services. In the challenging field of subsidies and grants, the company is promoting 'subsidy tech' to drive efficiency using technology in collaboration with regional financial institutions and businesses across Japan. It was selected as a FinTech startup by the Financial Services Agency and Nikkei for FIN/SUM 2025 (https://stayway.co.jp/n
Background of the Business Partnership
Fidea Holdings is a holding company with Shonai Bank (Yamagata Prefecture) and Hokuto Bank (Akita Prefecture) under its umbrella. As financial institutions supporting the regional economy, they have been working to deepen their solutions to meet the diverse needs of businesses arising from regional challenges such as a lack of successors, labor shortages, and a shrinking domestic market due to population decline. Amidst this, regional companies have shown high interest in utilizing subsidies as a means for growth investment, and both banks have received numerous inquiries, making it a priority to enhance their consulting support, including providing accurate information on subsidies. Based on this background, Stayway has initiated this business partnership with Shonai Bank and Hokuto Bank to establish a system that can efficiently propose subsidies and grants matching the needs of their clients. This will streamline the subsidy support operations of both banks, promote subsidy utilization among their clients, and contribute to solving region-specific social issues and revitalizing the local economy.
Outline of the Business Partnership
Through this partnership, when clients of either bank express interest in utilizing subsidies, they will be able to use Stayway's 'Subsidy Diagnosis Service' to identify subsidies and grants that match their company's needs. Furthermore, based on the diagnosis results, they can consult with experts such as certified public accountants and administrative scriveners from Hojokin Cloud.
Comment from Jun Sato, CEO of Stayway
We are very pleased to start this business partnership with Shonai Bank and Hokuto Bank. We believe that in regions facing depopulation and aging, the utilization of subsidies is particularly important as a means to support the sustainable growth of companies. Through this partnership, we will contribute to enhancing the support capabilities of regional financial institutions by providing our Subsidy Diagnosis Service. We will also support the optimal use of these systems for the client companies of both banks, thereby contributing to the sustainable growth of regional companies and the regional economy.
About the Subsidy Diagnosis Service
The 'Subsidy Diagnosis Service' allows users to diagnose potential subsidies and grants through AI, and then consult with experts from Hojokin Cloud, such as certified public accountants and administrative scriveners, about the results. If the client wishes to apply after consultation, a 'subsidy-related application consulting' service, which provides end-to-end support from information provision and consultation to application assistance, will be proposed through a business matching agreement. Specific features of the 'Subsidy Diagnosis Service' include:
1. 24-Hour, Free Subsidy Diagnosis: By answering a few simple questions, the service diagnoses potentially available subsidies and grants.
2. Consultation with Experts: Users can consult with Hojokin Cloud's certified public accountants and administrative scriveners to determine if their company meets the requirements for the identified subsidies and grants. When applying for subsidies, experts from Hojokin Cloud with high success rates will provide support.
About the 'Hojokin Cloud' Series
'Hojokin Cloud' is a subsidy application DX service for financial institutions, businesses, and professional service firms. It aims to build a platform where all SMEs can have fair growth opportunities through subsidies by collecting and centralizing complex subsidy information scattered across national and local governments, providing information tailored to the needs of each SME, and utilizing data and technology for visualization, analysis, and efficiency.
For detailed features and pricing plans, please contact us.
'Hojokin Cloud' Website: https://www.hojyokincloud.jp/
About Stayway Inc.
Stayway is a professional firm with a strong focus on technology, composed of certified public accountants formerly from Deloitte. The team, primarily consisting of members with experience in M&A advisory, financial due diligence, valuation, and IPO support at major firms, provides these services. In the challenging field of subsidies and grants, the company is promoting 'subsidy tech' to drive efficiency using technology in collaboration with regional financial institutions and businesses across Japan. It was selected as a FinTech startup by the Financial Services Agency and Nikkei for FIN/SUM 2025 (https://stayway.co.jp/n