Stamen to Operate Gunma Prefecture’s FY2026 Successor Innovation Support Program, “GUNMA Atotsugi Club”

Stamen Co., Ltd. (Head office: Nagoya, Aichi; President and Representative Director: Taihei Onishi; hereinafter “Stamen”) will begin operating the “FY2026 Successor Innovation Support Program (GUNMA Atotsugi Club),” commissioned by Gunma Prefecture. The program aims not only to support business succession as a handover, but also to connect succession with subsequent growth and transformation. The program provides opportunities for next-generation business leaders, known as atotsugi (successors and prospective successors), to examine their company’s strengths and value, define what they will compete with, and take on new challenges. Centered on three pillars, a successor development program, individual support, and community building, the initiative will support each successor’s decision-making and execution while encouraging sustainable corporate growth and regional economic development. About the FY2026 Successor Innovation Support Program Gunma Prefecture has been promoting initiatives in which local communities and support organizations work together to facilitate smooth business succession. However, successors continue to face challenges such as difficulty in decision-making, insufficient management literacy, and a lack of opportunities to take on new challenges. Support for moving beyond succession itself remains insufficient. Previous GUNMA Atotsugi Club initiatives have expanded the circle of successors willing to take on challenges through community formation and individual support. This program further develops those efforts by providing support that moves from “taking over” to “evolving” a business. By offering integrated support from management literacy acquisition to strategy design and execution assistance, the program will create an environment in which successors can challenge themselves to create new value as business leaders. Program Briefing Session An online briefing session will be held for the FY2026 GUNMA Atotsugi Club program. Successors and prospective successors of SMEs in Gunma Prefecture, representatives of support organizations, and anyone interested in the program content or participation process are encouraged to attend. Date and time: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 14:00-15:00 Venue: Zoom (online) Content: The session will include an overview of the project, details of the program, and a Q&A session. Target participants: Successors and prospective successors of SMEs in Gunma Prefecture; members of business succession network organizations; and people involved in or interested in successor support. Participation fee: Free Application deadline: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 18:00 Application: https://docs.google.com/fo ms/d/e/1FAIpQLScY-3GvB_Odagf3dLGbFsTlMF_5UzXz6x8Ty5AOPDLBdWyoYQ/viewfo m Program Details For details, please see the official website: https://atotsugi2026.p ef.gu ma.jp/p og am 1. Successor Development Program Theme: A management transformation program that turns the “assets” of a family business into next-generation “weapons.” This practical program helps successors reassess the assets of their family business, decide what they will compete with, and put their plans into action. Through five sessions, participants organize their company’s strengths, customers, and value, and articulate their competitive advantage. They then translate strategy into executable form and ultimately clarify what they will do. 2. Individual Support Program Theme: Hands-on support for successors to put strategy into execution. Based on the strategies developed in the training program, this program provides individualized support for creating new businesses and evolving existing businesses. Through regular mentoring sessions and the use of external partners when needed, it supports successors from decision-making through execution. The program culminates in a results presentation, helping participants share their initiatives and connect them to the next stage of growth. 3. Atotsugi Community Theme: GUNMA Atotsugi Club, connecting challengers and supporters. Through networking events, workshops, talk sessions, and other activities, the community will deepen horizontal connections among successors. The online community tool “TUNAG” will also be introduced. Through day-to-day consultation on concerns and information sharing from the secretariat, the community will provide ongoing connection and stimulation. Organizer and Operator Information Organizer: Gunma Prefecture (Regional Enterprise Support Division, Department of Industry and Economy) Secretariat: Stamen Co., Ltd. TEL: 052-990-2412 (reception hours: 9:30-18:30) Contacts: Maruoka and Kubota About Stamen Co., Ltd. Founded in 2016 under the corporate philosophy of “delivering inspiration and spreading happiness to as many people as possible,” Stamen expanded steadily and listed its shares in December 2020. The company operates multiple services, including “TUNAG,” an HR Tech service, and “Watchy,” a cloud-based IT asset management and operation log management tool. Company name: Stamen Co., Ltd. Representative: Taihei Onishi, President and Representative Director Tokyo head office: 5F Bancho Kojimachi Building, 6-6-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nagoya head office: 1-14-8 Shimohiroi-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Businesses: TUNAG (https://biz.tu ag.jp/), Watchy (https://watchy.biz/) Founded: August 2016 Number of employees: 198 consolidated full-time employees as of the end of December 2025 Securities code: 4019 URL: https://stm .co.jp/