Cosawell and Shimizu Bank Conclude Business Matching Agreement to Promote AI Utilization in SMEs

Cosawell Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 1463-86 Okamiya, Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture; President and CEO: Hiroyuki Saito; hereinafter "Cosawell") is pleased to announce that it has concluded a business matching agreement (hereinafter, "this business alliance agreement") with Shimizu Bank Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 2-1 Fujimi-cho, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City; President: Yasuhiro Iwayama; hereinafter "Shimizu Bank") to accelerate the deployment of "Aibo," a hands-on AI implementation support service for small and medium-sized enterprises.

**About this Alliance** Cosawell has been supporting companies in improving operational efficiency and productivity through system development and implementation support in the AI and DX fields. In recent years, to address challenges unique to SMEs, such as lack of knowledge and human resources regarding AI utilization, Cosawell has been developing "Aibo," a hands-on AI implementation support service that provides consistent support from planning to implementation, operation, and establishment.

Shimizu Bank, headquartered in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City, is a community-based financial institution that supports its client companies in solving management challenges and achieving sustainable growth. It actively provides added value not only through financial support but also through management support and business matching.

By combining their respective strengths, the two companies have concluded this business alliance agreement with the aim of solving challenges faced by SMEs, such as labor shortages, operational efficiency, and DX promotion, using AI. Through this alliance, Cosawell's hands-on AI implementation support service "Aibo" will be deployed to Shimizu Bank's client companies, supporting the strengthening of competitiveness and sustainable growth of regional companies.

**[Overview of Shimizu Bank Co., Ltd.]** ・President: Yasuhiro Iwayama ・Capital: 10,816.26 million yen ・Headquarters: 2-1 Fujimi-cho, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City ・Established: July 1, 1928 ・Business activities: General banking operations, support for regional companies, etc.

**[Overview of Cosawell Co., Ltd.]** ・President and CEO: Hiroyuki Saito ・Capital: 20 million yen ・Headquarters: 1463-86 Okamiya, Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture ・Established: February 1, 1985 ・Business activities: System development, DX support, AI implementation support, etc.

[Contact for this matter] Business Creation Division, Customer Produce Group, Public Relations TEL: 055-923-8431 FAX: 055-923-8427 E-mail: [email protected] URL: https://www.cosawell.co.jp/ Keywords: Generative AI, Business Matching, Shizuoka Prefecture, DX, IT, SMEs, Finance, Manufacturing, Management Support, Labor Shortage