From Hokuriku! Co-creating the Future of Energy and Living: Nihonkai Gas Kizuna Holdings Announces Results of Collaboration with 6 Startups

Nihonkai Lab Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyama City; President: Yotaro Nitta; hereinafter 'Nihonkai Lab'), a member of the Nihonkai Gas Kizuna Holdings Group, operates the 'NGAS-Accelerator Program 2025' in partnership with 01Booster Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: George Goda; hereinafter '01Booster'), under the sponsorship of Nihonkai Gas Kizuna Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyama City; President: Yotaro Nitta; hereinafter 'Nihonkai Gas Kizuna HD'). On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, a Demo Day was held at the Ensemble Hall on the 4th floor of the Shimin Plaza in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture. The six selected startups presented the results of their co-creation activities, which were conducted alongside Nihonkai Gas Kizuna HD employees, covering themes such as well-being, decarbonization, energy conservation, and real estate utilization. Group photo from the Demo Day

Overview of the NGAS-Accelerator Program 2025 The 'NGAS-Accelerator Program' is a business creation program sponsored by Nihonkai Gas Kizuna HD and co-operated by Nihonkai Lab and 01Booster. It aims to provide new value to the Hokuriku region by fostering co-creation with startups. For the six startups selected from numerous applicants, 'catalysts'—employees from the Nihonkai Gas Kizuna HD Group—worked alongside them for approximately six months starting last September. At the Demo Day, each of the six companies presented the outcomes of their co-creation activities. In his closing remarks, Junichi Hirata, Representative Director and Executive Vice President of Nihonkai Gas Kizuna HD, expressed his gratitude to the participating companies and stated, 'Through this program, we have built a strong network for solving regional issues. This is not the end; we hope to continue engaging with all of you in various ways.' Based on the results achieved so far, the company will continue to discuss future initiatives with these six firms. The business details of each company and a summary of their co-creation activities during the program are as follows. The 6 Selected Companies (in Japanese alphabetical order) M2X Inc. (https://m2xsoftware.com/) Presenter: Shintaro Okabe Business: Development and sales of software for equipment maintenance efficiency. Collaboration: Conducted joint webinars to increase awareness and approach regional companies. Verified the digitalization of equipment management through a Proof of Concept (PoC) at a pharmaceutical company in the prefecture. Explored the potential for new equipment maintenance businesses through collaboration with infrastructure companies. KUROFUNE Inc. (https://kurofune-inc.com/) Presenter: Ryo Kurakata Business: Life support and recruitment services for foreign nationals. Collaboration: Leveraged the Nihonkai Gas Kizuna HD network to conduct interviews and create matching opportunities with local governments and regional companies. Verified the business potential of support services for the retention of foreign talent and promoted concrete collaborations, such as creating opportunities for introducing 'Specified Skilled' workers. COSOJI Inc. (https://cosoji.jp/owner/company/) Presenter: Saori Miyagawa Business: Provider of COSOJI, a sharing platform for regional real estate management. Collaboration: Conducted trial demonstrations of facility management tasks for five real estate management companies. Verified the potential for operational efficiency and new facility management models through the use of the COSOJI platform for pre-move-in inspections, routine patrols, and cleaning services. J-Tech Lab Co., Ltd. (https://www.j-techlab.com/) Presenter: Kosuke Kaji Business: Real estate information distribution/analysis, development contracting, and consulting. Collaboration: Introduced SaaS to regional real estate companies and conducted needs assessments. Verified the potential for advanced operations and new business opportunities through real estate DX (Digital Transformation) via test applications on company-owned properties. JOYCLE Inc. (https://joycle.net/) Presenter: Yutaro Koyanagi Business: Provider of JOYCLE BOX, a small IoT upcycling plant that converts waste into resources without transporting or burning it. Collaboration: Verified the potential for introduction in the Hokuriku area through promoting understanding of JOYCLE BOX and discussions with relevant organizations. Conducted interviews with local governments, waste disposal operators, and medical institutions to validate marketability and cost-reduction effects. mui-Lab, Inc. (https://muilab.com/ja/) Presenter: Jumpei Oda Business: Nationwide deployment of the 'Kurashi OS' smart home platform and 'Kurashi App for Energy' for energy companies. Collaboration: Verified the acceptance of smart homes in the Hokuriku region through interviews and demonstrations at gas exhibitions and showrooms. Identified implementation challenges and explored the potential for creating new customer touchpoints through the utilization of lifestyle data.