Recruiting "Challengers" Aiming for Entrepreneurship at the Entrepreneurship Creation Hub "AGORA Hon-atsugi"!

Kanagawa Prefecture is promoting the creation of entrepreneurs through the "HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program," which continuously produces local entrepreneurs, by providing intensive, hands-on support to promising aspiring entrepreneurs (Challengers) to help them commercialize their businesses. Starting today, we are recruiting Challengers (for the first half of FY2026) who aim to start businesses at the entrepreneurship creation hub "AGORA Hon-atsugi" in Atsugi City.

Regarding the recruitment of "AGORA Hon-atsugi" Challengers (for the first half of FY2026)

Eligibility: Individuals who are starting a business in the prefecture and are working on commercializing new business ideas with innovative concepts or technologies.

Support Period: From early July to October 2026 (Results presentation scheduled for the end of October 2026).

Support Content: * Holding courses to learn necessary entrepreneurship skills * Free use of online learning content (e.g., how to create a business plan) * Mentoring for commercialization by experts * Providing opportunities for exchange with senior entrepreneurs and local companies * Free use of activity bases (seats) at "AGORA Hon-atsugi" (limited to the support period) * Provision of support information from the prefecture regarding entrepreneurship, and preferential treatment such as reduction of registration and license tax at the time of company establishment and reduction of loan interest rates and credit guarantee rates for the prefecture's "Startup Support Loan" (certified as Atsugi City's Specific Startup Support Business*). * For details, please refer to Atsugi City's website. https://www.city.atsugi.kanagawa.jp/soshiki/sangyoshinkoka/9/9/6724.html

Number of Recruits: Approximately 15 people

Application Period: From 2:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2026, to 5:00 PM on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Details and Application: https://www.agora-office.com/post/20260501

[Scenes from past support programs]

[Reference 1] Regarding recruitment of Challengers for the second half of FY2026 and at other bases Information regarding the recruitment of "AGORA Hon-atsugi" Challengers for the second half of FY2026 and Challengers for the Kamakura and Odawara bases will be announced at a later date.

[Reference 2] HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program At three bases in the prefecture (Kamakura, Atsugi, Odawara), this support program provides intensive, hands-on support (Challenger system) to promising aspiring entrepreneurs, including mentoring by experts and opportunities for exchange with senior entrepreneurs, with the aim of creating entrepreneurs from Kanagawa and forming entrepreneurial communities in each region. https://startups.pref.kanagawa.jp/program/hatsu/

[Reference 3] Overview of the Entrepreneurship Creation Hub "AGORA Hon-atsugi" Facility Name: Co-working Space & Share Office AGORA Hon-atsugi Location: Hon-atsugi Mylord ① 6F, 1-1 Izumicho, Atsugi City Operator: Odakyu SC Development Co., Ltd. Facilities: * Private rooms/fixed booths: 22 seats, Free space: 19 seats * Registration possible, drop-in available, meeting space, telephone booths, Wi-Fi, multifunction device, mailboxes, lockers, free drinks Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Non-AGORA members can use only on weekdays from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Not available on Hon-atsugi Mylord's closing days. Website: https://www.agora-office.com/ Contact: Kanagawa Prefectural Government, Department of Industrial Labor, Industry Division Manager, Space Industry and Venture Support Section: Koshiba Phone: 045-285-0213 Industrial Promotion Division, Venture Support Group: Ueno Phone: 045-210-5646