Recruiting 'Challengers' Aiming to Start Businesses at the Entrepreneur Hub 'HATSU Kamakura'!

The prefecture promotes the creation of entrepreneurs through the 'HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program,' providing hands-on, intensive support to promising individuals (challengers) to help realize their business ideas. Today, we are opening recruitment for challengers aiming to start businesses at 'HATSU Kamakura' in Kamakura City.

Recruitment Details for 'HATSU Kamakura' Challengers

Eligibility: Individuals planning to start a business within the prefecture and committed to commercializing new business ideas based on novel concepts or technologies.

Support Period: From the end of August 2026 to mid-February 2027 (A result presentation is scheduled for January 2027).

Support Provided: - Seminars and online events to learn necessary entrepreneurship skills. - Business development mentoring by experts. - Opportunities for networking with veteran entrepreneurs and local businesses. - Free use of workspace at 'HATSU Kamakura' (limited to the support period). - Provision of support information regarding entrepreneurship from the prefecture, etc. - Preferential treatment such as exemption from registration and license tax when establishing a company and reduction of interest rates for the prefecture's 'Startup Support Loan' (certified as a 'Specific Startup Support Project' by Kamakura City).

Recruitment Number: Approximately 10 people.

Recruitment Period: From Monday, May 25, 2026, to Monday, July 13, 2026.

Details/Application: https://note.com/hatsukamakura/n/n54e44dc7827f

[Reference 1] Recruitment for Challengers at Other Locations Applications for 'AGORA Hon-atsugi' challengers for the first half of 2026 are open until June 4 (Thursday). Applications for 'ARUYO ODAWARA' challengers for 2026 are open until July 9 (Thursday).

[Reference 2] HATSU Entrepreneur Support Program At three locations in the prefecture (Kamakura, Atsugi, Odawara), we implement a support program (Challenger System) that provides hands-on, intensive support—such as expert mentoring and networking opportunities with veteran entrepreneurs—to promising individuals aiming to start a business, working toward creating entrepreneurs from Kanagawa and forming startup communities in each region. https://startups.pref.kanagawa.jp/program/hatsu/

[Reference 3] Overview of 'HATSU Kamakura' Hub Name: HATSU Kamakura Location: 1-9-22 Omachi, Kamakura City Operator: Ayumino Co., Ltd. Facilities: Shared office, rental conference rooms, event space, etc.