Sendai Global Startup Hub Operations (FY2025)" selected and applications for startups to be supported are now being accepted - GBP -Global Bridge Program- (Japanese only)

Sendai Global Startup Hub (FY2025)" selected for the "Sendai Global Startup Hub Project" and call for applications for startups to be supported.

2025/07/04

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(Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Shuichiro Takahashi) has been selected for the "Sendai Global Startup Hub Operations (FY2025)" publicly solicited by Sendai City. The program will support startups located in Sendai and the Tohoku region to accelerate their overseas business development.

▶︎ Adoption Results (Official City of Sendai):
https://www.city.sendai.jp/startup-sogyo/sendaiglobalstartuphub07.html

Support for startups in the Tohoku region and expansion into Southeast Asia

RIVERNESS has promoted a number of overseas expansion support projects both inbound and outbound over the past 12 years, and in FY2024, we will launch the "Global Bridge Program" (https://gbp.lne.st/In FY2024, the ASEAN-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) commissioned the "Project to Promote Overseas Expansion of Japanese Startups through Collaboration with Southeast Asian Companies" and selected 17 Japanese startups out of 51 applicants. The AMEICC selected 17 startups out of 51 applicants and awarded 12 of them with MOUs and demonstration projects in Southeast Asia.

▶︎Case studies of 13 startups' international expansion:https://gbp.lne.st/1365/

In addition, the "Tohoku Tech Planter" ("Tohoku Tech Planter") will be launched in six prefectures in the Tohoku region from 2023.https://techplanter.com/tohoku/), and has been working with local universities, research institutions, and SMEs to discover and foster startups that leverage the results of their research.

Business Overview

(1) Practical overseas development support specializing in Southeast Asia

Based on the affinity for Japan, time differences, and social issues, we do not simply provide introductions, but provide comprehensive support from hypothesis testing to accompanying support for building local businesses. This project is designed to support overseas business development in Southeast Asia, with a focus on the six countries of Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, but other regions are also welcome to consult with us.

(2) Design support that focuses on results

We provide support focused on generating results, such as MOU conclusion, joint research and development.

(iii) Local support through collaboration with LIBERNESS overseas subsidiaries

With overseas subsidiaries in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, we provide practical support ranging from searching for local partners, coordinating and attending interviews, to post-negotiations.

STEP for GROWTH Application Overview

Program name: "Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP)" for growing start-ups (STEP for GROWTH)
Number of target companies: Approximately 5
Target: Startups with headquarters or offices in Sendai/Tohoku area that are starting overseas expansion
Application Deadline: noon, Friday, July 18, 2025
Application Requirements:https://www.city.sendai.jp/startup-sogyo/documents/boshuyoko2.pdf
Entry Form: *The application has been closed.
To apply, we are always available to discuss your current business challenges, future overseas expansion destinations, and business hypotheses.

Program Schedule

Business Briefing
Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 18:00-19:00 @ online
If you are interested in applying for this program, attending the pre-briefing session or viewing the archives, please register using this form.　→Closed

Global Business Seminar
Session 1: August 7, 2025 (Thursday) 15:00-17:00 @ L-Park Sendai
Special Lecture: Mr. Kengo Suzuki, Co-Founder and Executive Fellow, Euglena Co.
Moderator: Yukihiro Maru, Group CEO, Liverness Corporation
Registration Form:https://id.lne.st/project/sendai_gbp/regist/basic_info/1

Seminars will be held 1-2 times a month from September to November.

Timing of travel
In this project, we will utilize the academic conference (Hyper Interdisciplinary Conferene (HIC)) hosted by MHI as a forum for discussion with local institutions (government agencies, conglomerates, local SMEs, university researchers, investors, local start-ups, etc.) in order to build business and generate results. We will utilize the conference (Hyper Interdisciplinary Conferene If selected, the program will include a 4-day/3-night trip to the conference, as well as visits to individual institutions for the purpose of substantiating discussions before and after the conference. ).

Philippines: November 5-8, 2025 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) / HIC in the Philippines2025
Singapore: November 13-15, 2025 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) / HIC in Singapore 2025
Malaysia: November 20-22, 2025 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) / HIC in Malaysia 2025
Vietnam: January 22-24, 2026 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) / HIC in Vietnam 2026
Thailand: Thursday, November 27, 2025 / Tech Venture Meetup in Thailand; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, January 29-31, 2026 / HIC in Thailand 2026
Indonesia: February 5-7, 2026 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) / HIC in Indonesia 2026

Main support available after adoption

Analysis of issues and target markets for overseas expansion
Provide pitch training opportunities in English
Advice on market entry strategy formulation and individualized assistance in securing business negotiations
Support for participation in exhibitions and business meetings held overseas
Individual meetings and networking opportunities with local startups, government agencies, business companies, universities, investors/venture capitalists, etc.
Participate in booths at conferences hosted by MHI in six countries: Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam (participation and exhibition fees are free of charge; travel expenses are borne by each company)

Inquiries regarding this matter

Liberace Corporation (Attn: Akinaga, Ishizawa)
TEL: 03-5227-4198 E-mail:[email protected]

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