Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. is running a project commissioned by the Sendai City Government, which is a project to promote local startups in Tohoku (northern part of Japan) region to explore overseas expansion,Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP).8 companies have been selected as targets of support in the program.

In this program, we gathered startup applicants and conducted online interviews, and selected the following 8 startups for support.
*Please see the bottom of the page for an outline of the selected companies and themes.

From September 2025 to February 2026, Leave a Nest communicators will provide support for startups to understand local issues and needs while meeting with various organizations in the target countries (major companies such as conglomerates, government officials, startup companies, incubators/accelerators, researchers in academia, etc.). We also provide support for the development of business opportunities tailored to the business stage and type of industry through individual meetings with various organizations in the target countries (major companies such as conglomerates, government officials, start-ups, incubators/academic researchers, etc.)Support will be provided.

During the above-mentioned period, meet-up events and conferences will be held with local organizations with the potential for new business partnerships in the region on the following dates. The selected companies will be invited to participate in these events and conferences, and meetings will be held between the selected companies and local companies in each country. They are encouraged to verify their business hypothesis and materialize their plans through discussions with the accompanying communicators Leave a Nest local subsidiaries in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Singapore

Period :12th -15th November, 2025

Visits to and discussions with local institutions for business collaboration
Participation in HYPER INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE in Singapore 2024

Malaysia

Period :5th -9th October, 2025
Participation in Sustainable Aquaculture Summit 2025

Period :18th-19th October, 2025
Participation in Science Castle Asia

Period :19th - 22nd November, 2025
Visits to and discussions with local institutions for business collaboration
Participation in HYPER INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE in Malaysia 2024

Thailand

Period :25th - 27th November, 2025
Visits to and discussions with local institutions for business collaboration
Participation in TECH VENTURE MEETUP in Thailand

AiRato Inc. (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
https://airato.jp/en/

Target country: Singapore

Summary: A startup from Tohoku University School of Medicine has developed a service that uses AI to automatically generate radiotherapy treatment plans and verify their safety, reducing the time required by medical staff from more than 6 hours to 20 minutes. The company aims to revolutionize cancer treatment with AI and create a world where all patients can receive high-quality treatment.

amu inc. (Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture)
https://www.amu.co.jp/en

Target country: Malaysia

Summary: Developing a business that collects and recycles discarded fishing gear and revives it as high-quality recycled material "amuca®". We weave together the stories of fishing gear to both solve the ocean plastic problem and revitalize local industries. Through the use of recyclable materials, we aim to reconnect industry and society and realize a world where there is nothing we don't need.

ALPHATECH INC. (Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture)
https://www.alphatech-j.co.jp/english/

Target country: Thailand

Summary: A Yamagata University venture that has developed Amorfast, an innovative milling technology that instantly alphasizes starch without the use of water. In addition to improving nutritional value by improving digestibility, it can be applied to a wide range of fields including free-from foods, biofuels, and bio-plastics. Creating the food culture of the future with new cooking technology that supports sustainable and diverse food and resource use.

STORYLINE Co.,Ltd. (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
https://storyline.co.jp/

Target countries: Thailand, Malaysia

Summary: A proprietary decaffeination technology under development with Tohoku University has realized a high-quality decaffeinated product that preserves the original flavor of the bean. Furthermore, the concept of "caffeine control" makes it possible to adjust intake according to one's physical condition and lifestyle. Envision a world where everyone can choose the coffee experience that suits them best, combining both taste and health.

3D Architech Inc.
(Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
https://www.3d-architech.com/

Target country: Malaysia

Summary: The world's first gel-based metal manufacturing technology that enables metal fabrication with 10µm precision. Optimization of microstructure, which was not possible with conventional manufacturing, is expected to improve data center cooling efficiency by 50% and reduce green hydrogen production costs. Innovating metal manufacturing and dramatically increasing energy efficiency to realize a sustainable society

tagle Co.,Ltd (Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture)
https://www.tagle.co.jp/

Target country: Thailand

Summary: Using robotic palpation technology, the state of muscles is quantified to predict and prevent athletes' risk of injury. Visualizes fatigue and risks that could previously only be understood subjectively as objective data, and supports collaboration among athletes, coaches, and medical staff. Positioning athletes as assets (human assets), aiming for a world where injuries do not rob athletes of the miracle of sports.

Homura Heavy Industries Corporation (Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture)
https://www.hmrc.co.jp/en/

Target country: Malaysia

Summary: A Tsukuba University venture that developed the Swimmy Eye, an ultra-compact water drone. Provides technology that dramatically improves safety, efficiency, and objectivity in inspections and surveys of water areas, bringing innovation to infrastructure maintenance management. Protecting social infrastructure and realizing a secure future with technology that extends the human eye.

Metagen, Inc. (Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture)
https://metagen.co.jp/en-home/

Target countries: Singapore, Thailand

Summary: A bio-venture established by researchers from Keio University and Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Tokyo University of Science). Based on the concept of "Gut Design®," which controls the intestinal environment based on scientific evidence, the company aims to realize a society with zero disease by promoting social implementation of "stratified healthcare" tailored to the intestinal environment that differs from person to person.