We tend to think financial resources and human resources all get together in the capital of country — in the case of Japanese market, Tokyo.

That was true until covid-19 hit the world and changed the landscape.

People started to relocate their homes because they understood that they could work remotely after companies started allowing them to work from home.

Financial resources are also being distributed around Japan, and founders in Hokkaido were able to raise more capital in 2021 regardless of how much covid-19 hit our businesses.

Several funds were launched in Hokkaido

2021 was the remarkable year for startups in Hokkaido planning to utilize investments to scale their businesses.

POLAR SHORTCUT

POLAR SHORTCUT is a local fund specifically targeting startups providing solutions to tackle social issues in Hokkaido. It aims to decentralize the concentrated ecosystem by sustainably support startup businesses based in Hokkaido.

Contrail GK investing in startups in Tokachi

Contrail GK was co-established by Yamachu Hokkaido & SORA Inc. in order to empower entrepreneurs and startups starting their businesses in Tokachi.

Yamachu Hokkaido has been operating the business since 1953 supporting agricultural producers, farmers and retailers in Tokachi, and SORA Inc. was launched by several members originally working for financial institutions.

Contrail GK invests up to 50 million JPY for businesses offering solutions for Tokachi.

Photo by Wren Chai on Unsplash

Sapporo Innovation Fund for BioTech startups

Sapporo Innovation Fund is the “first” fund amongst cities designated by government ordinance. It was launched based on public-private partnership and the focus is Life Science.

The target is unlisted BioTech startups actively scaling around Sapporo area, and the fund size is 750 million JPY at the time of establishment.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

The following companies are LPs, and DG Incubation, one of the companies in Digital Garage Group is managing the fund.

• Sapporo Electronics and Industries Cultivation Foundation
• North Pacific Bank
• Hokkaido Bank
• Hokkaido Credit Unions,
• AIN HOLDINGS INC., a pharmaceutical company
• Amino Up Co., Ltd., a BioTech company
• Northern Advancement Center for Science & Technology
• The Hokkaido Shimbun Press.
• Moroo Inc., a medical retail company
• Digital Garage

Hokkaido spinout AWL picked up 2 billion JPY!

In 2021 AWL, one of the “J-Startup HOKKAIDO” certified start-up companies developing AI-equipped camera technology has collected fresh funding of 2 billion JPY ($18.2m) from a consortium led by Rakuten Capital.

The other 19 startups based in Hokkaido also successfully picked up investments, and Sapporo & Hokkaido Startup Ecosystem Promotion Committee are working hard toward the goal of 50 startups picking up funds in 2024.

With the clear goal setting and cross-sectional collaboration, Hokkaido is aiming to unlock founders’ potential.

We believe in the frontier spirit rooted in Hokkaido.