{"id":164,"date":"2023-04-13T23:21:32","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T14:21:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/?p=164"},"modified":"2024-10-14T09:53:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T00:53:54","slug":"beyond-limits-funds-available-in-hokkaido","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/blog\/164\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond limits \u2014 funds available in Hokkaido"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"60db\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">We tend to think financial resources and human resources all get together in the capital of country \u2014 in the case of Japanese market, Tokyo.<\/p>\n<p id=\"df47\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">That was true until covid-19 hit the world and changed the landscape.<\/p>\n<p id=\"0223\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">People started to relocate their homes because they understood that they could work remotely after companies started allowing them to work from home.<\/p>\n<p id=\"848d\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">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.<\/p>\n<h1 id=\"4ba1\" class=\"wp wq qt bf wr me ws mf mh mi wt mj ml ja wu jb je mo wv mp ms mt ww mu mx wx bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Several funds were launched in Hokkaido<\/h1>\n<p id=\"3680\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu wy vw vx vy wz wa wb wc xa we wf wg xb wi wj wk xc wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">2021 was the remarkable year for startups in Hokkaido planning to utilize investments to scale their businesses.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3 id=\"2dc6\" class=\"wp wq qt bf wr me ws mf mh mi wt mj ml ja wu jb je mo wv mp ms mt ww mu mx wx bk\"><a class=\"af xd\" href=\"https:\/\/corp.polarshortcut.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">POLAR SHORTCUT<\/a><\/h3>\n<p id=\"b206\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu wy vw vx vy wz wa wb wc xa we wf wg xb wi wj wk xc wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">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.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3 id=\"119a\" class=\"wp wq qt bf wr me ws mf mh mi wt mj ml ja wu jb je mo wv mp ms mt ww mu mx wx bk\"><a class=\"af xd\" href=\"https:\/\/contrailtokachi.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">Contrail GK<\/a>\u00a0investing in startups in Tokachi<\/h3>\n<p id=\"3f81\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu wy vw vx vy wz wa wb wc xa we wf wg xb wi wj wk xc wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Contrail GK was co-established by\u00a0<a class=\"af xd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yamachu-tokachi.co.jp\/company\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">Yamachu Hokkaido<\/a>\u00a0&amp;\u00a0<a class=\"af xd\" href=\"https:\/\/soratokachi.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">SORA Inc.<\/a>\u00a0in order to empower entrepreneurs and startups starting their businesses in Tokachi.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9b8a\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7474\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Contrail GK invests up to 50 million JPY for businesses offering solutions for Tokachi.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"xo xp xq xr xs vl vd ve paragraph-image\">\n<div class=\"vm vn dq vo bh vp\" role=\"button\">\n<div class=\"vd ve amh\">\n<div style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"bh uk vq c\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:1400\/1*4nD66sHIMYg9_hAXZDJCtg.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Wren Chai on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3 id=\"4153\" class=\"wp wq qt bf wr me ws mf mh mi wt mj ml ja wu jb je mo wv mp ms mt ww mu mx wx bk\">Sapporo Innovation Fund for BioTech startups<\/h3>\n<p id=\"9879\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu wy vw vx vy wz wa wb wc xa we wf wg xb wi wj wk xc wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Sapporo Innovation Fund is the \u201cfirst\u201d fund amongst cities designated by government ordinance. It was launched based on public-private partnership and the focus is Life Science.<\/p>\n<p id=\"c508\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">The target is unlisted BioTech startups actively scaling around Sapporo area, and the fund size is 750 million JPY at the time of establishment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"xo xp xq xr xs vl vd ve paragraph-image\">\n<div class=\"vm vn dq vo bh vp\" role=\"button\">\n<div class=\"vd ve ami\">\n<div style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"bh uk vq c\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"https:\/\/miro.medium.com\/v2\/resize:fit:1400\/1*JlempjhwCcCtD8iYM5sPyQ.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by\u00a0National Cancer Institute\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"37c9\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">The following companies are LPs, and DG Incubation, one of the companies in Digital Garage Group is managing the fund.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"\">\n<li id=\"8508\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Sapporo Electronics and Industries Cultivation Foundation<\/li>\n<li id=\"25e9\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">North Pacific Bank<\/li>\n<li id=\"0219\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Hokkaido Bank<\/li>\n<li id=\"76ed\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Hokkaido Credit Unions,<\/li>\n<li id=\"4e72\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">AIN HOLDINGS INC., a pharmaceutical company<\/li>\n<li id=\"8578\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Amino Up Co., Ltd., a BioTech company<\/li>\n<li id=\"2b13\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Northern Advancement Center for Science &amp; Technology<\/li>\n<li id=\"638d\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">The Hokkaido Shimbun Press.<\/li>\n<li id=\"ac19\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Moroo Inc., a medical retail company<\/li>\n<li id=\"909a\" class=\"vr vs qt vt b vu xh vw vx vy xi wa wb wc xj we wf wg xk wi wj wk xl wm wn wo xm xf xg bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Digital Garage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1 id=\"7dd5\" class=\"wp wq qt bf wr me ws mf mh mi wt mj ml ja wu jb je mo wv mp ms mt ww mu mx wx bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">Hokkaido spinout AWL picked up 2 billion JPY!<\/h1>\n<p id=\"837a\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu wy vw vx vy wz wa wb wc xa we wf wg xb wi wj wk xc wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">In 2021 AWL, one of the \u201cJ-Startup HOKKAIDO\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9c3a\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">The other 19 startups based in Hokkaido also successfully picked up investments, and Sapporo &amp; Hokkaido Startup Ecosystem Promotion Committee are working hard toward the goal of 50 startups picking up funds in 2024.<\/p>\n<p id=\"43cb\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">With\u00a0<a class=\"af xd\" href=\"https:\/\/j-startup-city.go.jp\/downloads\/city_summary\/summary_sapporo.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener ugc nofollow\">the clear goal setting<\/a>\u00a0and cross-sectional collaboration, Hokkaido is aiming to unlock founders\u2019 potential.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2aba\" class=\"pw-post-body-paragraph vr vs qt vt b vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo gb bk\" data-selectable-paragraph=\"\">We believe in the frontier spirit rooted in Hokkaido.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We tend to think financial resources and human resources all get together in the capital of country \u2014 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":165,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-blog.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":212,"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164\/revisions\/212"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startuphokkaido.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}