The startup scene in Japan

Nagoya City describes its startup policy as coordinating community-building, startup attraction, and funding. STATION Ai opened in Nagoya in October 2024; the World Economic Forum reported that it had attracted more than 700 startups, venture capital firms, universities, and other support organizations by February 2025. [46370, 46387]

Nagoya University lists support for creating university-originated ventures and a regional venture fund for companies originating from five Tokai universities. It reported 82 officially recognized university-based startups among 180 startups as of March 2025. [46376, 46377, 46378]

Prodrone's company profile lists its establishment date as January 15, 2015, its headquarters and R&D center in Nagoya's Tempaku ward, and industrial drone research and manufacturing as a business line. The profile also lists Nagoya Railroad, Meigin Venture Fund II, and Tokai R&D Fund I among its shareholders. [46381, 46382, 46383, 46384]

Nagoya City's FY2026 startup subsidy application period ran from May 1 to June 1, 2026, and the city reported the round closed as of June 2, 2026. The published maximum was ¥1 million, with a standard eligible-cost rate of one-third and a higher one-half rate subject to a specified local-hub registration condition. [46371, 46372, 46373]