Applications Open for Year 2 of Hokkaido F Village X, a Co-Creation Program Supporting Global Startups From Proof of Concept to Full Implementation in Japan

Startups in Sports & Stadium Tech, AgriFood, Mobility, Sustainability, and Wellbeing are invited to apply through May 2026

SAN FRANCISCO, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Scrum Ventures, a San Francisco and Tokyo-based venture capital firm, and its subsidiary Scrum Studio, today announced the opening of applications for Year 2 of Hokkaido F Village X (HFX), a global startup co-creation program based in Hokkaido, Japan. HFX connects startups from around the world with Japanese corporate partners, municipal governments, universities, and regional operators to build business partnerships.

Applications are open now through May 2026: https://airtable.com/appb02yko4XWoODnX/pagLMteV6PawZQCgx/form

Hokkaido: A Living Lab for Innovation

The program is centered around Hokkaido Ballpark F Village, a major sports and entertainment destination in Hokkaido, where the program's startups can test their technologies in high-visibility, real-world environments. The broader Hokkaido region is receiving growing investments in semiconductors, data centers, and renewable energy, making it an active site for development.

Hokkaido also faces challenges, such as an aging population and rural depopulation, which create concrete, well-defined problems for startups to engage with. The result is a region with motivated partners, real deployment environments, and commercial upside for startups that want to go beyond a demo.

Year 1 Outcomes

Year 1 drew over 300 startup applications from 29 countries. 11 startups were selected, which resulted in 10 active business co-creation partnerships. Several have advanced to full deployment. The cohort gave the program an NPS of 90, with participants consistently citing the speed from pilot to implementation as a differentiator.

"It was extremely helpful that Scrum connected us directly with large corporations. Without that support, it would have taken a long time to work through traditional channels and reach decision-makers." — Kevin Bratcher, President & COO, Nature Coatings

"They're connected to both government and the private sector. The scale, the energy, the number of partners — it's very different from other programs. Having access to so many partners across so many fields meant we could pitch multiple use cases simultaneously. The opportunities really opened up." — Kazuma Anzai, Manager, Tech Magic

What Year 2 Offers

Scrum Studio plans to accept approximately 10 startups for Year 2. Selected startups will receive:

• Real deployment opportunities at Hokkaido Ballpark F Village and across the Hokkaido region
• Direct access to corporate partners, municipal governments, universities, and regional operators
• Possible attention from media outlets such as NHK, Nikkei, Yomiuri Newspaper, and Hokkaido Newspaper
• Investment consideration from Scrum Ventures
• A clear pathway to Japan market entry and broader global expansion

The program runs from August 2026 through February 2027, culminating in HFX Demo Day 2027.

Who Should Apply

HFX is seeking startups from around the globe working in Sports & Stadium Tech, AgriFood, Mobility, Sustainability, and Wellbeing.

Apply: https://airtable.com/appb02yko4XWoODnX/pagLMteV6PawZQCgx/form
Learn more: hfx.jp/en/acceleration-program
Year 1 outcomes: https://achievement2026.hfx.jp/en

About Scrum Ventures

Scrum Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm with offices in San Francisco and Tokyo. The firm has invested in more than 140 startups across AI & robotics, climate tech, mobility, healthcare, commerce, and sports & entertainment. Beyond capital, Scrum Ventures provides portfolio companies with hands-on business development support, co-investor introductions, and global expansion resources. scrum.vc

About Scrum Studio

Scrum Studio is a Scrum Ventures subsidiary that drives business co-creation between global Japanese corporations, global startups, and municipalities. Through programs such as  Hokkaido F Village X and Full Bloom, Scrum Studio facilitates open-innovation partnerships that move from concept to commercial reality. The company also supports international startups navigating Japan market entry. scrum.vc/ja/studio

Press inquiries: [email protected]

SOURCE Scrum Ventures