TECH-PoC (Tech-Startup Proof-of-Concept Support Grant)

①Overview: Yokohama City, under the TECH & GLOBAL concept and centered on TECH HUB YOKOHAMA, supports tech-startup growth. TECH-PoC funds proof-of-concept work that startups need to advance commercialization — validating technical feasibility and business value to move toward funding or full deployment. ②Eligible applicants: Tech startups (under 5 years old) planning POC etc. of tech products/services in Yokohama, with a Yokohama base or planning to establish one by FY2027 end. Must be SMEs (Article 2(1) of SME Basic Act) developing innovative, proprietary technology and aiming for rapid growth. University researchers with proprietary research seeds, or foreign companies registering a Japan branch + Yokohama base by 2027-03-31 are also eligible. ③Eligible expenses & benefit content: Eligible expenses: (1) Prototype development (hardware/software materials/parts/outsourcing/lease, items under JPY 100K each; mass-production and PC/smartphone-as-resource excluded), (2) POC/trial-introduction (safety, honoraria, venue, equipment rental, product procurement, installation/cancellation), (3) Travel/transport, (4) Honoraria (lawyer/accountant/patent attorney), (5) Survey/advertising (patent/utility-model search & acquisition, market research, tech assessment, exhibitions), (6) Direct personnel cost (excluding officers, max 50% of total), (7) Other necessary costs. Consumption tax excluded. ④Rate, ceiling, schedule, application pointers: Subsidy cap JPY 2,000,000, rate 2/3 of eligible expenses. Project period: adoption to 2027-02-28. Pre-consultation 2026-04-23 10:00 to 2026-06-12 17:00 (required). Proposal deadline 2026-07-13 17:00. Submission via Yokohama electronic application system. Selection notification mid-August 2026 by email. About 6 startups will be selected. Implementation report due by 2027-03-24, with a public version also prepared.