Google and KDDI are ready to back Japanese startups.

Ashwani Kumar — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:02:56 +0000

Google and KDDI are ready to back Japanese startups.

The Google AI Futures Fund backs the startups that are building what’s next in AI — and we’re extending our support to Japan. In partnership with Japanese telecom leader KDDI, we’re launching the AI Startup Support Program to accelerate the most innovative AI-native Japanese startups. This initiative is built on our conviction that Japan is home to some of the most visionary AI builders in the world.

Selected startups will receive:

Joint funding: Equity investments from both the AI Futures Fund and KDDI Open Innovation Fund.
The latest AI models: Early access to some of Google’s most advanced AI tools — including Gemini, Nano Banana, and Lyria — plus, opportunities to provide feedback to the researchers building them.
Compute credits: Google Cloud credits, as well as credits for sovereign Gemini and GPUs, uniquely provisioned in Japan via KDDI’s Osaka-Sakai Data Center.
Dedicated support: Hands-on technical support from a network of Google and KDDI researchers, engineers, product managers, and more, as well as distribution and business opportunities.

Learn more about the program on the AI Futures Fund website. We encourage any Japanese team with an ambitious vision to apply.

Google and KDDI have launched the AI Startup Support Program to invest in and accelerate Japanese AI startups. This joint initiative provides financial backing, advanced AI model access, and specialized infrastructure to position local founders for global expansion. [1]

Key Benefits for Selected Startups

Direct Funding: Joint equity investments of up to $2 million (~¥300 million) per startup from the Google AI Futures Fund and KDDI Open Innovation Fund. [2]
Model Access: Early access to advanced Google DeepMind models, including Gemini, Nano Banana, and Lyria. [3]
Sovereign Infrastructure: Trial access to local data environments, including “Gemini on GDC” (Google Distributed Cloud) and the KDDI GPU Cloud hosted at the Osaka-Sakai Data Center, alongside substantial Google Cloud credits. [2, 3]
Expert Mentorship: Hands-on product and technical guidance directly from Google researchers, engineers, and designers, alongside KDDI’s business innovation teams. [2, 4]

Cohort & Selection Details

Target Audience: The program focuses on AI-native ventures redefining work, coding, culture, and entertainment.
Cohort Size: The partners intend to select approximately five high-potential companies per year.
Applications: Active applications can be submitted directly via the official KDDI Program Portal. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6]