AiRato Selected for “Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP)”

AiRato has been selected for the Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP), a support program by the City of Sendai for startups in Sendai and the Tohoku region aiming for overseas expansion.

On August 23, 2025, Sendai City opened the Sendai Global Startup Hub to foster the continuous creation of globally active startups and to realize its vision of becoming a “Global Startup City.” As part of this initiative, the city launched two intensive support programs for startups in Sendai and Tohoku seeking to expand overseas, under the title Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program (STEP), and AiRato has now been selected.

<Overview>

Support for the verification and development of business hypotheses with a view toward overseas expansion.

<Main Support Details>

On-the-ground support through overseas bases: Practical support ranging from identifying local partners, coordinating and attending meetings, to follow-up negotiations.

<Main Support Details>

On-the-ground support through overseas bases: Practical support ranging from identifying local partners, coordinating and attending meetings, to follow-up negotiations.

Practical overseas expansion support, mainly in Southeast Asia: Not merely introductions, but hands-on support from hypothesis testing to building local businesses, taking into account alignment with social issues. Support will focus on Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Outcome-oriented support design: Emphasis on generating tangible results such as MOU signings, joint research, and co-development.