If you have any questions or concerns when starting a business, consulting with a support organization is a shortcut to a solution. Here are some facilities & organizations that provide easy access to consultation.
Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Okinawa Office
While its main business is to support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the organization is under the direct control of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and is known for its wide range of services, including support for businesses utilizing Okinawa’s local resources and cross-industry collaboration, holding events to foster business startup momentum, supporting the implementation of entrepreneurship education programs, and providing advice on rebooting venture companies and overseas expansion.
They provide free consultations as many times as needed on strategic planning, business plans, financing, capital policies, and other matters related to startups and entrepreneurship.
If you are considering starting or establishing a business, check out J-Net21, the organization’s business support website (available nationwide), which includes a startup manual, market data by industry, subsidies, and other support information (updated daily).
Name: Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Okinawa Office
Address: Okinawa Industry Support Center 313-1, 1831-1 Oroku, Naha, Okinawa
Phone Numbers: 098-859-7566（Representative）
FAX: 098-859-5770
Okinawa Industry Promotion Public Corporation
An organization that conducts projects to strengthen the management base of small and medium-sized enterprises in Okinawa Prefecture and promote business startups, as well as various projects necessary for industrial development. In the area of new business creation support, the agency provides consultation services by experts, information on financing such as loans to support founders, and support for equipment lending and installation. They also provide various consultations such as industry-academia collaboration with Ryukyu University and Okinawa Graduate University and support for promoting overseas sales channels, so contact them if you have any problems before or after starting a business. They also hold business exchange events to promote interaction between companies.
Name: Okinawa Industry Promotion Public Corporation
Address: 1831-1 Oroku, Naha, Okinawa（Okinawa Industry Support Center 4F）
Phone Number: 098-859-6255
FAX：098-859-6233
Lagoon NAHA
The facility opened in the center of Naha’s business and tourist district as a startup support center for the “Okinawa Startup Ecosystem” recommended by Okinawa Prefecture. It provides consistent support for startups in the growth stages from establishment. In addition to holding business contests, accelerations, seminars, etc., the facility can be used as a co-working space, and free consultations about starting a business are available (for detailed advice, it is better to contact the facility in advance), so feel free to drop by.
Name: Lagoon Naha
Address: Haseko Naha Building 1F, 1-2-13 Matsuyama, Naha, Okinawa
Phone Number: 080-9855-6044
Email: okst-info@okinawa-startup.jp
Business Hours: Weekdays 11:00-18:00 (except Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, year-end and New Year holidays (12/29-1/3), and event days)
Lagoon koza
This facility is a pillar of the “Koza Startup Shopping Arcade” (Okinawa City), an open innovation center for the entire shopping arcade. It is also the base for Okinawa Startup Festa, one of the largest startup events in Okinawa, and hosts many other entrepreneurship training programs as needed. The facility provides comprehensive support for the process from the idea stage to opening a business, including individual consultations with staff who have experience in business startups and matching with banks and partner institutions. It can also be used as a coworking space (for a fee).
Name: Lagoon Koza
Address: 1-7-8 Chuo, Okinawa City, Okinawa
Phone Number: 080-4651-6900
Email: lagoon@ryukyumirai.jp
Business Hours: 12:00-20:00 (Excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and event days)
Co-working
Usage Fee: ¥500/2 Hours, ¥1,500/1 Day
Business Hours: 9:00-20:00 (Excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and event days)
Startup Lab Ryudai
This facility was established within Ryukyu University as a place to promote the startups and growth of Ryukyu University, but of course, the general public is welcome to use it. It is a place where students, faculty, staff, and outsiders can freely interact. Seminars are held on everything from idea creation to entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship training programs are also offered. Staff from the Okinawa IT Innovation Strategy Center (ISCO) are also available for consultation.
Name: Startup Lab Ryudai
Address: Regional Innovation Research Complex 1F, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho nakagami-gun, Okinawa
Phone Number: 080-9853-1937
URL: https://ryulab.jp/
Business Hours: 9:00-19:00 (Excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and event days)