Prossell Holdings Inc. (Headquarters: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture; CEO: Kazuki Yokoyama) announced on February 26 that its group company Prossell Inc., which operates a career partner business for KOSEN (National Institute of Technology) students, has acquired shares of Halenas Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture; CEO: Haruto Kamada), a company specializing in recruitment support for KOSEN students, making it a subsidiary.
Through this acquisition, Prossell aims to further strengthen its support for companies seeking to hire KOSEN talent and enhance career education for students. This move accelerates the realization of their vision: "Bringing happiness to KOSEN people and the communities around them."
As the demand for young engineers surges due to the acceleration of DX (Digital Transformation) in Japan, the job-to-applicant ratio for KOSEN graduates is said to exceed even that of university graduates. However, companies face the challenge of having "no points of contact with KOSEN students," while students often miss out on "diverse career options" due to unique recruitment customs and a lack of information, creating a significant information gap.
Halenas has a strong track record primarily in the Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kansai regions, operating "With KOSEN," a joint job fair specialized for KOSEN students. By welcoming Halenas into the group, Prossell will integrate Halenas' deep-rooted regional networks and event management expertise to provide higher-quality career opportunities to KOSEN students nationwide.
Haruto Kamada, CEO of Halenas, commented: "I am confident that by joining Prossell, which possesses an extensive network beyond our own resources, we can create a much larger impact on society."
Prossell, a startup originating from Nagaoka KOSEN, provides a wide range of services including recruitment support for new graduates, career changes, side jobs, entrepreneurship support, and educational programs. The company plans to continue promoting the roll-up of KOSEN-originated startups and the creation of new businesses, contributing to the revitalization of the entire KOSEN community and the development of its ecosystem.
■ ICT Startup League
This support program was launched in FY2023, triggered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Project for Supporting Seed-stage R&D for Startup Creation."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four main pillars:
① R&D Funding / Hands-on Support
Provides up to 20 million yen in R&D subsidies. Furthermore, the selection committee members who evaluated the league members continue to provide hands-on support to promote growth. For companies that committee members were particularly passionate about selecting, a "devotional" support system is established where the evaluators themselves provide ongoing advice on business plans and growth opportunities.
② Discovery & Cultivation
Provides opportunities for learning and networking to accelerate the business growth of league members. It also works to discover aspiring entrepreneurs to expand the startup foundation.
③ Competition & Co-creation
Designed as a positive competitive arena similar to a sports league, startups learn together and strive to win the funding they truly need (up to 20 million yen). It also provides a space for "co-creation" where league members collaborate to expand their businesses through sessions with selection committee members and various other opportunities.
④ Communication
The league partners with media outlets to broadcast the efforts of its members. By increasing public awareness of these businesses, the program aims to expand opportunities for new matching and growth.
■ Related Websites
ICT Startup League
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Prossell Holdings Inc. (Official Website)
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Prossell Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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Original Press Release (Japanese)
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For more details on STARTUP LEAGUE's startup support, please see here.
