Work & Network

Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN) is a startup hub located in Fukuoka, Japan. The facility was established through a public-private partnership with the goal of fostering innovation and supporting startups.

 

FGN was specifically designed to foster positive interactions. The space naturally helps people to make connections, whether they are startups seeking members to help develop their MVPs, new businesses and established companies forging ties, or business-minded members of the public exchanging ideas. That’s one of the reasons that the renewal focused heavily on creating two unique coworking spaces. The first is more fluid with movable tables so that it can also be used as an event space for up to one hundred attendees to meet and learn about the latest innovations and ideas. The second coworking space has fixed desks, where FGN members can concentrate and focus on their projects.  

 

FGN’s business consultation center, Startup Café,  and onsite bar called awabar are still located on the first floor and are open to the public. There is also a new coffee shop that’s open to everyone called Howlt Coffee that offers a delicious caffeine boost. Upstairs is dedicated to many of the city’s startup teams, with individual and shared office spaces located on the top two floors. There are even new meeting spaces and comfortable places to sit lining the upstairs hallways, giving startup members more chances to interact.

Inviting & Engaging

If you were in the Daimyo area during the past few months, you might have noticed the construction happening at FGN. One of the most noticeable changes is the removal of the brick barrier that used to surround the building. This was taken away to make FGN more approachable and inviting to anyone interested in stopping by for a visit.

The new FGN was unveiled at an opening party on May 31st, 2019. The event was attended by over 2,000 people, including startup founders, business representatives, local government officials, and members of the community. During the opening celebration, FGN hosted nine talks where leading startup experts from both Fukuoka and Tokyo shared their thoughts and perspectives on startup trends.

The relaunch party was just the first of many events and programs that FGN will host in the coming years. In fact, they launched an incubation program to encourage outstanding startups to grow and an accelerator program to help founders find potential investors and partners. It is important to note that FGN doesn't just focus on supporting entrepreneurs. They take an incredibly community-minded approach to everything they do. FGN now hosts a wide range of programs for professional engineers, designers, PR representatives, and even a programming school for kids.

Experience FGN

"We provide extensive support for startups in every phase from scratch to IPO. You can communicate with different types of startups and experts in frequent events and social programs. The facility is open to the public, and you can experience some of the latest technology here, including bike sharing via merchari, umbrella sharing via i-kasa, and mobile battery sharing via Chargespot. Also, I highly recommend Howlt Coffee, so don’t hesitate to stop by for a cup.” - Kazuya Shidahara, FGN Secretariat

Since FGN is open to the public and conveniently located in Daimyo, you can easily stop by and see it for yourself. If you want to know more about FGN, don't hesitate to contact them using the form here.