Tokyo, Japan – Minato Rocket.,Ltd. a commercial aerospace company developing Japan’s record-holding hybrid launch vehicles, has secured strategic backing from three of the country’s premier deep-tech accelerators: STATION Ai Catapult, FASTAR, and K-NIC.
This triple-endorsement from top-tier government and private-sector leaders strongly validates our core technology and accelerates our mission to provide safe, high-cadence, and responsive launch services for the rapidly expanding smallsat market.
- STATION Ai Catapult (Backed by SoftBank & Aichi Prefecture)
Minato Rocket has been selected for the 8th cohort of STATION Ai Catapult, the flagship accelerator at Japan’s largest open innovation hub. Located in Nagoya—the undisputed center of Japan’s aerospace and automotive manufacturing—this program gives us direct access to a world-class industrial base. We are actively leveraging this ecosystem to secure strategic manufacturing partners and build a resilient, scalable supply chain for our hybrid propulsion systems and launch vehicle structures. - FASTAR (Backed by SME Support Japan / Japanese Government)
As a deep-tech space company, we were also chosen for FASTAR, a highly selective accelerator operated by the Japanese government (SME Support Japan). This strong institutional backing validates our core technology and significantly accelerates our timeline to commercial launch operations. This support will be instrumental in finalizing our go-to-market strategy for responsive space access. - K-NIC Startup Hands-on Program (Backed by NEDO & Kawasaki City)
Furthermore, we are participating in the K-NIC Startup Hands-on Program, an initiative tailored for R&D-intensive deep-tech startups. This program strategically positions us to secure major non-dilutive government grants from NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization). This backing strengthens our financial foundation for upcoming funding rounds and the final stages of our orbital vehicle development.
Looking Ahead
With the backing of these three major programs, we are ready to take our development to the next level. Minato Rocket is fully committed to making safe, high-frequency space transportation a reality.
Minato Rocket remains committed to unlocking the future of space access by providing reliable and affordable launch services for the growing small satellite market.
About Minato Rocket
Minato Rocket Co., Ltd. is a Japanese aerospace startup dedicated to developing hybrid rocket engines. Holding the domestic record for hybrid rocket performance, the company aims to revolutionize the launch service industry by offering safe and highly frequent space transportation solutions.
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