Google and KDDI launch AI Startup Support Program for Japanese AI startups

Google's AI Futures Fund and KDDI are launching the AI Startup Support Program to back AI-native Japanese startups with joint equity investment. Selected startups will get early access to Gemini, Nano Banana, and Lyria, plus Google Cloud credits, sovereign Gemini and GPU credits provisioned in Japan via KDDI's Osaka-Sakai Data Center, and hands-on technical support.