Zero One Booster Inc. (head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: George Goda; “01Booster”), a business creation company that supports corporate open innovation and new business development, has formed a consortium with U.S.-based LaunchStarz Inc. and will launch “Ryukyu Launchpad 2026,” a program supporting startups entering Asian and North American markets, under the “FY2026 Startup Overseas Expansion Support Project” commissioned by Okinawa Prefecture. This year, in addition to the overseas dispatch course including North America, the program has added a new overseas expansion preparation course for startups that are about to begin serious consideration of overseas expansion, expanding into a two-course structure. Applications for participating startups opened on May 15, along with registration for the preliminary briefing session to be held on May 28. Program background: Okinawa Prefecture has promoted startup support measures to date, and in recent years overseas collaboration, particularly with Asia, has accelerated, making international business expansion increasingly important. “Ryukyu Launchpad” is an overseas expansion support program hosted by Okinawa Prefecture that began in 2025, with the aim of accelerating startups’ entry into the U.S. and Asian markets. By leveraging Okinawa’s geographic advantages and international networks, the program supports the global expansion of Japanese startups. Key features for 2026: This year, the program offers two courses according to each startup’s overseas expansion phase: the “Overseas Dispatch Course (North America and Asia)” and the “Overseas Expansion Preparation Course.” The program plans to select up to 10 companies for the preparation course and around four companies for the dispatch course. Selected startups will receive comprehensive support for overseas expansion over approximately seven months. Overseas Dispatch Course (North America and Asia): This course provides practical local expansion su