STATION Ai Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Showa Ward, President & CEO: Hirotaka Sahashi) will jointly hold the "M&A Seminar from the Perspective of Open Innovation" (hereinafter referred to as "this event") with WellBear Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "WellBear"), an investee of the STATION Ai Central Japan 1st Fund (STATION Ai Central Japan 1st Investment Business Limited Partnership), at "STATION Ai," one of Japan's largest open innovation hubs, on July 16, 2026 (Thu). This event will explain M&A, which is gaining attention as a growth strategy for startups and established companies against the backdrop of changes in the funding environment, from the perspectives of both startups and established companies. It will introduce practical approaches for considering and promoting M&A as a business, covering the entire process from sourcing to evaluation/valuation, due diligence, contract negotiation, and PMI (integration), with concrete examples. Background of the Event In recent years, the business environment surrounding startups has been changing. Against the backdrop of changes in the funding environment and the diversification of growth strategies centered on IPOs, M&A is attracting increasing interest from startups as an option for growth and exit strategies that do not rely solely on fundraising or listing. Meanwhile, for established companies, M&A is also a powerful means of implementing open innovation to promote new business development, entry into new fields, and the creation of synergies with existing businesses. At STATION Ai, in supporting startup growth, we are working to create diverse growth opportunities, including M&A, in addition to fundraising, business collaboration, sales channel development, and human resource/organizational development. This event, as part of that effort, provides an opportunity for both startups and established companies to deepen their understanding of M&A and connect it to concrete consideration as a growth strategy. Furt