#Japan #Scrum Ventures #Hokkaido #Nippon Ham #Yuki Saito

Scrum Ventures Expands Hokkaido F Village X for Year 2

Scrum Ventures, a prominent venture capital firm based in both San Francisco and Tokyo, has unveiled major developments for its Hokkaido F Village X (HFX) co-creation program as it enters its second year. This year promises even more exciting collaborations as Nippon Ham Co., Ltd., one of Japan's preeminent food corporations, joins as a new corporate partner. Furthermore, the renowned former professional baseball player Yuki Saito has been appointed as a Venture Partner, adding his experience and insight to this innovative initiative.

Exploring Hokkaido F Village X

Hokkaido F Village X is a dynamic global co-creation program that seeks to unite world-class startups with various stakeholders, including corporations and municipalities, harnessing the rich potential of Hokkaido’s agricultural landscape. The program emphasizes five critical areas: Sports & Entertainment, Food & Agriculture, Mobility, Sustainability, and Well-Being.

As a new corporate partner in Year 2, Nippon Ham brings immense value to HFX. This company is well-known for producing highly regarded food products, including their famous Hokkaido White Chicken and a variety of high-quality meats. With a dominant market presence, Nippon Ham holds a 20% share in Japan's fresh meat market and provides 6% of the country's total protein intake. Their integration of agriculture and food production creates endless possibilities for collaborative innovation, particularly with startups aiming to develop sustainable food practices.

Michael Yan, Managing Director of HFX, expressed excitement about the collaboration: "Hokkaido is not only an agricultural hub but also a true food paradise in Japan. The partnership with Nippon Ham paves the way for significant collaborations that can influence and transform the food industry. This is a golden opportunity for global startups to leverage Nippon Ham's strengths in innovative ways."

Yuki Saito: From the Pitch to Partner

Alongside Nippon Ham, Yuki Saito’s involvement is expected to elevate the program's profile significantly. Best known as the 'Handkerchief Prince' from his legendary high school baseball days, Saito transitioned from a celebrated athlete to a successful entrepreneur following his sports career. He has focused his efforts on community building and regional revitalization in Hokkaido, making him a perfect fit for his new role.

As a Venture Partner, Saito aims to blend his athletic experience with business acumen to aid startup initiatives in HFX. He stated, "I am thrilled to join Scrum Ventures as a Venture Partner. Beyond my baseball career, I've been intensely involved in business development and community engagement, and I look forward to leveraging those experiences to create new value through this program. Hokkaido is dear to me, and I am eager to collaborate with startups and local communities to realize new dreams!"

Current Call for Applications

With Year 2 already underway, HFX is now welcoming startup applications. Selected startups will be announced during the "HFX Kickoff Week" in Hokkaido, Japan, in August 2026, with the program running until February 2027, concluding with the HFX Demo Day in 2027.

The inaugural year of HFX successfully identified 11 startups from a pool of over 300 applications spanning 29 countries. The program garnered an impressive Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 90, reflecting participant satisfaction with rapid pathways from conceptual ideas to actual implementation.

Startups interested in seizing this opportunity can find information and application details at HFX program website.

About Scrum Ventures

Founded with the vision to foster innovation and growth, Scrum Ventures has established itself as a formidable early-stage venture capital firm. With offices located in key markets such as San Francisco and Tokyo, Scrum Ventures has successfully invested in more than 140 startups across various sectors including AI, healthcare, and sports entertainment. They pride themselves on not only providing financial investment but also offering practical business development support, global expansion resources, and co-investor introductions to their portfolio companies.

Conclusion

With the infusion of strong partnerships and visionary leadership, the second year of Hokkaido F Village X is set to redefine the landscape of startup collaborations in Japan's cutting-edge sectors. As Scrum Ventures, Nippon Ham, and Yuki Saito join forces, the anticipation grows for the innovative breakthroughs that will emerge from Hokkaido's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.