Key facts
- Shoko Chukin Bank will connect Japanese SMEs with U.S. AI startups.
- The bank is partnering with a Silicon Valley venture capital firm.
- The initiative will support AI technology verification, PoC/MVP construction, and market entry for Japanese businesses.
- BDNet LLC will provide services for North American business development, including AI tech scouting and alliance building.
- Mizuho Bank launched "MIZUHO BIG ADVANCE GLOBAL" on April 13, 2026, to support international business matching.
Shoko Chukin Bank, recently privatized, is initiating a program to link Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with artificial intelligence startups in the United States. This initiative is designed to bolster the bank's services for SMEs and facilitate their financial and technological growth.