{"rewrite":{"id":"r_856301a24fa8333545043040","clusterId":"c_c42018ee15b37de0ac94d580","slug":"lvlzero-tokyo-opens-second-cohort-applications-goes-online-nationwide","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"LVLZero Tokyo Opens Applications for Second Cohort With Online Format","summary":"MIXI Global Investments, the corporate venture capital subsidiary of MIXI, began accepting applications on August 18, 2026 for the second cohort of LVLZero Tokyo, its accelerator program supporting overseas expansion for Japanese indie games. The application period runs until September 6, 2026. The second cohort shifts from the first cohort's in-person sessions at MIXI's head office to a fully online format, allowing developers from anywhere in Japan to participate. Five teams are expected to be selected, matching the first cohort's size. Selected teams will receive 100 days of mentoring covering localization, trailer production, pitch improvement, and connections with overseas publishers and investors. They will also receive support to exhibit at gamescom asia, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 29 to November 1, 2026. The program does not acquire equity or publishing rights, operating from a neutral standpoint that respects developer autonomy. Tokyo Game Dungeon, an indie game exhibition for individuals and small teams, joins as an operations partner, while Active Gaming Media continues as a knowledge partner. An online briefing session for applicants is scheduled for August 22, 2026.","whyItMatters":"The shift to an online format removes the geographic barrier that limited the first cohort to developers who could attend in person at MIXI's head office, opening the program to indie developers across all of Japan.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eFirst cohort drew 78 applications; five teams were selected and are set to exhibit at gamescom in Cologne, Germany, August 26 to 30, 2026.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eFirst cohort selections: roguelite 3D action RPG \u0026#34;Bless You Again\u0026#34; (Gino Inc.), horror \u0026#34;HAUNTED STREAMER\u0026#34; (PrankMaker), cooperative rat action \u0026#34;Little Cheese Works\u0026#34; (BUBBLE GUM LLC), automated industrial game \u0026#34;moorestech\u0026#34; (sakastudio), and meta RPG \u0026#34;Tatakau Dake\u0026#34; (Heaviside Creations).\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eApplicants must be able to prepare a playable demo version of their game, even if still in development; already released games are also eligible.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSelection weighs game completeness, originality, overseas market potential, and developer enthusiasm and execution ability, plus willingness to participate and a clear overseas expansion vision.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDocument screening and interviews run through late September. Mentoring includes 10 group workshop sessions plus one-on-one meetings as needed, followed by a demo day in Tokyo from December to January.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTomoharu Urabe, MGI Director and Head of Investments, said the second cohort \u0026#34;will leverage the experience gained in the first cohort to expand eligibility nationwide through online participation and provide support for exhibiting at \u0026#39;gamescom asia.\u0026#39;\u0026#34;\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u0026#34;LVLZero Tokyo\u0026#34; was selected as a partner for fiscal 2025 under \u0026#34;TOKYO SUTEAM,\u0026#34; a Tokyo metropolitan government program supporting startups.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMGI is a wholly owned subsidiary of MIXI and a corporate venture capital firm investing in global startups, primarily in India.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eActive Gaming Media, which operates the outlet Automaton, handles part of the mentoring sessions as knowledge partner.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"LVLZero Tokyo's second cohort goes online, so indie devs anywhere in Japan can apply. Five teams get 100 days of mentoring and a shot at gamescom asia. Applications close September 6.","twitterPost":"MIXI's indie accelerator LVLZero Tokyo opens round 2 with a nationwide online format. No equity, no publishing rights taken. Tokyo Game Dungeon joins as operations partner. Apply by Sept 6.","threadsPost":"LVLZero Tokyo's second cohort keeps equity and publishing rights with developers. That structure is rare for an accelerator, and it may be why the program drew nationwide interest once it moved online.","newsletterBlurb":"MIXI Global Investments opens applications for the second cohort of LVLZero Tokyo, its indie game overseas expansion accelerator. The program shifts to an online format, opening participation to developers across Japan, with five teams to be selected for 100 days of mentoring and a gamescom asia exhibition slot.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20260818025/\",\"title\":\"\\\"LVLZero Tokyo\\\" Supporting Overseas Expansion of Indie Games Opens Applications for Second Cohort, Now Available Nationwide Online\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260818-460764/\",\"title\":\"MIXI's indie developer support program \\\"LVLZero Tokyo\\\" opens applications for its second cohort, now accepting entries from anywhere in Japan\"},{\"source\":\"GameBusiness.jp\",\"url\":\"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/08/18/27733.html\",\"title\":\"MIXI Global Investments Opens Applications for Second Cohort of Indie Game Overseas Expansion Support Program \\\"LVLZero Tokyo,\\\" Now Available Nationwide with Online Participation\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":12085,"outputTokens":1614,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1787042264,"createdAt":"2026-08-18T08:29:42.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-18T08:31:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T09:59:52.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_c42018ee15b37de0ac94d580","canonicalTitle":"インディーゲームの海外展開を支援する「LVLZero Tokyo」が第II期の募集開始。オンラインで全国から参加可能に","representativeArticleId":"a_ba85f7df59ffc21ff582818f","sourceCount":3,"writtenSourceCount":3,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"written","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-18T07:29:42.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-18T09:38:23.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T09:59:52.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20260818025/","title":"インディーゲームの海外展開を支援する「LVLZero Tokyo」が第II期の募集開始。オンラインで全国から参加可能に"},{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260818-460764/","title":"MIXIのインディー開発者支援プログラム「LVLZero Tokyo」第II期エントリー受付開始。グローバル展開をまるっとサポート、今期は“日本全国どこからでも”応募可"},{"source":"GameBusiness.jp","url":"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/08/18/27733.html","title":"MIXI Global Investments、インディーゲーム海外展開支援プログラム「LVLZero Tokyo」第II期エントリー受付開始 オンライン参加に対応し全国から応募可能に"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["LVLZero Tokyo's second cohort application period runs from August 18 to September 6, 2026.","The second cohort program runs from October to December 2026, with five teams expected to be selected.","The second cohort switches to an online format, allowing participation from anywhere in Japan.","Selected teams receive 100 days of mentoring covering localization, trailer production, pitch improvement, and connections with overseas publishers and investors.","The first cohort received 78 applications and selected five teams, which are scheduled to exhibit at gamescom in Cologne, Germany, from August 26 to 30, 2026."]}