Asia Pacific (English)

FedEx Launches Small Business Grant Contest for Small- and Medium-Size Enterprises

The 3,850,000JPY Award Will Go to Companies with Innovative Ideas

TOKYO, March 18, 2019 – Today, FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), launched the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest. From now until April 21, 2019, businesses with 200 or fewer employees are invited to participate with their innovative global growth plans.

The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest supports small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) that want to realize their dreams of expanding their business to global markets. Applicants will be shortlisted to 10 finalists based on the ideas they submit. Finalists will present at the final qualifying round and FedEx leaders, together with outside experts, will select the first- and second-prize recipients. FedEx will then award the first-prize winner 2,750,000JPY and the runner-up 1,100,000JPY.

“We look forward to seeing enthusiastic innovators share their ideas on how to broaden their businesses,” said Masamichi Ujiie, regional vice president, North Pacific, FedEx Express. “Through its expansive worldwide network, FedEx supports Japanese SMEs as they expand their businesses globally. Growing a business and expanding to new markets requires a clear vision, passion, energy and, of course, capital. We are delighted to hold this contest in Japan to deliver possibilities for SMEs to realize their dreams. We want to help businesses that start on a small scale grow to their full potential, similar to FedEx 45 years ago, which began operations with 14 small planes in the U.S.”

The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest was first held in the U.S. in 2012. This year Japan is holding the contest for the first time, joining the U.S., China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K., Brazil, Chile and Mexico.

■ Outline of FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
Invitation for participants and application: March 18 to April 21, 2019
Announcement of finalists: May 20, 2019
Final qualifying meet: June 8, 2019

■ Learn about the Contest/How to apply
Please visit the website.
https://jp.grantcontest.fedex.com/