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Tokyo Metro Government’s incubator unveils young entrepreneurs from 4th batch

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This is a guest post authored by Jerry Suppan. He is a Tokyo-based photographer and writer. The Tokyo Startup Gateway contest, held this year at a new venue near Tokyo Tower, is an event styled to present young, entrepreneurial-minded individuals and their startup business concepts that will contribute to society with global impact in genres like technology, communications, transportation, food, environment and other issues. The contestants gave their final presentations on November 18th seeking to start up their entrepreneurial concepts through ETIC, (“Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities”) which is a Tokyo based-NPO (non-profit organization) in charge of the event’s administration and such. Business concept plans from young entrepreneurial types were accepted starting from May 2017 with over 1,300 applications. During July-August 2017, the first stage of the selection process reduced the application count to around 180. During September-October 2017, the second stage of the selection process, the application count was further reduced to around 30 candidates. Finally during November and the final stage of the selection process, 10 candidates were chosen as finalists to participate in the competition event. Judges: There were four judges who discussed and concurred to make the final decisions for the winners of the competition: Shigeo…

This is a guest post authored by Jerry Suppan. He is a Tokyo-based photographer and writer.


The Tokyo Startup Gateway contest, held this year at a new venue near Tokyo Tower, is an event styled to present young, entrepreneurial-minded individuals and their startup business concepts that will contribute to society with global impact in genres like technology, communications, transportation, food, environment and other issues. The contestants gave their final presentations on November 18th seeking to start up their entrepreneurial concepts through ETIC, (“Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities”) which is a Tokyo based-NPO (non-profit organization) in charge of the event’s administration and such.

Business concept plans from young entrepreneurial types were accepted starting from May 2017 with over 1,300 applications. During July-August 2017, the first stage of the selection process reduced the application count to around 180. During September-October 2017, the second stage of the selection process, the application count was further reduced to around 30 candidates. Finally during November and the final stage of the selection process, 10 candidates were chosen as finalists to participate in the competition event.

Judges:

There were four judges who discussed and concurred to make the final decisions for the winners of the competition:

  • Shigeo Kagami, Professor and Head of Office of Collaborative Research Development, Division of University Corporate Relations, the University of Tokyo
  • Naomitsu Kodaka, CEO/Co-Founder, Tokyo Otaku Mode Inc.
  • Yuka Tanimoto, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Web Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Japan
  • Masamichi Tohyama, President, Smiles

The Finalists

Of the original 10 finalists, four were finally selected as winners of the event.

Shigeto Obata

  • Grand Prize: 1,000,000 yen (approximately $9,000 USD) & recognition trophy
  • Business concept: To create a platform by which anybody can share a small-sized aircraft and pilot, to realize a world and environment in which anyone can shift from ownership to freely utilize air space.

Masashi Hashimoto

  • Runner Up: 500,000 yen (approximately $4,500 USD) & recognition trophy
  • Business concept: To leverage dreams for use in medicine and research; To acquire hints from dreams for business applications; to enjoy freely moving about inside dreams and develop technology to see the dreams we want to see.

Milme

  • Runner Up: 500,000 yen (approximately $4,500 USD) & recognition trophy
  • Business concept: To create a share house which sponsors social foundation power, work, environmental, economic, and mental independence for 18 and 19 year old teenagers who aspire to be self-supporting and independent.

Junichi Tamaki

  • Audience Prize: Recognition trophy
  • Business concept: To propose a new city transport system which utilizes variations in building heights in a fun style and quickly transport / travel in direct lines between buildings over short distances of 100-500 meters.

Other finalists

The following is a list of finalists that did not receive prizes but made a great effort to introduce new, innovative, entrepreneurial concepts.

  • Sho Inami…To apply genetic engineering of insects to provide ideal “food” in areas where it is necessary.
  • Madoka Umetsu…To create VR training material to improve stuttering by amygdala and brain science approach. We aim to solve problems in employment and career of stuttering persons.
  • Yuka Shimane…To create work clothes having the necessary functionality on location at the site of manufacturing facilities. To make work easier for technicians by using data obtained IoT technology.
  • Saiko Nagaoka…To create a kimono sharing service by matching users that want to lend kimonos with users that want to borrow.
  • Masashi Nagano…To realize a paradigm shift in Japanese language education in society by providing inexpensive high quality Japanese education to all foreigners living in Japan.
  • Masahide Yamaguchi…To set up an employment transition support facility, expand matching between welfare facilities and companies, and promote development of work opportunity through understanding of work styles and disabilities.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s 3rd incubation batch showcases emerging 10 finalists

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See the original story in Japanese. Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s business plan contest Tokyo Startup Gateway 2016 held its finale earlier this week. It’s a contest style event for globally-minded entrepreneurs from various genres, such as technology, social business, regional problem solving, etc., who are looking to begin in Tokyo. ETIC, a Tokyo based-NPO, was in charge of the administration and organization. Business plans for this event (the third time it has been held) were accepted from April of 2016. 1,000 business plans total were collected. Among them, 10 were selected as finalists and gave presentations. See also: Tokyo Metro Government setting up 3rd incubation batch for budding entrepreneurs The judges for the contest are as follows: Chiaki Hayashi, CEO of Loftwork Tomy Kamada, CEO and Founder of TomyK Mifuyu Ando, Author / CEO of Spree Allen Miner, CEO of Sunbridge Global Ventures Kazutaka Muraguchi, CEO of Nippon Technology Venture Partners (chairperson of judges) Grand Prize: Feeding farmed fish using crickets by Seiya Ashikari Supplemental award: A trophy and 1 million yen (around $10,000 US)    In the aquaculture industry nearly 70% of expenses are said to go towards the cost of feed. What is more, in recent years the cost…

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See the original story in Japanese.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s business plan contest Tokyo Startup Gateway 2016 held its finale earlier this week.

It’s a contest style event for globally-minded entrepreneurs from various genres, such as technology, social business, regional problem solving, etc., who are looking to begin in Tokyo. ETIC, a Tokyo based-NPO, was in charge of the administration and organization. Business plans for this event (the third time it has been held) were accepted from April of 2016. 1,000 business plans total were collected. Among them, 10 were selected as finalists and gave presentations.

See also:

The judges for the contest are as follows:

  • Chiaki Hayashi, CEO of Loftwork
  • Tomy Kamada, CEO and Founder of TomyK
  • Mifuyu Ando, Author / CEO of Spree
  • Allen Miner, CEO of Sunbridge Global Ventures
  • Kazutaka Muraguchi, CEO of Nippon Technology Venture Partners (chairperson of judges)

Grand Prize: Feeding farmed fish using crickets by Seiya Ashikari

Supplemental award: A trophy and 1 million yen (around $10,000 US)   

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In the aquaculture industry nearly 70% of expenses are said to go towards the cost of feed. What is more, in recent years the cost of the fish meal used as feed has risen so high that it is putting pressure on cultivators. Ashikari suggests using crickets as feed for farmed fish. He plans to offer pellets made from the powder of crushed crickets. The effectiveness of this approach has already been proven through tests with the cooperation of an aquaculture company.

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Runner-up: Job training for disabled children provided by medical therapists by Natsumi Okano

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Supplemental award: A trophy and 500,000 yen (about $5,000 US)

As people with disabilities are often assisted by the people around them, they experience less failure compared to people without disabilities, do not have the opportunity to work part-time jobs, and as a result have overwhelmingly less social experience. The number of companies providing opportunities for people with disabilities are increasing, however a gap remains between these companies and the people they seek to employ. With Okano’s plan the skills of persons with disabilities would be appropriately and quantitatively evaluated, they could then be trained by setting goals, with facilitation of employment with business partners, and finally encouraging follow-up within the company.

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Runner-up: A proactive, intuitive robot that exceeds the limits of existing information terminals by Fuma Higashide

Supplemental award: A trophy and 500,000 yen (about $5,000 US)

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Current information terminals have a decisive problem. That problem lies in not doing the operations you intended and thus not having the necessary work done for you, as well as relying too much on the output of information from a screen. Higashide developed “Hako” a robot equipped with Raspberry Pi, that has various sensors to read human movement. By simply switching on the power, it is possible to enjoy a variety of applications. The price is about 30,000 yen (about $300 US). He plans to carry out a crowdfunding campaign in the future.

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Audience Prize: “Feeding farmed fish using crickets” by Seiya Ashikari

Supplemental award: Trophy

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See the above Grand Prize for content details.


The following is a list of finalists that did not receive prizes.

  • “Build a matching platform for connecting users with craftsmen to enjoy emotional crafting experiences” by Tomohiro Akiyama
  • “Build a platform for helping our society better understand Vegetarians” by Haruko Kawano
  • “A Next-Generation medical service combining wearables and artificial intelligence” by Kosuke Shimizu
  • “Make economic relationships just like families with people around the world” by Junichi Sugiura
  • “Deliver sanitary and comfortable toilet spaces to developing countries with ToiTech”by Naoki Tashiro
  • “Make a textbook for the next generation of football goal keepers” by Daichi Mizozaki
  • “Build global online discussion media” by Yuta Moriyama

Translated by Amanda Imasaka
Edited by Masaru Ikeda

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Tokyo Metro Government setting up 3rd incubation batch for budding entrepreneurs

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This is a guest post authored by “Tex” Pomeroy. He is a Tokyo-based writer specializing in ICT and high technology. Tokyo Startup Gateway was commenced in 2014 as a startup support program for those aged 15 to 39 and setting up shop in Tokyo, offered by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The secretariat operations are handled by a nonprofit organization based in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, renowned for being a Tokyo startup hub, called ETIC (Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Community); as its name suggests, the organization offers training to young people who wish to start up and sustain new business enterprises. In addition, this NPO also avails a purely private-sector Corporate Social Responsibility-type training project together with Mistletoe‘s Taizo Son known as SUSANOO. SUSANOO just finished gathering its 4th batch and provides bootcamps focused on social business. ETIC additionally arranges business internships for freshman and sophomore university students through its DRIVE internship program, not to mention having a Makers University set up to inculcate next-generation entrepreneurs and providing entrepreneurial support for the disaster-stricken Tohoku region. As for Tokyo Startup Gateway, the publicly-supported Tokyo effort will help those looking to start up, that is prior to incorporation, a new entity whether for profit…

This is a guest post authored by “Tex” Pomeroy. He is a Tokyo-based writer specializing in ICT and high technology.


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A briefing for applicants for Tokyo Startup Gateway was made in early June.

Tokyo Startup Gateway was commenced in 2014 as a startup support program for those aged 15 to 39 and setting up shop in Tokyo, offered by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The secretariat operations are handled by a nonprofit organization based in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, renowned for being a Tokyo startup hub, called ETIC (Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Community); as its name suggests, the organization offers training to young people who wish to start up and sustain new business enterprises.

In addition, this NPO also avails a purely private-sector Corporate Social Responsibility-type training project together with Mistletoe‘s Taizo Son known as SUSANOO. SUSANOO just finished gathering its 4th batch and provides bootcamps focused on social business. ETIC additionally arranges business internships for freshman and sophomore university students through its DRIVE internship program, not to mention having a Makers University set up to inculcate next-generation entrepreneurs and providing entrepreneurial support for the disaster-stricken Tohoku region.

As for Tokyo Startup Gateway, the publicly-supported Tokyo effort will help those looking to start up, that is prior to incorporation, a new entity whether for profit or not by affording the opportunity to take part in an idea contest (in the form of business plans in “400 Japanese characters” regardless of nationality, but apparently must be fluent in Japanese). This year’s application was closed on June 12.

The contest leads to selection of those who obtain mentoring, given a look at plans for establishing startups, then given financial support for these businesses. Even if not selected, the applicants – especially those who did not make it to the final round in November of 2016, planning to start up by end of 2017 fiscal year – will be able to utilize the networks formed in moving forward their business activities as sources for Key Performance Indicators.

Not only has this contest led to many new challenges being brought forth by young entrepreneurs (as an aside, if one was still aged 39 as of April 1, one could still apply for that year) such as past applicants aiming to realize the world’s first typhoon powergen system and carrying out R&D on flying cars, but in addition has launched numerous women entrepreneurs due to about a third of the applicants being women. Indeed the program theme of “Change the Color of the World” seems to be the driving force in building an ecosystem for innovation in Tokyo.

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