EDGE-NEXT by UTokyo is an entrepreneurship education program which develops global entrepreneurs and enables participants to create business plans based on research seeds. Participants will make a business plan for solving social problems by utilizing research output/business experience and through mentoring and interviews with customers, and confirm its value through making a presentation to investors in Japan and the US. In this program, they will be given the opportunity to expand globally in business. They will challenge themselves to make business plans based on their passion for problem solving and their skills and knowledge (research or business experience).
Merits of the program: -Can enhance business skill through lectures and talks on the basics of starting a business -Can do interviews with customers by using spot consulting (Visasq for research in Japan and GLG for research overseas) with no fee -Can receive special guidance and support from Japan and US mentors (advisers for business) -Can receive comments from business professionals and investors at overseas training (San Diego, San Jose) and get opportunities to expand overseas -Can create diverse human networks in business areas Schedule for Advanced Phase: -Sep. 17 (Fri) 9:30-17:00: Kickoff Talk: Invited talk about the customer interview experience by a graduate of EDGE-NEXT program Lecture: Business plan, Customer and business model, Competitive advantage, Method of customer interviewing -Sep. 18 (Sat) – Oct. 14 (Thu): Japan mentoring 1 1 or 2 mentoring -Oct. 15 (Fri) 9:30-17:00: Lecture and intermediate pitch 1 Lecture: IP strategy, Go to market and finance Intermediate pitch 1: Each team presents their business plan and receives comments from mentors -Oct. 16 (Sat) – Nov. 17 (Wed): Japan mentoring 2 About 2 mentoring sessions -Nov. 18 (Thu), Nov. 19 (Fri) AM only (details: TBD): Online overseas training 1 Intermediate pitch 2 and elevator pitch in English -Nov. 20 (Sat) – Dec. 12 (Sun): Japan mentoring 3 About 2 mentoring sessions -Dec. 13 (Mon) 13:00-17:00: Final pitch in Japan (language: English) -Dec. 14 (Tue) – Feb. 10, 2022 (Thu): Overseas mentoring (online) About 2 mentoring sessions (in English) -Feb. 20 – 27, 2022 (details: TBD): Online overseas training 2 Talks, lectures, and pitch for VC (in English) Intended for: University researchers (graduate level or higher), national laboratory researchers, government staff, corporate personnel (research or business development) Number of participants: About 25 people Registration: Please register via the form on the following application site. https://bit.ly/3mwOX3k