06-02-2018Event ReportBriefing session on the 2nd Cohort Program was held!

On February 6 (Tue), we held a briefing session on the 2nd Cohort Program at Startup Hub Tokyo (Note 1), a base established in Marunouchi by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for supporting those who are considering starting business.

There were more applications than the capacity of 50 people, and many women entrepreneurs at different stages participated.

(Note 1) Please refer here for the official website.

At the session, there was an explanation on the aim of the business and the characteristics of the second season program given by the Administrative Office. In addition, some of the trainees of the first season were invited to give lectures. Ms. Yukiko Ito, CEO of ZEST INC., talked about her experiences in the first season and achievements through such experiences under the theme of “What is scaling-up business about? From the experience of participating in the APT Women first season.” Ms. Maki Nagamori from CarryOn Inc. and Ms. Rina Sakai from Fermenstation Co., Ltd. implemented a panel discussion about why they applied for the first season, and what was good about participating in the program.

<Profiles of the trainees of the first season program>

Yukiko Ito / CEO ZEST Inc.

She grew up in the UK, Germany, and the U.S., and returned to Japan when she was ten years old. She became the first women programmer at her part-time job as a university student, and studied programming in one month through self-education and achieved the top grade. She realized this was her true calling, and she left the university. Aiming for supporting clients with an unprecedented system, she founded a business in 1988 when she was 25 years old. Her company developed and currently markets ShareONE (web-based B to B SaaS optimized staffing through automation), a human resources sharing platform based on a schedule automation system. The company is scheduling to move its base to Silicon Valley this year.

Maki Nagamori / CEO Carry On Inc.
She was born in Tokyo. After graduating from Keio University, she joined Maersk Line, the maritime trade giant. She was selected as a member of MISE, a program for developing future executives in Copenhagen, and was engaged in trade business in the global market. Thereafter, she worked as a Japanese/English bilingual MC/announcer, and interpreter, mainly at international conferences, international sports events and trade shows overseas. She established CarryOn Inc. in 2013. She manages Japan’s largest children’s clothing reuse platform “CarryOn,” and has been engaged in more than 160,000 children’s clothing trades in total so far.

Rina Sakai / CEO Fermenstation CO., Ltd.
She was born in Tokyo. After graduating from International Christian University, she worked for Fuji Bank (current Mizuho Bank), Deutsche Securities Inc., etc. She became interested in fermentation technology and entered the Department of Fermentation Science, Faculty of Applied Biosciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, and graduated in March 2009. She established Fermenstation Co., Ltd. in the same year. Her study theme is the production of locally-produced and locally-consumed bioethanol, and the development of technology for the effective use of unused resources. Her favorite microbe is koji (Aspergillus oryzae). Her favorite fermented beverage is beer.

Exchange with the trainees in the first-season program and those who participated in the briefing session was also held after the session, and active questions and answers, exchange of opinions and information, and networking took place!The 2nd Cohort Program provides the domestic acceleration program and overseas dispatch program just as in the first season. The destinations of the overseas dispatch program are the West Coast and Silicon Valley, the U.S., which are the frontline of innovation and an active home ground for technology startups.

Therefore, it is scheduled that the domestic acceleration program will also go through minor changes according to the characteristics of the dispatch destination and the needs of the trainees.

We cannot wait to find out what kind of people apply for the second season program!