21-09-2018Event ReportBriefing session on the 2nd Cohort Program and kickoff event for the 3rd Cohort Program were held!

APT Women held a briefing session on the 2nd Cohort Program and a kickoff event for the 3rd Cohort Program at the Tokyo International Forum from 6 p.m. on Friday, September 14, 2018.

The event was attended by the governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, who is the organizer of the event, along with the participants of the 2nd Cohort Program, 10 participants of the 3rd Cohort Program who won seats through strict screening, participants of the 1st Cohort Program, and many other visitors.

The event started off with an explanation given by the secretariat office providing an overview of the program, followed by briefings of the results of the 2nd Cohort Program. Then, we heard words of encouragement from Chiaki Hayashi, a graduate of the program and current CEO of Loftwork, Inc., and Gigi Wang, the founder and CEO of MG-Team, LLC and faculty at UC Berkeley.

Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike gave a speech and expressed her hope that the participants would create networks with other female entrepreneurs through the 2nd Cohort Program and that world-leading companies would be born in Tokyo. She also stated that women’s power is an unused or underused energy, which could make Tokyo shine if unleashed.

Following her speech, President of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Daisuke Ozaki gave a speech, in which he stated that he could see the significance of the program as he listened to the overview of the program and the content of the 2nd Cohort Program. He also stated that he was impressed how the 3rd Cohort Program participants incorporated various elements in their business, such as childcare, thoughtfulness, aesthetics, and kindness, which made their businesses very attractive. Lastly, he stated his expectations for the 3rd Cohort Program participants.

In the briefings, Ms. Sachiko Amanuma from K.K. Famony, Ms. Yonggum Kang from Craftie Inc., and Ms. Kae Kusunoki from BEYONDTHEREEF Co., Ltd. reported the results of the domestic program and the Silicon Valley dispatch program.
Ms. Amanuma reported that she was able to sort out the challenges for her company through the program and find some companies that were interested in a business partnership with her company. Ms. Kang reported that she was able to fully promote preparation for stock funding to raise 100 million yen in capital. Ms. Kusunoki reported that she opened an atelier/shop and that she had an opportunity to open up distribution channels to major department stores in the U.S.

The 2nd Cohort Program will start in October. We cannot wait to see how all the participants will grow through the program!