Shota Higuchi, our representative, spoke at TSUKUBA CONNÉCT.

Event Name:
TSUKUBA CONNÉCT #19: Creating Entrepreneurs Who Change the World - Challenges from Waseda University and the University of Tsukuba

Event Overview:
The theme is "Creating Entrepreneurs Who Change the World - Challenges from Waseda University and the University of Tsukuba," and the event will be streamed online starting at 5:00 PM. TSUKUBA CONNÉCT #19 will be held online from 5:00 PM.

Universities and research institutions are expected to be the origin of next-generation entrepreneurs and the rapid commercialization of deep tech. In Japan, university-based ventures have surpassed 2,500 companies, and the combined market capitalization of listed university ventures has grown to 1.8 trillion yen. The event will introduce the educational and support environments at universities that are the source of this rapid growth, featuring faculty from Waseda University and the University of Tsukuba who interact daily with students and researchers. Entrepreneurs born from these environments will pitch their ideas, and discussions will cover the current state and future of their surroundings. Additionally, there will be an "Introduction to Fundraising Workshop" for seed entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, providing insights and know-how gained from supporting entrepreneurs by independent seed VCs and Incubate Fund.

Schedule:

• 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Remo TSUKUBA CONNECT Overview
• 6:00 PM - 7:55 PM: Zoom
  Session 1: Creating Entrepreneurs Who Change the World - Challenges from Waseda University and the University of Tsukuba [Japanese]
  Organizer: Venture Café Tokyo
  • 6:00 PM - 6:05 PM: Introduction
  • 6:05 PM - 6:25 PM: Introduction to University of Tsukuba’s Initiatives
    • Hiroya Igarashi, Specially Appointed Professor, University of Tsukuba
  • 6:25 PM - 6:45 PM: Pitches by University of Tsukuba EDGE Entrepreneurs
    • Shota Higuchi, CEO of Closer
    • Junki Tomihira, CEO of CommentScreen Inc.
  • 6:45 PM - 7:05 PM: Initiatives at Waseda University’s SKYWORD EDGE and T-UNITE
    • Toru Asahi, Professor, Waseda University School of Science and Engineering
    • Miriko Shimaoka, Professor, Waseda University Faculty of Political Science and Economics / Kanagawa Prefectural University of Health and Welfare
  • 7:05 PM - 7:25 PM: Pitches by Waseda University Entrepreneurs
    • Yusuke Maruyama, Co-founder and CSO of EAGLYS Inc.
    • Gen Sakae, Founder and CEO of Genics Inc.
    • Miyu Okada, CEO of Knockü
  • 7:25 PM - 7:55 PM: Cross Talk
    • Yusuke Maruyama, Co-founder and CSO of EAGLYS Inc.
    • Gen Sakae, Founder and CEO of Genics Inc.
    • Miyu Okada, CEO of Knockü
    • Shota Higuchi, CEO of Closer
    • Junki Tomihira, CEO of CommentScreen Inc.
    • Miriko Shimaoka, Professor, Waseda University Faculty of Political Science and Economics / Kanagawa Prefectural University of Health and Welfare
    • Toru Asahi, Professor, Waseda University School of Science and Engineering and more…
• 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Zoom
  Session 2: Incubate School - VC Fundraising
  Organizer: Venture Café Tokyo / IncubateFund
  • Yuki Aono, IncubateFund
• 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Networking Room