Aimed at fostering innovative entrepreneurs, GTEP (Global Technology Entrepreneurship Program) has been co-organized by Kyoto University's Graduate School of Management, the Office of Society-Academia Collaboration for Innovation, and the Graduate School of Medicine since October 2014, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The program comprises four modules: intensive seminars, training for starting businesses abroad, practical education for commercialization, and entrepreneur platforms. The pitch contest was held in the 2015 practical education for commercialization module, in which a team "e-Kobo" won first prize. Two students on the team, one from the Graduate School of Management and the other from Medicine, took part in this year's Silicon Valley tour "Global Innovation Program".
The "Global Innovation Program" was organized by the City of Osaka as a part of the city's ongoing program for encouraging global entrepreneurship by sending promising candidates to Silicon Valley. During their one-week stay, participants visit start-ups and universities to talk with entrepreneurs and to listen to lectures on how to start and grow a business. They also have meetings with their mentors, such as venture capitalists or entrepreneurs, to establish their own business plans. On the final day of the tour, the pitch contest is held, where participants present their business plans in front of entrepreneurs and investors, with one team selected as the winner. This program has produced numerous entrepreneurs thus far.
This year, 28 teams from across Japan, comprising business employees and students, participated in the program and competed in the pitch contest. After getting through the preliminary contest, the "e-Kobo" team competed with five teams in the final round, and successfully won first prize. "e-Kobo" developed an app and a robot for those who enjoy playing the guitar, and is currently working on commercialization.
GTEP is to be offered on an ongoing basis in FY2016.
Group photo of the participants
Related link
- GTEP (Global Technology Entrepreneurship Program)
http://www.gsm.kyoto-u.ac.jp/gtep/
