In late August, KTIO and a delegation of 16 participants from Japan traveled to Silicon Valley in California. Among these 16 participants were entrepreneurs and students, who arrived in Silicon Valley with the goal of expanding their knowledge and expertise on business development, entrepreneurial growth, and successful methods for pitching ideas. From 8/22 through 8/27, KTIO and the team at San Francisco’s 500 Startups worked with these participants to develop entrepreneurial tools for success in business and technological fields.
At 500 Startups, participants from Japan lean how to effectively pitch an idea.
Participants from Japan traveled throughout Silicon Valley, visiting numerous organizations and startups such as Google, ChatWork, Pinterest, Yahoo!, Apple, Treasure Data and Twitter. After exploring Silicon Valley’s unique characteristics and entrepreneurial history, these participants were given the opportunity to present a pitch to Zafer Younis and Diana Moldavsky, Venture Partners at 500 Startups. Five participants were chosen to proceed into a “championship round” of pitch presentations.
One of the five finalists in the competition to pitch an idea presents at 500 Startups.
One of the five finalists in the competition to pitch an idea presents at 500 Startups.
By the end of the week presenter Mami Takesada was chosen as the winner. All participants who presented were counseled and given advice by Zafer Younis and Diana Moldavsky, who regularly support international entrepreneurs through 500 Startups.
Participants meet with 500 Startups employees and entrepreneurs to learn about the process of pitching and developing successful ideas.
Zafer Younis (left) and Diana Moldavsky (right) of 500 Startups pose for a photo with the winning participant from Japan, Mami Takesada.
The winning presenter is counseled by 500 Startups’ Zafer Younis.
Mr. Sometani and participants from Japan attend a lecture at Stanford University on the history and unique characteristics of Silicon Valley.
Participants from Japan prepare their individual pitchces before presenting ideas at 500 Startups.
Participants work with Zafer Younis, a Venture Partner at 500 Startups.
Participants from Japan sit in on a lecture at the Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati offices, a corporation providing legal services to tech companies.
Participants visit ChatWork in Sunnyvale, CA.
Participants from Japan visited the Google campus in Mountain View, CA.
Participants from Japan gather at Treasure Data in Mountain View, CA.
Participants from Japan exchange ideas with ChatWork, a communication platform designed for small businesses.
Participants from Japan also had the opportunity to visit the Yahoo! campus in Sunnyvale, CA.
Our trip included a visit to Stanford University, where participants were lectured on the history of Silicon Valley.
Participants from Japan visited Treasure Data, a company that specializes in data management.
The KTIO Director (far right) poses for a farewell photo with the participants from Japan.
KTIO would like to give Ms. Takesada our warm congratulations, and extend thanks to 500 Startups for its continued support of entrepreneurial exchange between Kobe, the United States, and Japan.