[Japanese to English subtitle available in this session]

[Japanese to English subtitle available in this session] It has been almost a year since the spread of COVID-19 began in Japan. It is still swinging our society like a pendulum on a global scale. The impact of COVID-19 has also had a major impact on the operations of Fukuoka Growth Next, a startup support facility. In addition to coworking spaces and incubation offices under the spread of the infection, we were required to change the way we held meetups and events, which were important places to connect people and organizations involved in startups. In this “CALLING” session, I would like to introduce the history of Fukuoka Growth Next and talk about what I would like to think about with you through this event.

This pitch session will feature FGN resident startups who are using their own unique methods to create a new social vision suitable for the post-COVID19 new normal.

Technologies for social infrastructures such as electricity, gas, medical care, and transportation, which support our economic activities, continue to evolve day by day. However, in order to make such technologies usable in society, it is not enough to simply develop services. It is necessary to design the technology in such a way that society can accept it with peace of mind, and in some cases, go beyond that to encourage society to update laws, regulations, ordinances, and the barriers of past norms and customs. What do startups need to do to update social infrastructure? In this session, cleantech startups, mobility startups, and intersectoral collaboration professionals will discuss the future after regulatory reform.

[English to Japanese subtitle available] This pitch session will feature FGN resident startups who have come to Fukuoka from overseas to establish a base and develop various businesses such as IoT and Japanese language learning support. Two companies, dopang and SMARTI, will be speaking in English and will be available for viewing in a subtitled version.

[English to Japanese subtitle available] Taiwanese market is one of the markets for Japanese companies to challenge in overseas markets due to its geographical location. In this session, we will invite a guest from a Taiwanese startup support facility to talk about how to support startups that are taking on global challenges from Fukuoka. The session will include an introduction to Taiwan’s ecosystem and outbound programs, as well as the experiences of FGN startups who have actually participated in Taiwan’s programs, explaining how they overcame barriers to doing business overseas, and how to challenge overseas in this new normal era. We will also discuss how to challenge overseas in this new normal era. The entire session will be held in English, so you can also watch it with subtitles. Please take advantage of the subtitle channel on the web page.

This pitch session will feature FGN startups that are challenging to update all industries such as fashion, construction, and food and beverage through application development. The session will also feature passionate entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s, including current student entrepreneurs.

We don’t talk about what’s wrong as right.

Nowadays, there is a lot of talk about techniques and theories in the world. With the accelerating digitalization of society, it has become easier to get information outside of Tokyo. That’s why I’d like to hear something else in this session. I don’t want the session to be centered on words that have been said too many times.

I don’t think you can convey anything with hazy words. Competence is a number of efforts, and you can tell the guy from the guy by looking at him.

Mr. Kogure, who started his own business and is now a GP at a VC firm, Mr. Oshiba, who joined a VC firm after the company he joined in its early days grew, and Mr. Matsunaga, who joined a VC firm after a career in consulting and is now making Fukuoka a more exciting place to work. I am sure that each of them has their own aesthetics. Let’s talk about that on this day.

One word, one action, and We will make everyone understand.