We are pleased to announce that applications for the second cohort of our startup support program, "Out of BOUNDS," will be open from Tuesday, December 17th, 2024, to Monday, January 20th, 2025.

As a venture capital firm, we actively identify and assess promising business ideas internally through our startup studio capabilities, which allow us to validate the potential for new venture creation. This program aims to guide participants over approximately 2.5 months through the processes of discovering and selecting business ideas, conducting validation, building business hypotheses, formulating business plans, and presenting at a demo day, with the ultimate goal of launching their ventures upon program completion.

In the first cohort of "Out of BOUNDS," a total of 21 aspiring entrepreneurs participated. On demo day, five teams with compelling business hypotheses pitched their ideas to an audience of approximately 50 individuals, including leading venture capitalists and angel investors in Japan. Several teams have already received investment offers and begun securing funding.

"Out of BOUNDS" Application Form:
https://onboardvc.com/contact_program_biz/

Website for Batch #2 of the "Out of BOUNDS" Startup Support Program:
https://onboardvc.com/outofbounds/

Information Session for Batch #2 of "Out of BOUNDS":
Join ON&BOARD members as they provide a detailed overview of Batch #2 of the "Out of BOUNDS" startup support program. If you're considering applying but are unsure, this session is the perfect opportunity to learn more.
In addition to the explanation, a special session with startup entrepreneurs who participated in Batch #1 of "Out of BOUNDS" is planned.
Register for the session here

Highlights from Batch #1 "Out of BOUNDS" Demo Day:
Demo Day Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HQkBs4jZa4

About the Program

Benefits of Participating in the Program

① Discover Promising Business Ideas and Refine Them with Experts
We provide ideas and approaches to business themes we consider promising. Through discussions and validations with experts, including members with extensive business development experience, participants can refine their business ideas, establish directions for product development, and define competitive strategies (structural pathways to business success).
ON&BOARD offers resources essential for launching a startup, including professionals with experience in business development at leading global IT companies, active CEOs with startup exits worth hundreds of billions of yen, strategy consultants, venture capitalists with strong track records, product managers, engineers, AI researchers, lawyers, pharmacists, certified public accountants, and specialists in recruitment, HR, and organizational development.

② Minimize Startup Risk While Continuing Your Current Job
Participants can continue their current jobs while progressing through the program, eventually launching their startups once the business foundations are established within our company. This structure minimizes the risks associated with starting a business.
Additionally, it serves as an ideal platform for entrepreneurs who, like Facebook in its early days, maintain cash-flow businesses such as contract development while exploring innovative themes for new ventures.

③ Support for Fundraising, Team Building, and Global Expansion
For promising business ideas, we provide funding support through our investments or by introducing participants to appropriate venture capital firms, CVCs, or individual investors.
The program also offers numerous opportunities—both online and offline—to meet and collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs, potentially helping participants find future co-founders.
Leveraging our network, we assist in introducing overseas VCs and management talent geared toward global expansion, focusing on creating products and building structures for early-stage international scalability.

④ Gain Practical Management Knowledge Essential for Startup Founders
We provide a comprehensive 500-page resource on startup management know-how and deliver practical lectures based on this material. Participants will also have opportunities to learn from entrepreneurs at Series A stage startups or pre-IPO companies, gaining real-world insights into what it means to launch and grow a startup.

⑤ Comprehensive Support for Service Concepts, Design, MVP Development, and Landing Page Creation
Our in-house full-stack engineers and product managers provide hands-on support for product development, MVP creation, LP production, and initial marketing. Additionally, we can collaborate with external design and development firms with proven track records to ensure high-quality outcomes.

■Startup Management Workshop

As part of "Out of BOUNDS," we plan to host seven workshops on startup management, covering topics such as product development and finance.
We are excited to announce that Mr. Serizawa, CEO of SmartHR, will be speaking at one of these workshops.
During the session, he will share insights on key topics, including how to achieve product-market fit (PMF) during the early stages, approaches to development, team building, and strategies for managing multiple product lines.

■Comments from Previous Participants (Selected Excerpts, Titles Omitted)

Kyotaro Takahashi, CEO, Lobby AI Inc.

My experience participating in the program was an invaluable opportunity to significantly accelerate my business planning. Through the program, I received extensive feedback sessions that directly addressed specific challenges such as refining business strategies, preparing for fundraising, and redefining customer targeting.
In addition, the program provided a highly beneficial platform to connect with experienced mentors and like-minded entrepreneurs, enabling me to share ideas and improve them collaboratively. One of the most rewarding aspects was gaining support for market analysis methods and identifying interview targets for potential customers.
Participating in this program allowed me to outline a clear path toward securing funding and gave me the confidence to advance to the next stage. I highly recommend this program to many aspiring entrepreneurs.

Ryo Kagaya, CEO of Ratio Inc.

Participating in "Out of BOUNDS" provided me with a tremendous opportunity for growth. I received practical advice on both technical and business aspects from specialists, including Mr. Shimodaira and Mr. Nakayama.
What sets the support apart is its consistent focus on the entrepreneur’s perspective, offering actionable and realistic steps throughout the process. No matter how ambitious the business idea, the program excels at breaking it down into practical processes and creating a clear path for taking the next step. This unique approach is truly one of its most compelling features.
"Out of BOUNDS" is the perfect program for anyone embarking on a new challenge. Based on my personal experience, I wholeheartedly recommend this program.

■Program Flow

■Application/Entry Details

■Support Members

■Special Guest for the Product Development & Team Building Workshop

"Out of BOUNDS" Application Form:
https://onboardvc.com/contact_program_biz/