Introducing Promising Business Themes from Our Support Team: Let’s Create Boundary-Pushing Ventures Together in About 2.5 Months!

 We are pleased to announce the formation of a new AI Engineering Hands-On Team within our startup studio. We will also be strengthening AI engineering support in the second cohort of our startup support program, Out of BOUNDS, by offering study sessions and direct assistance from this AI Engineering Hands-On Team. Through this new initiative—which includes technical support for program participants—we aim to further accelerate the process of launching new ventures.

Apply for Out of BOUNDS

◾️Formation of an AI Engineering Hands-On Team

 ON&BOARD Inc. has formed a new AI Engineering Hands-On Team within its startup studio to enhance its AI engineering capabilities. Led by our “AI Engineer Capitalist” Takeuchi, this team brings together top-tier AI researchers in Japan, including Professor Jin Matsubara (former president of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence) and Mr. Hitoshi Nishikawa (former CTO of the publicly listed company “Alt”), along with Mr. Tomohiro Okazaki, Representative Director of MOLE Inc., who has extensive expertise in UI/UX design and web development. They will provide knowledge and insights on AI product development, focusing on AI and LLM (Large Language Model) technologies, and offer hands-on support in building technical strategies, creating MVPs, and coding.

◾️AI Engineering Support in the Second Cohort of the Out of BOUNDS Program

 For the second cohort of Out of BOUNDS, we will enhance our technical support by hosting practical workshops centered on Generative AI. The following are key areas in which we will support participants’ business development from a technical perspective:

1. Generative AI Workshops
   We will provide lecture-style sessions covering essential knowledge for Generative AI, including product architecture, fundamentals, and implementation methods.

2. Practical Technical Support
   Our AI Engineering Hands-On Team will assist participants with technical challenges they encounter. Through product development and MVP creation support, we will offer tailored technical solutions aligned with each participant’s business theme.

3. Establishing a Global-Ready Technical Foundation
   To facilitate product development with a global outlook right from the startup phase, we offer hands-on support from world-class AI researchers and developers.

Apply for Out of BOUNDS

◾️Program Overview and Benefits

 Out of BOUNDS is a startup support program spanning approximately 2.5 months, during which participants will discover and validate business themes, formulate business hypotheses, and develop business plans. In addition to receiving assistance from our AI Engineering Hands-On Team, participants can enjoy the following benefits:

• Refine promising business ideas alongside industry experts
• Minimize startup risk by continuing to work on your current job while validating your new venture
• Access support for securing startup funding, finding co-founders, and planning global expansion
• Gain practical managerial knowledge and know-how essential for startup founders
• Receive guidance and hands-on support for service concept development, design, MVP creation, and landing page production

 After completing the program, teams with outstanding business hypotheses will have the chance to pitch at our investor event, Demo Day, potentially securing opportunities for funding.

◾️Out of BOUNDS Program Details

 We are currently accepting applications for the second cohort (application deadline: January 20). After applying, you will be invited to an interview with our capitalists, so feel free to sign up.

• Official Website – Startup Support Program “Out of BOUNDS”
  https://onboardvc.com/outofbounds/

• Application Form – Startup Support Program “Out of BOUNDS”
  https://onboardvc.com/contact_program_biz/

• Highlights from the “Out of BOUNDS” Demo Day

◾️Key Members of the AI Engineering Hands-On Team (Partial List)

 The AI Engineering Hands-On Team features “Engineer Capitalist” Takeuchi and other top-tier AI researchers in Japan.

ON&BOARD Inc.
Tech Executive
Yuki Takeuchi

• From Aichi Prefecture, graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Served as a core member of the world-class AI institution “Beyond AI Research Promotion Organization” (Research lead: Professor Yuji Ikegaya).
• In addition to his role as a venture capitalist, he has extensive research and practical experience as a full-stack engineer, particularly in image recognition, brain-machine interfaces, database construction, and the fusion of neuroscience and AI.
• Has presented at numerous conferences, published multiple papers, and received several awards.

Kyoto Tachibana University
Director, Center for Informatics Education and Research
Jin Matsubara

• Received his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering (Information Engineering).
• Renowned as a pioneer in computer shogi, he received the First Computer Shogi Association Award (CSA Author Award).
• Became a professor in the School of Systems Information Science at the Public University of Hakodate in 2000.
• Later served as President of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence, Professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Information Science and Technology’s Center for Education Research in Information Science and Technology, and Professor at the University of Tokyo Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Research Center.
• Currently serves as Director of the Center for Informatics Education and Research at Kyoto Tachibana University.

Vanish Standard Inc.
Director and CTO
Hitoshi Nishikawa

• Ph.D. from Nara Institute of Science and Technology.
• MBA (International) from IE Business School (with Beta Gamma Sigma Honor).
• Has extensive development and research experience in AI, particularly natural language processing.
• Previously worked at NTT Media Intelligence Laboratories and Tokyo Institute of Technology.
• Has been involved in product development and overall management at several startups, including Alt Inc. (recently listed).

MOLE Inc.
CEO
Tomohiro Okazaki

• After working at gumi and Yahoo!, he founded TRUNK Inc., which offered programming education for students, and served as CDO.
• Later founded MOLE Inc., working on product development and UI/UX design in regional revitalization, web app development, and new business development support for large enterprises.
• Provides one-stop services from business model creation to design, development, and digital marketing, supporting the growth of client businesses.

 

Company Overview

• Company Name: ON&BOARD Inc.
• Established: October 2023
• Co-Founders and CEOs: Masato Shimodaira, Kousuke Nakayama
• Address: Toranomon Hills Business Tower 15F, 1-17-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6415 (Inside CIC Tokyo)
• Business Description: Management and operation of venture capital funds and incubation services
• URL: https://onboardvc.com/

Contact
ON&BOARD Public Relations (Hamauchi, Doiyama, Hasegawa)
Email: info@on-board-vc.com