Startup Support Program - 2nd Term "Out of BOUNDS for Academia" Briefing Session
- Session 1November 5 (Tue) 19:00-
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ON&BOARD staff will introduce “Out of BOUNDS for Academia” in detail.Our special guest speaker will be Dr. Matsubara, past president of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence.
Participate here
- Session 2November 27 (Wed) 19:00-
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In addition to the introduction to this program, we will have a special session by CTO of Listed Company.
Participate here
About Out of BOUNDS for Academia
"Out of BOUNDS" is our startup support program held several times in the course of a year. The name represents our commitment to creating startups that challenge the existing frameworks in our society without fear of failing.
"Out of BOUNDS for Academia" is a special project aimed at supporting researchers in positioning their discoveries and innovations in next-generation startups with the potential to make a meaningful global impact.
In this three-month program, researchers will be able to work with ON&BOARD staff to develop business themes aimed at commercializing their research outcomes. We will provide support throughout the entire process, from validating and building business hypotheses to drafting specific business plans. Once the plans for commercialization become concrete enough, we may support you by joining as founding members or by introducing participants to suitable management talent if needed. Needless to say, participants are also encouraged to bring their own themes! Our team will provide thorough guidance on any themes. We are fully committed to supporting your research in becoming a force that changes the world!
Merit
Four Benefits of Participating in the Program
Early Investment in Promising Technology Seeds and Business Themes
In this program, we anticipate offering active investment proposals from ON&BOARD based on the progress of validation and the resolution of business hypotheses. This allows for the possibility of rapid business growth through the acquisition of risk capital.
Additionally, we can introduce you to investors from our extensive network whom we consider suitable, providing valuable connections for those who feel they lack investor relationships.
A Reliable Program with Proven Track Record, Supporting Secure Growth
Out of BOUNDS is a regularly held internal program. In the first session, approximately 21 business professionals participated, and through discussions and consultations with our capitalists, some participants received investment offers. This enables efficient social implementation of your technology and exploration of technology seeds.
We are also happy to provide consultations for any questions related to startups, and lectures by internal members are also planned.
A Mechanism to Minimize Entrepreneurial Risk While Continuing Your Current Job
This program allows you to continue your current job while progressing with your validations. After establishing the business foundation within our company, you can proceed to launch your startup, thereby minimizing entrepreneurial risk.
It is also an ideal place for entrepreneurs seeking to explore highly innovative themes while maintaining cash-generating projects, similar to the early days of Facebook when it engaged in contract development.
Merit for Researchers
Joint Exploration and Selection of Promising Business Themes Based on Research Content and Seeds
In this program, researchers can start by selecting promising themes based on their technology and past achievements. This makes it possible to participate even if you do not have business management knowledge. Some may feel uncertain due to a lack of expertise in specific areas related to the business themes, but we begin by forming teams that can supplement any missing know-how.
ON&BOARD has a wealth of resources, including experienced professionals in business development from global and major Japanese IT companies, active CEOs who have successfully exited startups worth several billion yen, strategic consultants, venture capitalists with numerous track records, product managers, engineers, AI researchers, lawyers, pharmacists, certified public accountants, HR and recruitment specialists, organizational experts, and CTOs of deep-tech companies with exit experience. We provide the necessary resources for startup creation.
Ability to Find Management Talent
For researchers aiming to implement their technological seeds in society, securing management talent and forming teams often becomes a critical issue. This program recruits management talent and can match researchers with the right individuals. Additionally, for themes that have reached a certain level of business clarity, our in-house capitalists can offer hands-on support, including team formation and ongoing assistance.
Involvement of ON&BOARD Capitalists as Board Members
While the program also recruits management talent, if a theme reaches a certain level of clarity but suitable personnel are not found, our capitalists can join as board members and become directly involved in management. They will support the business strategy planning, fundraising, grant applications, and business operations, offering close assistance during critical phases of the startup. In some cases, we can leverage our global network to support overseas expansion from the early stages of the business.
Merit for Management Talent
Opportunity to Explore Promising Technology Seeds
The program includes participation from researchers with diverse backgrounds. Capitalists will introduce technology seeds that match market needs from a business perspective, allowing management talent who may feel uncertain about evaluating such seeds to participate with confidence.
Of course, it is also possible for management talent to independently explore technology seeds and form teams as needed.
Opportunity to Explore Seeds Beyond Academia
This program is not limited to researchers from universities; we also recruit researchers conducting studies within companies and other organizations. These researchers often work on projects that already meet business needs, increasing the likelihood of successful social implementation. Additionally, many of these researchers have both academic and business perspectives, making them more likely to align with management talent.
Hot Business Theme
Space (ground to atmosphere technology, satellites, deep space exploration, etc.)
The field of outer space is a promising area where one has the potential to compete on a global scale in Japan, as it is in a geopolitical position that makes it easy to conduct demonstrations. In Japan, pioneers such as ispace, astroscale, and GITAI have emerged one after another, and growth is expected to continue.
Commercialization of new types of energy (e.g., nuclear fusion, HTGR, SMR)
While the use of nuclear power is inevitable when faced with depleting resources and the need for new energy strategies to achieve decarbonization, there are still safety concerns that must be addressed. Therefore, attention is focused on the development of next-generation nuclear power generation, such as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), which have higher safety standards, while government support and social implementation efforts have already commenced in other countries.
Technological Innovations in Food Production
As global population growth and climate change continue, innovation in sustainable food production becomes a pressing need worldwide. Startups working on next-generation agriculture, such as Plenty and AeroFarms for vertical farming and Impossible Foods for alternative food products, are growing rapidly outside Japan. Japan's low food self-sufficiency rate and the decline and aging of its agricultural population are further driving the need to develop technologies to produce food more efficiently with limited resources.
Artificial Organs and Bioprinting
The shortage of donors for organ transplants is a serious problem, and bioprinting technology is a goal to be achieved in the field of regenerative medicine. While a company called Organovo has been listed on NASDAQ overseas, competition is limited in Japan, thus making startups an appealing option here.
Support Members
松原 仁
京都橘大学 情報学教育研究センター長
ON&BOARD Advisor
上場企業の現役CTO
小林 宏彰
UTEC INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL パートナー
木村 亮介
ライフタイムベンチャーズ 代表パートナー
経済産業省J-Startup推薦委員
深津 幸紀
（株）ファストトラックイニシアティブアソシエイト
松田大輝
法律事務所ZeLo 弁護士
Schedule
Schedule Program TimelineEntry/Selection Period
＜Researcher＞
- Ph.D. holders
- Individuals with a Master’s degree or higher and more than three years of research and development experience in a company
- Those who have patents or have published academic papers
- STEM (science and engineering) majors
- Seed startups taking on new challenges
＜Management Talent＞
Individuals interested in founding a deep-tech startup
- Over 5 years of business development experience
- MBA holders
- Project management experience in consulting or similar roles
- Overseas assignment experience
- CFO experience, CPA, certified public accountants
- CMO experience
- Individuals with entrepreneurial experience
Kick-off Program Start
Kick-off and networking events will be held after selection.
Details (location and date) will be provided then.
Discovering and brushing-up suitable business themes
Team building, customer, and business-side interviews
We will create and develop prototypes when necessary
Business Plan Development & Final Presentation
- Application Period
- October 22, 2024, to December 16, 2024
Startup Support Program - 2nd Session “Out of BOUNDS For Academia” Briefing Session
- Session 1November 5 (Tue) 19:00-
-
ON&BOARD staff will introduce “Out of BOUNDS for Academia” in detail.Our special guest speaker will be Dr. Matsubara, past president of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence.
Participate here
- Session 2November 27 (Wed) 19:00-
-
In addition to the introduction to this program, we will have a special session by CTO of Listed Company.
Participate here
Offer Detail
- Application Method:
- Apply via the entry form
Entry
- Program Overview:
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- First Month：Discovering and enhancing suitable business themes
- Second Month ：Team building, customer, and business-side interviews
- Third Month：Business Plan Development & Final Presentation
- Will proceed via the stage-gate system
- Application Period:
- October 22, 2024, to December 16, 2024
- Eligibility
-
＜Researcher＞
- Ph.D. holders
- Individuals with a Master’s degree or higher and more than three years of research and development experience in a company
- Those who have patents or have published academic papers
- STEM (science and engineering) majors
- Seed startups taking on new challenges
＜Management Talent＞
Individuals interested in founding a deep-tech startup
- Over 5 years of business development experience
- MBA holders
- Project management experience in consulting or similar roles
- Overseas assignment experience
- CFO experience, CPA, certified public accountants
- CMO experience
- Individuals with entrepreneurial experience
- Submission Documents
-
＜Researchers＞
- Technical pitch
- Patents, licenses
- Papers, awards
- Research content: Reuse of past documents is acceptable (such as abstracts)
- Themes you wish to confirm
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- What you aim to achieve through the program
＜Management Talent＞
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Research fields in which you wish to participate as a CEO and reasons for why you can get involved (e.g., career background)
- Technical pitch
- Eligibility:
- Currently or in the future interested in founding a startup.
- Submission Documents
- Refer to the entry form.
- Selection Process:
- - Selections are ongoing; successful candidates will be notified by August 19, 2024.
- - Individual instructions will be provided to successful candidates.
FAQ
- Q.Is team participation allowed?
- Yes.
- Q.I don't have management skills, is that a problem?
- This is not a problem, as our staff can participate as a board member, co-found the company, or match you with the appropriate management personnel.
- Q.My research doesn't seem to have business potential. Can I still join?
- We will provide appropriate themes closely aligned with your research, and once a certain level of business clarity is achieved, we will assist in gathering the necessary team members and offer hands-on support. Additionally, we will actively seek participation not only in the PCA phase, which involves research towards developing production technologies and acquiring markets, and the DMP phase, focused on developing mass production technologies and conducting commercialization trials, but also in the STS phase, which involves research and exploration to determine the direction of fundamental technology development.
- Q.Are there risks to salary and living conditions when starting a business?
- You can continue your job during the program and start your business after securing the necessary funds, reducing the aforementioned risks.
- Q.How long will the program be?
- The program will lasts about three months, requiring 20-30% of your time. For example, if you work for about 160 hours in a given month, it will take around 32-48 hours.
- Q.Can I apply without a business idea?
- Yes, as we can provide promising business themes and ideas.
- Q.Are there any fees or monetary compensation for participating in the program?
- There are no fees nor monetary compensations, but can provide free entrepreneurial knowledge.