Aoba-BBT Launches a New Community Event for Business Innovators

On September 15, 2026, Aoba-BBT will host its first community event, titled "Business Co-Creation Guild: Acquiring Practical Knowledge to 'Accelerate' Concepts," at its Kojimachi office in Chiyoda, Tokyo. This event invites practitioners and promoters of new business ventures to gather and share the wisdom and experiences they've accumulated in the field. Best of all, participation is free of charge!

Special Guest Appearance

The inaugural event will feature a special guest, Yuto Yamamoto from Yamaha Corporation. He is part of the New Business Development Department's TRANSPOSE group, and he will share invaluable insights regarding Yamaha's innovative business initiatives. Attendees can expect to hear real-life stories about the processes and challenges involved in launching new businesses, including the global business contest known as the TRANSPOSE Innovation Challenge.

The Rationale Behind the Event

In today’s world of new business development, merely acquiring frameworks and knowledge isn't sufficient to push initiatives forward. Many practitioners face various challenges, such as organizational barriers and relationship dynamics with existing businesses. Aoba-BBT recognizes the importance of a collaborative space where shared practical knowledge can be gained by engaging across different roles and industries.

For years, Aoba-BBT has contributed significantly to cultivating innovative talent through corporate training and new business development support. This event is designed as a platform for practitioners to discover perspectives and insights that cannot be obtained within their organizations. The aim is to foster connections among those who share common goals and encourage participants to update their concepts, gaining the motivation needed to take the next steps.

Key Highlights of the Event

1. Sharing Real Experiences: Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from those driving new business creation programs in large companies, diving into the nitty-gritty of design, idea solicitation, and commercialization processes.
2. Cross-Industry Co-Creation: The event will bring together a diverse range of participants, including new business promoters, HR development staff, intrapreneurs, and entrepreneurs, all in one space.
3. Focused on Dialogue and Interaction: The program emphasizes two-way learning with group discussions and networking sessions in addition to the guest speaker segment, moving beyond traditional lecture formats.

Recommended for Those Who:

- Are involved in promoting new businesses within their organizations.
- Are responsible for training personnel in the fields of new business and innovation.
- Are intrapreneurs taking on the challenge of new business ventures.
- Are entrepreneurs working on launching their businesses.

Event Agenda (Subject to Change)

- Opening and Orientation
- Guest Session: Insights from Yamaha's New Business Development Initiatives
- Group Discussions
- Networking Session

Event Details

- Event Title: Business Co-Creation Guild: Acquiring Practical Knowledge to 'Accelerate' Concepts
- Date and Time: September 15, 2026, from 19:00 to 21:00 (Doors open at 18:30)
- Location: Aoba-BBT Kojimachi Office 1F Lounge, 3-2 Niban-cho, Chiyoda, Tokyo
- Participation Fee: Free
- Registration Deadline: By 13:00 on September 14, 2026

Interested parties can apply at this link. Please note that registrations will close once capacity is reached, and attendance by members of competing firms is discouraged. In case of unforeseen circumstances that hinder your attendance, we kindly ask for notification of cancellation, and recording is not permitted.

About the Guest Speaker

Yuto Yamamoto
As a member of Yamaha Corporation's New Business Development Department and the TRANSPOSE group, Yamamoto has been involved with Yamaha since 2017, working across various divisions including global product information management. He has played a pivotal role in renewing their internal innovation programs under the TRANSPOSE initiative, enabling over 300 ideas to be submitted from both internal and external stakeholders. Furthermore, he is engaged in projects that seek to transform technology into new value. He is also currently pursuing leadership research at Hitotsubashi University Graduate School.

About TRANSPOSE Innovation Challenge

This global business contest, hosted by Yamaha under the slogan "Creating Future Challenges Together with Innovators Worldwide," focuses on partnering with startups possessing innovative technologies and products. The final pitch for this competition took place in February 2026.

Future Developments

The Business Co-Creation Guild is intended to be an ongoing community where practitioners will continuously gather and learn from one another. Aoba-BBT aims to contribute to the creation of new businesses and the cultivation of innovation talent within Japanese firms by sharing practical knowledge and fostering collaborative opportunities.

About Aoba-BBT

Founded in April 1998, Aoba-BBT is dedicated to "Nurturing Leaders to Thrive Globally". The organization provides extensive educational programs that cater to a wide demographic ranging from young children to corporate executives. This includes international schools, corporate training, online undergraduate and graduate programs, thereby enabling individuals to achieve sustainable growth tailored to their specific needs. As a leading company in the education sector, Aoba-BBT continues to evolve and contribute to the future of education. More information can be found at Aoba-BBT.