Kamakura's Entrepreneurial Class Gains Momentum with Experts Leading the Way

Kamakura's Entrepreneurial Endeavors

This year, Sayaka Kanbara, the representative of Hue-ish, continues her role as an instructor in the Kamakura City startup support program, "Kamakura Entrepreneurial Recommendations - Creating Your Unique Business." This initiative, organized by Kamakura City, is set to commence in September of 2023 and will cover various topics in both the first and second halves of the course.

Following the success of the previous year, where participants clarified their business concepts and took their first steps towards realization, this year's program promises to enhance past offerings. With a focus on gathering essential supporters for tackling regional issues and progressing businesses, the upgraded curriculum reflects lessons learned and the growing needs of local entrepreneurs.

What is Kamakura's Entrepreneurial Recommendations?

The ``Kamakura Entrepreneurial Recommendations - Creating Your Unique Business`` program serves as a startup support initiative sponsored by Kamakura City in partnership with the entrepreneurial hub "HATSU Kamakura." The program aims to help aspiring entrepreneurs organize their thoughts and gain knowledge and mindset essential for starting a business. It combines lectures and mentoring to foster unique businesses that resonate with each participant's aspirations.

Key Details:

- Organizer: Kamakura City
- Operating Company: Ayumi Co., Ltd.
- Duration: First half (September 2023 - January 2024), Second half (January 2024 - March 2024)
- Content: Six lecture sessions, presentations, study gatherings, one-on-one consultations, and interactions with local experts and successful entrepreneurs.
- Target Audience: Residents of Kamakura and individuals living outside Kamakura planning to start a business here.
- Enrollment Capacity: 30 participants
- More Information: Kamakura City Startup Information

Addressing Local and Social Entrepreneurship Challenges

In recent years, there has been an increase in local and social entrepreneurship around Japan, driven by a growing awareness of social issues. According to statistics released by the Cabinet Office in 2015, there are approximately 200,000 social businesses in the country, contributing around 16 trillion yen in added value, accounting for about 3.3% of the national economy.

Despite this encouraging trend, many entrepreneurs face common challenges, including:

- The inability to articulate their passion and ideas into words that resonate with the community or supporters.
- Progressing with vague business concepts that hinder their ability to secure support and attract customers.
- The complexity of local and social issues makes it difficult to narrow down business concepts.

These structural challenges signify that no single entity can address community and societal issues alone. It is crucial for multiple sectors, including government, businesses, and citizens, to collaborate. To achieve this, strategic communication that generates empathy and engages people is indispensable. However, despite policies supporting startup assistance, there remain gaps in fostering empathy and articulating business ideas effectively.

Commitment to Instruction

Hue-ish, underlined by the belief that change emerges from human relationships, has provided support through borderless learning programs, coaching, and facilitation. With a track record of collaborating with 28 municipalities and over 1,000 participants in regional programs, as well as various leadership training initiatives, they continue to announce their commitment to helping entrepreneurs harness their enthusiasm and mission effectively.

This year’s instructors are dedicated to facilitating a learning process where participants can articulate their ideas and choices confidently, ensuring that they are equipped to successfully navigate the complexities of their entrepreneurial journeys.

Sayaka Kanbara: A Brief Introduction

Sayaka Kanbara is the representative director and producer at Hue-ish, founded in August 2022. Born in Hiroshima and raised in Tokyo, she began her career at Recruit, occupying roles in corporate sales, human resource development, organizational development, and business planning. As a producer and social entrepreneur, she facilitates collaborations that foster interaction and co-creation between rural and urban areas. Her initiatives have resulted in more than 1,000 individuals participating in programs across 28 municipalities.

Feedback from Last Year's Participants

In her previous course sessions, the focus was on enhancing participants' abilities to communicate their entrepreneurial ventures clearly. Feedback from attendees highlighted:

- The clarity of their target audience and message increased significantly.
- Some participants made pivotal decisions to pivot their ideas.
- Improved abilities to articulate their business in 30 seconds led to smoother discussions with stakeholders.

For More on Last Year's Courses, visit our detailed articles here.