#Japan #Kobe #Hyogo #Startup Festival #Gaiax

Gaiax Partners with Hyogo Prefecture for Startup Youth Festival

On March 14, 2026, Gaiax, a Tokyo-based startup studio specializing in startup support and investment, will launch the first-ever Startup Youth Festival in collaboration with Hyogo Prefecture. This event serves as part of the Startup Creation Promotion Project, which aims to foster entrepreneurship among the youth of Hyogo.

The festival targets young individuals, including high school and university students, who are keen on starting their ventures. It is designed to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit, providing a platform for participants of the Trial Startup Program to showcase their innovative business ideas aimed at solving everyday problems. These students will discuss the verification results of their initiatives, highlighting real-world applications.

Event Insights

The Trial Startup Program is an experiential entrepreneurial support initiative aimed at empowering young people in Hyogo. Participants are guided by experienced mentors from idea generation through to market testing. They can utilize a subsidy of up to 200,000 yen for their prototyping expenses, allowing them to bring their concepts to fruition. The Startup Youth Festival will culminate in presentations where students can share their authentic experiences and achievements garnered from their trials.

In addition to student presentations, the festival will feature engaging talks from successful business leaders. The event also emphasizes networking opportunities, aimed at connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with industry veterans, investors, and creative peers, thus facilitating the establishment of a vibrant entrepreneurial community in Hyogo.

Event Details

• - Date: March 14, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Doors open at 12:30 PM)
• - Venue: Startup Plaza Hyogo, 56 Naniwacho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8660

Speakers

• - Participating students from the Trial Startup Program
• - Participants from the Next-Generation Entrepreneur Mentorship Program
• - Established entrepreneurs

Target Audience

The festival invites:

• - Young individuals interested in startups (high school, university, college students)
• - Young professionals
• - Government officials, universities, investors, financial institutions, and businesses interested in startup creation.

Key Content

Attendees can expect:

• - Pitches from students of the Trial Startup Program
• - Presentations by students from the Next-Generation Entrepreneur Mentorship Program
• - Insightful talk sessions about entrepreneurship
• - Networking opportunities for attendees and speakers

Benefits of Participation

For Young Attendees:

• - Gain inspiration from leading peers in their age group.
• - Build networks with entrepreneurs, investors, and peers with high aspirations.
• - Experience the realities of entrepreneurship and grasp a business perspective.

For Organizations (Government, Institutions, Businesses):

• - Discover promising young talent and potential entrepreneurs.
• - Gain insights into Gen Z’s perspectives and ideas for new business ventures or collaborations.
• - Opportunities for business matching in a gathering of local government representatives, investors, and companies.

Participation Fees

Free of charge, although participants are responsible for travel expenses to the venue.

Organizers

• - Hosted by: Hyogo Prefecture
• - Managed by: Gaiax Co., Ltd. and Kabannochi Co., Ltd.

More Information

For further details and to register, please visit the event page here.

About Gaiax Education Initiatives

Gaiax prioritizes equipping future generations with the skills to navigate and innovate in a rapidly changing society. This mission includes collaboration with local governments and higher education institutions to deliver next-generation educational programs.

For more information on Gaiax's entrepreneurial education initiatives, visit Gaiax Education.

Achievements in Collaboration

Some notable collaborations include:

• - Partnerships with various local governments such as Hokkaido, Ibaraki, and Tokyo.
• - Partnerships with prominent educational institutions including Waseda University and Nagoya University.
• - Recognition through awards like the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry's Career Education Award for several consecutive years.

Through events like the Startup Youth Festival, Gaiax aims to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers the youth and encourages innovative solutions to local and global challenges.