Team SEN and Yanagawa High School Join Forces for Entrepreneurship Education Program

Empowering Future Entrepreneurs: A Collaboration Between Team SEN and Yanagawa High School

In a remarkable initiative to nurture young talent, Team SEN LLC has partnered with Yanagawa High School's Startup Club to implement an innovative entrepreneurship education program known as "EntreLab." Located in Tokyo and managed by CEO Kura Nakadomi, Team SEN aims to provide students with the opportunity to define societal challenges and develop business plans that address these issues.

The Need for Entrepreneurship Education

The background of this program underscores a critical viewpoint: the phrase "work on what you can do" often misleads individuals about their potential. Pursuing dreams or careers solely based on one's abilities may limit understanding and engagement with the broader world. The essential lesson emerging from this collaboration is that growth lies not in what is already known but in continuously challenging oneself to explore the unknown.

Education should focus on fostering the ability to think, feel, act, and ask questions rather than relying on academic qualifications and titles. With this philosophy in mind, Team SEN and Yanagawa High School's Startup Club have crafted an educational experience aimed at expanding students' horizons through challenges.

Program Content

The EntreLab program features ten engaging sessions:
1. Designing Your Career: Understanding the power of self-design in career paths and acknowledging one's limitless potential.
2. Understanding Project Goals: Gaining insights into business contests and the basics of the Lean Canvas methodology.
3. Pre-Workshop on Idea Generation: Preparing for creative brainstorming sessions.
4. Idea Generation Workshop: Identifying issues and generating ideas.
5. Theme Selection and Idea Exploration: Focusing on specific themes to delve deeper into potential solutions.
6. Lean Canvas Creation (Part 1): Formulating customer and problem hypotheses.
7. Lean Canvas Creation (Part 2): Developing solutions and defining value propositions.
8. Lean Canvas Creation (Part 3): Integrating all components into a refined business model.
9. Business Plan Documentation: Preparing submissions in the required business plan format.
10. Presentation Day: Simulating presentations and receiving feedback from mentors.

Voices from Participants

Teacher's Perspective: Nagae Sensei

Nagae Sensei, the advisor for the Startup Club, expressed his initial doubts regarding the project's feasibility for high school students. However, witnessing students navigate through difficulties has been profoundly inspiring, highlighting the substantial learning that arises from overcoming challenges. He emphasized the significance of nurturing students' ability to think independently rather than merely aiming for concrete business outcomes. The opportunity for students to present their business plans symbolizes a significant leap forward, fostering valuable experiences that will empower them in future endeavors.

Student Experience: Yoshika Okubo

Second-year student Yoshika Okubo shared her transformative journey throughout the program. Initially plagued by doubts about the viability of her business idea, she found herself questioning whether it could truly succeed. However, through collaboration with peers and guidance from mentors, she began to see her plans take shape, which gradually alleviated her fears. Reflecting on this experience, Yoshika acknowledged the invaluable lessons learned about the necessity of embracing challenges. She expressed deep gratitude towards her teachers and peers for their support, motivating her to embark on future endeavors with newfound confidence.

Future Directions

Building on the success of this initiative, Team SEN is committed to expanding entrepreneurship education. The company plans to deepen collaborations with local schools, including Yanagawa High School, and engage with educational institutions, municipalities, and enterprises nationwide. The goal is to provide opportunities for the younger generation to identify issues, think critically, and cultivate a spirit of challenge.

About Yanagawa High School

Yanagawa High School, under the auspices of the Yanagawa Commercial Academy, is located in Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The school offers programs in international studies, advanced studies, and general education while promoting innovative learning experiences through its unique Startup Club, where students engage in real-world problem-solving.

About Team SEN

Founded in October 2023, Team SEN LLC specializes in providing entrepreneurship education for students, supporting new business development, designing sales strategies, organizational development, human resource training, and executive coaching. The company is headquartered in Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. For more information, visit Team SEN or contact via email at [email protected].