#Japan #Silicon Valley #Sendai #01Booster #Sendai Global Startup

Sendai Global Startup Campus: Silicon Valley Team Selections

The Sendai Global Startup Campus (SGSC), operated by 01Booster, is making waves with its recent team selections for the Silicon Valley dispatch program, an exciting opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs from Sendai.

01Booster, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, serves as a venture creation company focusing on open innovation and new business development. Collaborating with the City of Sendai, SGSC aims to empower young entrepreneurs by providing them with cutting-edge entrepreneurial training alongside academic giants, UC Berkeley.

The Selection of Teams

This year’s program, themed “If you challenge, do it while you’re young and with a global mindset,” has attracted nearly 100 participants eager to immerse themselves in entrepreneurship and startup culture. From the applicant pool, four teams comprised of 20 talented individuals were chosen for the STAGE 3 program. These teams will have the opportunity to travel to Silicon Valley for further business idea refinement, leveraging the expertise of mentors and thus paving their paths towards startup success.

The four selected teams will participate in various sessions, including a final showcase in February 2026 where they will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, aimed at securing investor interest and feedback.

Team Selections and Themes

1. Best Award - Team 11:
- Project: Ikous.com - Nationwide comparison platform for crematories, aiming to provide accessible services across regions.

2. Excellence Award - Team 6:
- Project: Rehabilitation x Tourism - Incorporating aspects of wellness tourism into rehabilitation service offerings.

3. Excellence Award - Team 10:
- Project: Ocareey - A platform connecting local hospitals and physicians for enhanced healthcare services.

4. Excellence Award - Team 13:
- Project: CRAZY JOURNEY JAPAN - A 2-night, 3-day immersive local tour experience designed to show off the vibrancy of Japan.

Program Structure

The program consists of three stages:

• - STAGE 1: Participants underwent a transformative entrepreneurial program led by UC Berkeley's faculty at their Startup Center.
• - STAGE 2: Participants engaged in the 01Dojo for practical workshops and mentoring, honing their business ideas through real-time feedback.
• - STAGE 3: Continuous development of business proposals occurs with ongoing support from mentors, followed by a trip to Silicon Valley in December 2025 for field visits and expert guidance.

The culmination of their efforts will showcase their developed ideas at the demo day in early 2026, highlighting the potential of these new startups to global audiences.

About 01Booster

Operating under the mantra, “Changing the world through business creation,” 01Booster fosters collaboration between large enterprises and startups through various open innovation programs. Besides the SGSC initiative, the company also manages working communities and accelerators designed to support budding entrepreneurs and innovative ideas.

From startup incubators to investment initiatives through 01Booster Capital, the company is dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurial talent in Japan and beyond, with an established presence in Tokyo since its inception in March 2012.

For more details about the Sendai Global Startup Campus, visit SGSC Official Site.