Introducing ROOKIES GUILD: A Community Where Students and Companies Collaborate on Real Marketing Projects

The Birth of ROOKIES GUILD: Bridging Students and Companies in Marketing

In a groundbreaking initiative, Strobolights Inc., a company based in Machida, Tokyo, has unveiled ROOKIES GUILD, a practical community formed by university students participating in the CAREER ROOKIES business contest. This platform aims to foster collaboration between students and businesses, moving beyond mere proposals to create actionable marketing strategies in real-world projects.

What is ROOKIES GUILD?

ROOKIES GUILD is designed to be a co-creation space where students collaborate with companies to work on marketing projects that address real challenges. Rather than just completing theoretical assignments, participants in ROOKIES GUILD will engage in dynamic teamwork, merging student perspectives with business insights to innovate marketing practices.

Currently, the community is already supported by major companies in the electronics sector and local governments in Hokkaido, actively pursuing various projects together with students. These initiatives are not merely one-off collaborations; they are designed to enable ongoing relationships to nurture mutual growth.

CAREER ROOKIES: The Contest That Started It All

As a fundamental aspect of this initiative, CAREER ROOKIES serves as a business contest open to university students of all years. This competition encourages participants to tackle genuine corporate challenges. Over the past two years, around 1,300 students have taken part, with the finals hosted at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, solidifying its reputation as an invaluable platform for students serious about engaging in business.

The ROOKIES GUILD encourages these students to further develop their capabilities by applying their planning and execution skills to actual projects initiated by businesses or local governments. This direct involvement grants students real-world experience while allowing companies to better understand younger demographics and experiment with new marketing methodologies.

Upcoming Events: Online Seminars

In an effort to broaden engagement, ROOKIES GUILD will host an online seminar titled “Live Presentation by Gen Z Students! Real-World Insights into Co-Creative Marketing.” Scheduled for February 26, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, this event aims to provide marketing professionals with practical insights into engaging Gen Z audiences effectively. Students from CAREER ROOKIES will share their genuine reactions and decision-making processes regarding services and brands, highlighting the importance of collaborative marketing approaches.

Who Should Attend?

Target professionals involved with marketing strategies for Gen Z and young adults are encouraged to participate, especially those facing challenges in understanding their target audience beyond traditional surveys or advertisements. Participants seeking to construct user-involved or co-created marketing initiatives will gain invaluable knowledge from the seminar.

Success Stories in ROOKIES GUILD

ROOKIES GUILD currently encompasses several ambitious projects with noteworthy participants, including a leading electronics manufacturer and a local Hokkaido government. The collaborative efforts between students and these organizations set the stage for innovative marketing and business-related ventures, characterized by their emphasis on co-creation and hands-on execution.

The project's details are available on the CAREER ROOKIES and ROOKIES GUILD introduction pages and can also be explored on the official note platform, which documents ongoing project activities.

Future Prospects

The vision for ROOKIES GUILD extends beyond initiating projects; it aims to establish a continuous pathway for collaboration between students and businesses. By transforming the model from “showing off” skills to “creating together,” ROOKIES GUILD aspires to evolve marketing activities initiated through business competitions into a collaborative growth model for both students and companies.

About Strobolights Inc.

Founded on the principle of liberating individuals from constraints, Strobolights focuses on career education, event management, content planning, and hiring branding strategies. The company, established in May 2020 and led by Keiichiro Haneda, endeavors to create impactful experiences aimed at fostering growth and creating opportunities in the career landscape.

For more information on CAREER ROOKIES and ROOKIES GUILD, visit their respective pages. For inquiries, check out the contact form on the website.