#Japan #Tokyo #Entrepreneurship #G's ACADEMY #Set Lab

Set Lab: Empowering Future Entrepreneurs and Tech Professionals

This spring, G's Academy introduced Set Lab, an innovative program designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and job seekers ready to tackle real-world challenges. Managed by Digital Hollywood Corporation, which operates IT training schools and universities in Tokyo, this program aims to provide practical learning experiences that directly connect with industry needs. Set Lab will run simultaneously with G's main course, the DEV course, in the evening, tailored specifically for those aiming to become immediate assets in the workforce.

What is Set Lab?

Set Lab is a unique, flexible program where students can choose practical skills aligned with their career objectives in entrepreneurship, job hunting, or transitioning careers. Each lab focuses on critical components of technology and business: understanding and improving existing code, mastering development workflows in teams, and effectively designing business plans from scratch. Students benefit from both independent lab work and the experience gained alongside their projects in the DEV course.

The Three Labs of Set Lab:

1. Engineering Techniques Lab (with Personal Coaching)
This lab emphasizes refactoring existing code and is centered around algorithmic thinking, UI/DB design, environment setup using Docker, and Laravel development. While the main DEV course focuses on the creation of a product, the Engineering Techniques Lab takes it a step further by emphasizing writing code that is ready for real-world applications. With a strong focus on developing practical skills through “readable, fixable, and expandable” code, personal coaching ensures students connect their learning plans with implementation.

Student Testimonials:
> “I wanted to learn practical coding from a development perspective, and this course met that need perfectly. The extensive additional resources and exercises provided will help me review later.”
> “This course was several levels above the previous courses I'd taken. Although the content was challenging, I gained essential knowledge that would be difficult to learn elsewhere.”

2. Scrum Development Lab (with Job Preparation Workshops)
Centered around GitHub, this lab allows students to engage in hands-on group exercises focusing on branch management, code reviews, and CI/CD processes that reflect actual team development workflows. Participants learn to work collaboratively, with simulated proposals for changes and a merge process, giving them a solid understanding of effective communication and speed in team development.

Student Testimonials:
> “Learning how to use GitHub and GitHub Actions practically was very helpful. I also learned key points for managing personal projects.”
> “Working as a team of 3-4 for app development taught us valuable methods for coordinating our different tasks and contributions.”

3. Startup Business Lab (with Entrepreneur Mentoring)
This lab guides students through the process of shaping their business ideas, focusing on UX, marketing, and initial funding planning. Participants receive three rounds of personalized mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, helping them flesh out their ideas into actionable business plans through continual learning and testing.

Student Testimonials:
> “The hands-on approach helped deepen my understanding of how to apply what I learned to my graduation project and future startup.”
> “Receiving practical advice directly from experienced entrepreneurs made the learning process much more engaging and meaningful.”

Opportunities for Future Students

Set Lab was initially available only to students enrolled in the DEV course starting from April 2025. However, beginning with the October 2025 term, it will be open to all G's graduates, allowing for greater accessibility.

About the DEV Course

For those looking to expand their skill sets, the DEV course operates semi-annually in April and October, offering a six-month, intensive learning experience. Combining one to two days of lectures with peer-to-peer (P2P) learning, students develop original web services and apps from planning to execution and deployment while working during hours accommodating working professionals. Students have the flexibility to customize their learning experience through Set Lab, enhancing the foundation built in the DEV course.

G's Academy remains committed to providing a support system for individual challenges, amplifying learning opportunities for all future leaders in technology and entrepreneurship.

About G's Academy

Formerly known as G’s ACADEMY, G's Academy stands as an educational institution for working adults where individuals can learn, connect, and innovate for a better world. Approximately 80% of graduates aspire to become entrepreneurs or pursue careers in startups, with over 116 startups established and total funding surpassing 16.1 billion yen as of October 2025. Furthermore, G's Academy has established an incubator, D ROCKETS, capable of investing up to 5 million yen, fostering a creative environment for entrepreneurs and engineers to collaborate in making meaningful changes in society.

The parent organization, Digital Hollywood University, ranks 15th nationally for the establishment of university venture startups. G's Academy continues to cultivate an ecosystem of entrepreneurs, encouraging innovative contributions that change the world.