Fireside Talk #5 Become A New Player In Intense Battlefield
Who Will Own the AI Future? Startups, Infrastructure, and Japan’s Next Tech Shift
AI is no longer just about smarter chatbots or better productivity tools.
The next big question is much deeper:
Who will control the infrastructure behind AI?
As generative AI moves from hype to real business adoption, Japan is facing a turning point. Companies need more than AI applications — they need secure compute, reliable infrastructure, local data control, and AI systems that can actually work inside enterprise environments.
This is where the next wave of opportunity begins.
In this special session, ICS Entrepreneurship Club is honored to welcome David Bennett, Co-founder of AI&, a new Japanese AI startup building a vertically integrated AI platform across infrastructure, compute, models, and enterprise applications.
David brings a rare perspective from the intersection of global technology, semiconductors, Japan’s enterprise market, and AI infrastructure. Through either a lecture-style talk or an interview-style conversation, we will explore how Japan’s AI industry is being reshaped — and how startups can capture this moment.
Why this event matters
Most AI discussions focus on tools.
This event goes one layer deeper.
We will discuss how the AI industry is structurally changing, why infrastructure and sovereign AI are becoming critical, and what this means for founders, investors, business leaders, and MBA students looking for the next startup opportunity in Japan.
Key questions we will explore
Who will own the next generation of AI infrastructure?
Why is Japan becoming an important market for AI and sovereign compute?
What opportunities are opening up for startups beyond AI applications?
How can a startup compete in a market dominated by global tech giants?
What challenges do founders face when building an AI company in Japan?
What should future entrepreneurs and business leaders learn now to stay ahead?
Whether you are interested in AI, startups, deep tech, venture building, strategy, or Japan’s technology ecosystem, this session will give you a rare opportunity to hear directly from a founder working on one of the most important layers of the AI economy.
Date: June 2
Time: 18:00–19:15
Guest Speaker: David Bennett, Co-founder of AI&
Format: Lecture / Interview + Q&A
Hosted by: ICS Entrepreneurship Club
Join us for an evening of sharp insights, founder perspectives, and bold questions about the future of AI in Japan.