【Pitch & Networking】Next Rising: Japan's Boldest Founders Meet the World
✨ Overview
JETRO will host a official Global Startup EXPO 2025 side event connecting the next generation of innovators in Japan with global investors and startups.
This event will showcase 10 promising young entrepreneur pitches from alumni of the J-StarX program and JST entrepreneurship programs, evaluated by overseas VCs and Accelerators (StartX, UC Berkeley Haas, etc.) who will provide live feedback.
Beyond the pitches, the event emphasizes people and passion — sparking future opportunities for internships, collaborations, and fundraising.
🎤 Event Agenda
16:00 – 16:10 | Opening Remarks
Introduction & announcements from the organizers
16:10 – 17:00 | Pitch Competition (10 entrepreneurs)
Evaluated by overseas VCs and accelerators
17:00 – 17:20 | Panel Session
Audience + Alumni Q&A
17:20 – 17:30 | Awards
17:30 – 18:00 | Networking Session
Food, drinks, and open networking
🎯 Concept
A showcase that connects Japan’s next-generation innovators with world-leading investors and startups.
A real event where bold young founders take their first step toward the global stage, fueled by new connections, feedback, and opportunities.
🌟Pitch Presenters
1. Daisuke Takazoe
2. Hiro Tabata
3. Kanon Hagiwara
4. Koga Nakai
5. Kosei Watanabe
6. Nozomu Fukui
7. Shinnosuke Nakano
8. Sora Uetake
9. Takumi Tanaka
10. Todokoro Yuka
🏆Our Judges
Shannon McClenaghan
Shannon McClenaghan is the CEO of StartX, Stanford’s leading accelerator and founder community that has supported more than 2,700 entrepreneurs, producing over 165 companies valued above $100M and 20 unicorns. She has been part of StartX for over a decade, first as a mentor in 2011, then as a Board Member from 2019, before taking on the CEO role. With more than 20 years of experience in Silicon Valley, she has founded and scaled pioneering software and hardware companies such as Jimmyjane, Lark, Native Union, Anova Culinary, and Companion Labs, each recognized for creating new consumer categories.
Darsh Singh Mann
Darsh leads revenue at StartX, driving strategic partnerships across technology, banking, and legal services that equip startups with the critical tools to scale rapidly. He plays a key role in extending StartX’s global reach by connecting founders with international ecosystems, corporates, and investors. With a strong track record of strengthening startup ecosystems worldwide, he has enabled numerous founders to launch and grow in the U.S. while leveraging the powerful StartX–Stanford network of investors, customers, and mentors.
Jan Tristan Gaspi
Jan Tristan Gaspi is the Associate Director of Finance and Operations at IBI. He brings over 13 years of experience in higher education, specializing in finance, operations, and program management. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles supporting academic and research initiatives, with a focus on building efficient financial systems and strengthening institutional capacity. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Anvesh Madabushi
Based in Emerald’s Singapore office, Anvesh Madabushi specializes in the mobility and automation sector, covering the full investment cycle from sourcing to exit. Anvesh’s expertise spans the automotive and energy storage industries, with a proven track record in product management, specializing in launching new products from concept to series production. He also won the “Make It in the Emirates Startup Pitch Competition” hosted by the Government of UAE, an event that spotlighted deep tech startups addressing climate change issues.
Taro Fukuyama
Taro Fukuyama is an entrepreneur and investor who founded the US-based employee benefits SaaS firm Fond (also known as AnyPerk), which served major enterprise clients including Salesforce, Meta (Facebook), and Visa. His startup was accepted into Y Combinator and later sold in 2023 to Edenred, a public company in Europe. He has since become an active angel investor, backing over 150 startups. He is also Partner at Rice Capital and serves on the boards of companies such as SmartHR and KnowledgeWork, helping to bridge the Japanese and US startup ecosystems with both operational and strategic contributions.
🗣️Our Ambassadors
👉 Register Now on Luma to secure your spot and be part of Japan’s next wave of global innovation.
✨ 概要
JETROは、Global Startup EXPO 2025 公式サイドイベントとして、日本の次世代イノベーターと世界の投資家・スタートアップをつなぐ場を開催します。
本イベントでは、J-StarXプログラムやJST起業家育成プログラム卒業の若手起業家10名によるピッチを実施。海外VCやアクセラレーター（StartX, UC Berkeley Haasなど）が審査員となり、直接フィードバックを行います。
ピッチだけでなく、人と情熱にフォーカスし、将来的なインターンシップ、コラボレーション、資金調達につながる出会いを生み出します。
🎤 イベントアジェンダ
16:00 – 16:10 | オープニング
主催者からの挨拶・趣旨説明
16:10 – 17:00 | ピッチコンペ（10名）
海外VCやアクセラレーターによる評価・フィードバック
17:00 – 17:20 | パネルセッション
アルムナイアンバサダーによるトークとQ&A(過去参加者に質問してみよう)
17:20 – 17:30 | 表彰
17:30 – 18:00 | ネットワーキングセッション
軽食・ドリンク付きの自由交流
🎯 コンセプト
日本の次世代イノベーターと世界の投資家・スタートアップをつなぐショーケース。
若き起業家が世界への第一歩を踏み出すリアルイベント。新しいつながり、フィードバック、機会を通じて未来を切り拓きます。
🌟ピッチ登壇者
1. Daisuke Takazoe
2. Hiro Tabata
3. Kanon Hagiwara
4. Koga Nakai
5. Kosei Watanabe
6. Nozomu Fukui
7. Shinnosuke Nakano
8. Sora Uetake
9. Takumi Tanaka
10. Todokoro Yuka
🗣️アンバサダー紹介
👉 今すぐLumaで登録して、日本発・次世代イノベーションの波に参加しよう！
For Pitch Participants / 登壇希望者向け
若手起業家としてピッチ登壇を希望する方はこちらからご応募ください。
🔗 登壇申込フォーム: https://forms.office.com/r/D9UtygyDtB?utm_source
■詳細
時間：ピッチ1分間×フィードバック3-5分間
対象：約10名(J-StarX学生・若手向けコース参加者、JSTプログラム参加学生)