The Founder Institute, the world’s leading pre-seed accelerator, continues its mission of empowering entrepreneurs worldwide. Our Japan and Korea 2024 cohort has completed its journey this year, marking yet another milestone in helping founders build impactful businesses.
On August 27, 2024, the graduation was celebrated with a virtual event, highlighting the incredible achievements of the founders. It was an intensive yet rewarding journey for all graduate founders with the support of our local and global mentors, partners, and local leaders.
Program Overview: A Journey of Growth
Over the past two and a half years under the guidance of Erdinc and Yuli, Directors of Founder Institute Japan and Korea has successfully conducted 3 cohorts. These programs have not only been a platform for entrepreneurial development but also a gathering of innovators and visionaries. With over 100 local events held, we have engaged more than 4,000 attendees with a thriving community of 44 alumni companies so far. Each cohort has been a transformative experience as we equip founders with the necessary tools and knowledge to turn their startup ideas into scalable businesses. This journey has been marked by substantial learning opportunities, networking, and significant strides in building a supportive ecosystem for up-and-coming entrepreneurs across Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
Meet the 2024 Japan and Korea Cohort Graduate Founders
The 2024 Japan and Korea cohort began a demanding yet rewarding journey on May 27, 2024 guided by a curriculum designed to equip founders with the knowledge and skills necessary to launch and grow their companies. Over the course of the 14-week intensive program, the founders were immersed in an intense learning experience, covering business model validation, product-market fit, customer discovery, growth strategies, and fundraising.
Out of 159 applicants and 29 enrolled founders from diverse backgrounds and industries, such as EdTech, RetailTech, Apparel & Beauty, Music & Entertainment, AgriTech, GreenTech, AdTech, Social & Networking, HealthTech, MediaTech, Supply Chain, FinTech, Marketplaces, FoodTech, Web3, Gaming, Electronic Devices, News & Information, Big Data & Analytics, Online Learning, SaaS, Enterprise Software, MedTech and many more innovative, change-making startups and a total of 14 founders successfully graduated.
From pitch practice sessions to market analysis workshops, founders were pushed beyond their limits to tackle real-world startup challenges and refine their ideas into viable businesses. Moreover, the founders survived weekly ratings and feedback from more than 60 mentors in our network who personally built, grown, and led successful high-growth companies. With expert mentorship, hands-on assignments, and peer feedback, the program hones each founder's entrepreneurial skills to build a sustainable business.
We proudly recognize the achievements of the following graduates, whose hard work and dedication have brought them to this momentous occasion. Congratulations to:
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XIAOXI GUO, COO &Co-Founder at I.W.G Inc. (I.W.G Inc. - Developing a workflow platform designed to help clinics and small hospitals streamline their IT processes without the need to switch between different tools.)
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Karim Honein, Founder at Tlaloc Blue (Tlaloc Blue - Offers innovative waste treatment solutions using insects and earthworms, enabling bio waste-generating companies to valorize waste and boost treatment yields by up to 60%, while also supporting emission compliance.)
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Eri Koyano, Founder & CEO at menux (menux - Enables fans to purchase stadium merchandise from the comfort of their seats, while empowering event organizers to elevate fan engagement, enhance stadium experiences and expand sponsor reach through its rich data insights.)
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Yui Tatemichi, Founder at LEAN Inc. (LEAN - A sports conditioning app for female sports teams to improve their performance.)
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Alan Mak Tin Loon, Founder at AVARY Group (AVARY Group - AVARY resolves the global succession crisis, ensuring SME baby boomers retire with peace of mind.)
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Eri Kobayashi, Founder & CEO at Ripplenity K.K. (Ripplenity - Runs a virtual styling skillsharing platform "MINUTE STYLE" that offers personalized fashion advice and outfit curation from existing wardrobe.
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Tanya Malik, Founder at Mirai Minds (Mirai Minds - provides affordable, high-quality English early learning programs for children ages 1-6 in Japan, addressing the need for holistic, culturally sensitive education that prepares them to become confident global citizens.)
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Edward Oware Ohemeng, CEO at Eddievolt (Eddievolt - Provides solar-powered ChargeHubs, offering eco-friendly and secure charging solutions for mobile devices, addressing the need for accessible, sustainable energy in high-traffic and underserved areas.)
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Christian Cruz Godoy, Founder CTO/CEO at Uni-ke (Uni-ke - A B2B2C fashion platform that consolidates the main verticals and service providers of the industry onto one cohesive system.)
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Huda Faisal, CEO at REVIVAL (Revival - Developing an original collection centered on recycled materials and environmentally friendly handwork, focus on fashion sustainability.)
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Craig Loughlin, Founder & CEO at JournEASE (JournEASE - A mobile app designed to simplify the expatriate experience in South Korea by integrating essential services, community connections, and personalized support.)
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Tomonari Ikeda, CEO at Digirow Inc. (Digirow - Digirow increase revenue for medium-sized retail businesses by attracting more repeat customers through AI-optimized messaging.)
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Ayaka Wada, Founder at CycleNect (CycleNect - Allows buyers to pre-register wish lists and helps businesses shorten product research time. With smooth onboarding, it simplifies listing and export processes, helping businesses overcome complex export challenges and earn foreign currency.)
- Jin Chung, Founder & CEO at Trvium (Trvium - A real-time AI and blockchain-driven tool enhancing due diligence, optimizing portfolio performance, and automating deal flow for maximized ROI and unmatched efficiency.
A Virtual Graduation to Remember
On August 27, 2024, the Founder Institute celebrated the accomplishments of our latest cohort with a virtual graduation event that brought an audience of over 170 participants, including a vibrant mix of more than 30 global and local mentors from our network, as well as an enthusiastic crowd from Japan, Korea, and beyond.
Agenda Highlights included:
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The event kicked off with warm welcome messages followed by an overview of the Founder Institute's mission and impact.
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Timothy Connor, CEO and Founder of Synnovate, delivered a powerful keynote speech. His insights on resilience and leadership in the startup landscape left a lasting impression, emphasizing the need for adaptability and vision in the entrepreneurial journey. A key highlight of his speech was his emphasis on sustainable growth and ethical leadership, which resonated deeply with our founders and mentors alike.
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The graduated founders presented 3-min pitches each outlining their business models and future plans. Founders also shared their personal experiences and growth within the FI program regarding how the Founder Institute shaped their entrepreneurial paths.
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The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from local leaders and final messages that celebrated the graduates' future endeavors.
This graduation marks a significant milestone for our chapters in Japan and Korea. Our current graduates founders now have a fast-growing company, a solid business plan, a clear path for future growth and are ready to take their companies to new heights. The founders now joined our global alumni network of over 7,000 companies and more than 35,000 mentors across 200+ cities in 6 continents, gaining access to resources and connections that will help them further grow their startups. With ongoing support from the Founder Institute, including continuous mentorship and networking opportunities, these founders are now well-positioned to make impactful contributions to the global startup ecosystem. As we look forward, we are excited to see these founders continue their journeys and make impactful contributions in the vibrant world of startups.
We extend our special thanks to Timothy Connor for his inspiring speech and to all the mentors who contributed to the event with their encouraging words. Our appreciation also goes to Erdinç Ekinci and Yu Li Shein, Co-Founders of Openfor.co, Inc., whose relentless support and guidance have been pivotal throughout the cohort's journey.
For a full replay of the speeches and to see more from the event, please view the graduation video here.
A Special Thank You to Our Proud Local Leaders, Partners, and Mentors
The success of the 2024 Founder Institute Japan and Korea cohort would not have been possible without the incredible support of our mentors, partners, and supporters. We would like to thank each and every of our mentors, partners and to everyone who believed in this cohort’s potential.
Our Proud Local Directors
We would first like to appreciate the hard work and support of the Local Directors of the Founder Institute Japan and Korea: Erdinc Ekinci (Co-founder, CEO , Openfor.co, inc / Founder Institute Japan/ Korea), Japan Admin, YuLi Shein (Co-founder, COO, Openfor.co, inc). Our Local Leaders play an incredibly important role in building the local Founder Institute program, and creating an environment and network in Japan that is conducive to building great companies.
Our Proud Partners
In addition, the Japan program was supported by some of Japan's top technology organizations, including:
Our Proud Mentors
A heartfelt thank you to all our mentors for their dedication, expertise, and time throughout this journey. Your invaluable knowledge, thoughtful feedback, and hands-on guidance have been essential in helping founders refine their pitches, develop strategic insights, and scale their startups. Special thanks to some of our Japan’s top startup mentors including:
Evan Burkosky, Karin Wellbrock, Dr. Joe Hug, Schyler Alexandra Cole, Arcui Usoara, Jet Son Tan, Raphael Hodé, Todor Panev, Tyson Batino, Mahesh Kasar, Roger Do, Jatin Kataria, So Saito, Yuichi Terada, Yuji Tanabe, Jordan Fisher, Steve Monaghan, Kiyotake Sugita, Jack Huang, José Francisco Fernandez Serna, Pina (Yoichiro) Hirano, Satoshi Nunokawa, Zolboo Bayarsaikhan, Hany Sayed, Lauren Nham, Timothy Connor, So Yeon Kim, Jonathan Nguyen, Yoichi Morimoto, Franklin Kamnang Ngansop, Michael Lee, Jacky Lou, Sanjaykumar Patel, Kei Watanabe, Tunc Berkman, Donghwa Chung, Dr. Hareesh Nambiar, Ryan Micheletti, Noriya Tarutani, Sayyed Ahmad Masud, Kevin Brockland, Sush Bapna, Hiroshi Nishikawa, Hiroyuki Anno, Sinjin Wolf, Omar Abedin, Bill Ashlock, Giang Trịnh, Krishan Caldwell, Tilo Bonow Piabo.
Join our Upcoming 2024 Global Fall Cohorts
Leaders of some of the world’s fastest-growing startups have leveraged the Founder Institute to raise funding, build co-founding teams, gain entry into seed accelerators, generate traction, recruit talent, and transition from employee to entrepreneur. As a global program based in Silicon Valley with chapters in over 200 cities and 100+ countries, the Founder Institute's mission is to globalize Silicon Valley and empower entrepreneurs to build companies that create one million new jobs.
If you're ready to turn your idea into a global business, applications for the next Founder Institute Japan, Korea, and Taiwan cohorts are now open. Apply before Oct 6, 2024 to take advantage of early-deadline exclusive opportunities:
Once again, congratulations to all our graduate founders and special thanks to our local directors, partners and mentors for being part of the Founder Institute family! Let’s continue building on these strong relationships and creating even more opportunities to support founders on their journey to success!
Alumni of the Founder Institute are creating some of the world's fastest growing startups, having raised over $1.85BN in funding, and building products people love across over 200 cities worldwide.
See the most recent news from our Grads at FI.co/news, or learn more about their stories at FI.co/graduates.
