We enable ambitious students to build an exciting future.

Offerings

We offer students many ways of exposing themselves to the world of startups. By helping them in building their own startups, expanding their network, and working at real startups, we aim to instill a greater sense of entrepreneurial self efficacy in the next generation of founders in Japan.

JVA Bootcamp

The JVA Startup Bootcamp is our hands-on 3 months program to support ambitious students in building their own startup ideas. Through weekly lectures, coaching and a vibrant community, students can build essential startup skills in a supportive, fun and challenging learning environment.

Regular Events

We offer regular startup events to help startup enthusiasts connect and grow. Common events we host are networking, panel discussions, workshop and learning events.

Internship Board

Our Internship Board connects startups with ambitious students in Tokyo who want to further their practical skills and insight into the world of startups.

Core Team

The core team is what makes JVA run smoothly every day. We are a team of students from different universities and study backgrounds around Tokyo all united with a common passion for startups. Each of us is part of one of the following departments: Marketing, Curriculum or Community Engagement. Our unique contributions to JVA help ensure that we can offer the best opportunities for students to build entrepreneurial self efficacy.

Kento Akiyama, Founder

Kento started JVA in 2022 and set out with a vision to create an offering to help build greater entrepreneurial skills and self efficacy amongst young people in Japan

He leverages his experience participating in an entrepreneurship programs back in Munich and building a student-run consultancy group as a university student.

Marketing Team

The Marketing team's goal is to increase JVA's brand awareness in the student startup ecosystem in Japan. Through creativity, precision and team work, they bring to life the most engaging and thoughtful content to show you everything JVA can to offer.

Minji oversees event and social media operations at JVA.
She is excited about positioning JVA as the best place for entrepreneurial students in Japan and wants to start her own business in the future.
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Waseda University, Korea

Minji Shin, Team Lead

Sho helps organise exciting events at JVA. He is also working on his own startup idea on the side and dreams of building his own startup in the US.

Waseda University, Japan

Sho Usami, Events Team

After graduating from the Fall 24 cohort of the JVA Bootcamp, Udit joined the core team.
He wants to further expand his knowhow and network in the startup ecosystem in Japan.

Shibaura Tech, Nepal

Udit Pradhan, Events Team

Jasmine leverages her experience in digital design and photography in the SNS team of JVA. She also dipped her toes in the startup world by taking a venture management class at university.

Sophia University, Japan

Jasmine Chan, SNS Team

Ayako adds to the creative energy in our social media team by leveraging her graphic design skills in posts and videos. She joined JVA to expand her startup and design know-how.

Sophia University, USA

Ayako Kiener, SNS Team

Sanika leverages her background in digital marketing by helping to boost JVA's social media presence. She is also learning more about startups by taking various courses at school.

Waseda University, India

Sanika Parge, SNS Team

Curriculum Team

We facilitate the JVA Startup Bootcamp which happens twice per year. By facilitating lectures, recruiting experts and organising events, we ensure that students can have the most enriching, engaging and fun learning experience possible.

Kenny brings his past experience interning at both startups and incubation programs. He oversees the entire curriculum operations including the bootcamp and startup internship board

Sophia University, Indonesia

Kenny Hoesin, Team Lead

Ireen leverages her passion for education and innovation to support JVA Startup Bootcamp students on their entrepreneurial journeys. She has experience starting her own organisations and mentoring at entrepreneurship camps.

Institute of Science, Bangladesh

Ireen Progga, Bootcamp

Min wants to start her own globally operating business in the future and plans to learn more about entrepreneurship at JVA.
She takes the lead on the JVA startup internship board.

Keio University, Korea

Jeongmin Gwon, Internships

Jimin has gained business experience by interning in ecommerce. She is eager to learn more about startups by facilitating our regular bootcamp cohorts.

Keio University, Korea

Jimin Kim, Bootcamp

Saki is exciting to explore Tokyo's startup ecosystem by connecting with people through events. At JVA, she will help run our regular startup bootcamp by coordinating with experts.

Waseda University, Japan/US

Saki Saito, Experts

Community Engagement Team

The JVA community consists of core team members, bootcamp participants and many more ambitious startup enthusiasts. Engaging this expansive and diverse community is what the community engagement team spearheads.

Jet brings his strong entrepreneurial spirit shown by his experience winning hackathons and working on his own startup ideas. He adds to the positive energy of JVA by coming up with creative ways to keep the community engaged.

Institute of Science, Thailand

Jet Pinjaiyos, Team Lead

Aimi leverages her extensive experience organising Japan's biggest startup events such as Sushitech, IVS and Takeoff Tokyo.
Her skills and strong network make her the perfect fit to lead the community engagement efforts at JVA.

Hitotsubashi University, Japan

Aimi Komeya, Recruiting

Kaori is motivated by learning more about startups based on inspiration from friends. She helps organise events and takes full advantage of her creativity.

ICU, Phillipines/Japan

Kaori Taniguchi, People Engagement

Riya is excited about JVA's mission to foster cross-cultural collaboration and am excited to contribute to Tokyo’s startup ecosystem. At JVA, she leads our recruiting efforts across bootcamp and core team.

University of Tokyo, India

Riya Fartyal, Recruiting

Apply for the Core Team

Want to join the next Bootcamp cohort? Pre-register now!

Stay tuned for the 7th cohort of the JVA Bootcamp.
The official application will open in July 2025

Pre-Register now!