We enable ambitious students to build an exciting future

A startup community for the most ambitious students in Tokyo

Japan’s Venture Academy (JVA) is a student-run initiative sponsored by Shibuya City
offering university students opportunities to build entrepreneurial self efficacy

Startup Fellowship

Build your own startup idea with a team of ambitious fellows and support by experts in 3 months

Startup Events

Connect and grow with fellow startup enthusiasts through regular events to build skills, network and enjoy

Spring 2023 Cohort Welcome Evening
Spring 2023 Lecture "How to generate solutions"
JVA Speedwork Event: Connecting Students and Startups
Fellowship Teambuilding at Yoyogi Park
Fall 2022 Cohort Final Presentation
Startup Quiz Night with Shibuya Startup Support
Panel Discussion on "The role of global mindset for founders"
Workshop "Storytelling for Impact Founders" with Social Impact Lab Japan
Workshop "Prototyping in Figma" at Shibuya QWS

The JVA Fellowship

The JVA Fellowship allows students from different universities to realise their startup ideas with the help of a structured curriculum, coaches, motivated peers and venture experts in 3 months

Learn from experts

Participate in weekly workshops and get feedback by venture experts at companies like Google, D4V, Figma, Moon etc.

Build real skills

Tired of feeling like you are not learning practical skills at school? Build valuable product, team and project skills in a fun way

Get inspired by ambitious friends

Come feel the energy of working with ambitious, open-minded students from different study backgrounds

Learn about startups

By building your own idea and connecting with startup experts, you will learn a lot about startups very quickly

Key Facts

  • 15 selected university students in Tokyo
  • 3 months cohorts from April & October (10h/week)
  • Build your own startup idea in teams of 3 fellows
  • Free participation (0 Yen)

Who can join?

  • Motivated about startups
  • 10h/week availability
  • Motivation to work in English
  • Current university students in Tokyo
More about the curriculum

Want to become the next JVA Fellow?

Cohorts are offered yearly during April - June (Spring) and October - December (Fall)
The next application window opens in January 2024, but if you are curious about updates until then make sure to join our newsletter!

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