JVA

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.

With a background in media design, Chris is passionate about all things community building. Besides JVA, he started his own community called Kizuna which organises community events in Tokyo to foster connection and curiosity.

Keio University, Australia

Chris Clayton, Team Lead

Ysabel leads JVA's social media channels and is the creative head behind our beautiful, fun designs!
In the future, she dreams of starting her own business with one of her best friends.

Waseda University, Philippines

Ysabel Garcia, SNS Team

Joey helps organise regular startup events at JVA. Previously, he has been helping build the entrepreneurship community at his own high school.

Waseda University, Japan/Korea

Joey Matsunaga, Events Team

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

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 Decker, 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.

Kento brings his past experience in entrepreneurship education to help students bring exciting startup ideas to life.

TU Munich, Japan

Kento Akiyama, 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.

Tokyo Institute of Tech., Bangladesh

Ireen Progga, Curriculum

Harshi leans into her creativity and positive energy to create the best learning environment for our bootcamp students. She is passionate about education and technology and moreover, is a great event moderator.

Waseda University, India

Harshi Chivukula, Curriculum

James leverages his experience in Venture Capital through internships to share helpful feedback with our student founders. Prospectively, he wants to strengthen his VC experience with a full-time job in this industry.

University of Tokyo, Indonesia

James Purnomo, Curriculum

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.

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, Team Lead

Based on years of experience organising events through JVA and other organisations, Kento contributes to building a vibrant student startup community through this team.

TU Munich, Japan

Kento Akiyama, Events

Apply for the Core Team

We enable ambitious students to build an exciting future.

About Us

In partnership with Shibuya City: