About Us
About Us.
Japan Venture Academy (JVA) is a student-run startup hub for ambitious, globally minded builders in Japan. Backed by Shibuya Startup Support, we empower students with entrepreneurial self-efficacy through hands-on training and a vibrant community—aiming to become the number one place for ambitious students who build the future.
In partnership with Shibuya Startup Support:
In partnership with Shibuya Startup Support:
Our Partners & Collaborators
We work alongside leading organizations, accelerators, and communities to give our students access to the people, opportunities, and ecosystems that turn ideas into ventures.
Core Values
What drives us.
Mission
We empower students to build entrepreneurial self efficacy
Vision
To become the number one place for ambitious students who build the future
Values
Our values spell FUEL — what powers everything we do.
Fail forward
We treat every miss as data and ship the next version faster.
Unbounded
No ceiling on ambition — borders, industries and rules are negotiable.
Everyone leads
Leadership is a behavior, not a title. Anyone can move the room.
Lab for Innovators
JVA is a sandbox to experiment, prototype and build the unproven.
Mission
Our Mission.
We believe Japan's next generation of founders starts in university. Our mission is to lower the barrier to entrepreneurship for students by providing hands-on education, mentorship, and a tight-knit community of builders.
01 — Pillar
Educate
Bootcamps and workshops that teach students how to build, validate, and launch real startups.
02 — Pillar
Connect
A network of founders, mentors, and investors that opens doors across Japan and beyond.
03 — Pillar
Launch
Demo Days, pitch events, and direct intros to help teams turn ideas into funded companies.
Our journey
JVA's Journey.
A timeline of milestones from JVA's founding to the core members building today.
JVA founded by Kento Akiyama in Shibuya
JVA was founded in 2022 by Kento Akiyama with the main objective of increasing students' entrepreneurship and self-efficacy through annual startup bootcamps and startup-related events.
JVA founded by Kento Akiyama in Shibuya
JVA was founded in 2022 by Kento Akiyama with the main objective of increasing students' entrepreneurship and self-efficacy through annual startup bootcamps and startup-related events.
1st Bootcamp & sharing sessions with founders
Our inaugural bootcamp shipped student startups, with teams advancing to Demo Day and sharing sessions with experienced founders.
1st Bootcamp & sharing sessions with founders
Our inaugural bootcamp shipped student startups, with teams advancing to Demo Day and sharing sessions with experienced founders.
2nd and 3rd Bootcamps
Spring and Fall bootcamps expanded the program, bringing more students into the startup ecosystem.
2nd and 3rd Bootcamps
Spring and Fall bootcamps expanded the program, bringing more students into the startup ecosystem.
4th and 5th Bootcamps
Spring and Fall bootcamps continued growth, with more teams shipping MVPs and pitching to investors.
4th and 5th Bootcamps
Spring and Fall bootcamps continued growth, with more teams shipping MVPs and pitching to investors.
Official registration as General Incorporated Association
JVA was officially registered as a General Incorporated Association on March 4, 2025, during Aimi Komeya's presidency — a major milestone in our organizational growth and legitimacy.
Official registration as General Incorporated Association
JVA was officially registered as a General Incorporated Association on March 4, 2025, during Aimi Komeya's presidency — a major milestone in our organizational growth and legitimacy.
6th and 7th Bootcamps + PwC × JVA Workshop
Spring and Fall bootcamps plus an exclusive workshop with PwC, bridging students with professional consulting expertise under President Aimi Komeya.
6th and 7th Bootcamps + PwC × JVA Workshop
Spring and Fall bootcamps plus an exclusive workshop with PwC, bridging students with professional consulting expertise under President Aimi Komeya.
Fall Bootcamp 2026: Renewed curriculum and structure
A revamped bootcamp with a renewed curriculum and structure, led by President Kuei Maesaka and designed to maximize student learning and startup outcomes.
Fall Bootcamp 2026: Renewed curriculum and structure
A revamped bootcamp with a renewed curriculum and structure, led by President Kuei Maesaka and designed to maximize student learning and startup outcomes.