Exploring the World
Tokyo
Startups and coworking space are not new in Tokyo. Yet, it seems the population is only realizing today that this parallel ecosystem might be a new way to envision a career. It means that startups events are booming in the city (one startup weekend a week for instance) and that the local administration is supporting more and more entrepreneurship initiatives.
More generally in Japan, you may also notice the nation's new priorities, to foster innovation, attract foreign talents and investment, and ultimately limit the decline in its labour force.
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Tokyo has the chance to drag passionate people - about games, animates, robotics, electronics, etc - into its isolated island and its very own "micro-climate" culture.
I would say that its challenge now is to valorise this attractiveness toward the outside world.
Startup Hub Tokyo
The local administration of Tokyo has recently open this new space to promote entrepreneurship and foster links among the city's startup ecosystem.
The hub is a mix of a coworking space, an event space and an incubator. It is specifically suppose to help current employees to mature their personal projects and eventually to launch a startup, and thus has night sessions until 12am.
They also have these special mentors, called the concierges, who stay in the space and provide free coaching to the members.
The 3 months incubation program leads to a preparation for ASAC, the Tokyo Acceleration program.
Access to the space only requires to register (free).
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Website: startuphub.tokyo
Remarkable places
DMM.make
You may not know DMM, yet it is a serious player in the Japanese market. It is one of these companies that successfully expanded on many different sectors. Its makers' lab is located right in the center of AKIBA (Akihabara), the electronic district of Tokyo. Not only the location is ideal, but the space offers a surprising variety of equipments, several services such a Business model/IP/legal support, technical staffs and experts to accelerate your development, and all of this for a very competitive price.
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Website: make.dmm.com
Tokyo
The Lodge by Yahoo
The lodge is a coworking space operated by Yahoo Asia.
Many cool furnitures, plenty of amenities, and a lot of folks around the space, the place worth a visit. Actually, the Lodge provides a 1day free-access.
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Website: lodge.yahoo.co.jp
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