International Women's Day 2024 - STEM Entrepreneurship in Japan

UPDATE: We will hand out guest passes on 17F of Shibuya Scramble Square between 17:50 and 18:30. We cannot send QR codes to attendees' email due to a bug in Meetup's Pro dashboard preventing us from exporting emails. Doors will open at 18:00 and the panel discussion will begin at 18:30. After 18:30, our volunteers will no longer be on 17F with guest passes. If you are going to arrive after 18:30, please email wisj.info[at]gmail.com for instructions on how to join after the event has started. Thank you for your flexibility!

Join us on Tuesday, March 19th for a panel discussion and networking session to celebrate International Women's Day (IWD) 2024. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” Our event will offer diverse perspectives on what it’s like to be a woman founder or investor in Japan, with a particular focus on women-led STEM companies in Japan.

Our distinguished panelists:

• Lisa Sakashita, CEO and Founder of Nanotis
• Frith Maier, CEO and Founder of NEI
• Schyler Cole, Venture Capitalist and Ecosystem Builder

Questions we'll ask include:

• What are some key traits to look for in a co-founder?
• In your opinion, what can be done to increase the proportion and success of women founders in Japan?
• What are some strategies you’ve found successful in pitching to predominantly male investors in Japan?
• In your experience, where and how can women scientists find mentors and potential advisors on their entrepreneurship journey in Japan?
• Additional Q&A from the audience

Date: Tuesday, March 19th
Venue: WeWork Shibuya (Shibuya Scramble Square 39F). In-person only.
Language: English.
Schedule:

• 18:00 - Doors open
• 18:30 - Opening remarks
• 18:35 - Panel discussion
• 19:30 - Networking session with food and drinks

Who should attend this event?

• Women and gender minority persons building STEM careers in Japan, especially those who are thinking of making the leap into entrepreneurship
• Leaders of organizations and individuals who want to support, mentor, and potentially invest in women founders
• Employers who are seeking to hire women and other underrepresented groups with strong STEM talent

About Women in Science Japan
Women in Science Japan (WISJ) was founded in 2019 with the vision to increase the number of women scientists in Japan. Japan ranks 125th of 156 countries for gender equality according to the World Economic Forum. Furthermore, only 1 in 7 Japanese scientists are women, ranking the lowest in all OECD nations.
To help achieve our vision, we provide skill-building opportunities and a dynamic professional network for those pursuing STEM careers in Japan. Our main activities are professional development events and casual community gatherings. Our general body members are from a wide range of STEM professions including life sciences, physics, chemistry, engineering, and software engineering. In addition to our Japanese members, our members come from numerous countries throughout Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa.