NAGOYA CONNÉCT #118

NAGOYA CONNÉCT is a community event held on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Nagono Campus, under the theme "Connect with Nagoya. Connect in Nagoya." Through lectures by diverse innovators and workshops that accelerate innovation, participants can gain new insights and expand their networks by leveraging shared experiences. Let’s broaden the circle of innovation and take on new challenges together.
Scroll down to see the details for each session.

Although there is a capacity limit shown on this page, participation is flexible, and walk-ins are more than welcome!
Online participation is also available. For more details, please visit the event page here:
https://community.venturecafetokyo.org/events/737

Operated by: Venture Café Tokyo
Hosted by: City of Nagoya
Participation is free.

❏ Sessions 17:00 - 18:00 | HYBRID (In-person & Online) (JAPANESE Only)
New Business Developers Assemble! A Comprehensive Guide to Chubu’s Support Hubs
The number of support hubs has increased, but if you don't know "which place is best for what," you might take a detour on your first step. In this session, representatives from five support facilities in the Chubu region will gather to clarify the differences between each hub. Furthermore, we will share common "stumbling blocks" for new business developers as case studies, providing insights for a strong start for newcomers or a successful restart for existing projects. After the session, you can connect directly with each facility through networking. We look forward to seeing business developers who are seeking guidance!
Recommended for:

• Those assigned to new business development from April and wanting to organize their first steps.
• Those who want to know what other support hubs and facilities exist beyond their usual spots.
• Those who want to understand the startup/new business environment in the Chubu region all at once.

【Presenters】

• Toshiki ITO | Community Manager, Nagoya Innovator's Garage
• Chihiro FURUKAWA | Community Manager, Nagono Campus | Program Manager, NAGOYA CONNÉCT | LEO Co., Ltd.
• Shusaku SHINODA | Corporate Planning Dept., STATION Ai
• Koichi MAEDA | Community Manager, MUSASHi Innovation Lab CLUE
• Jun KITAGAWA | Head of Operations, MARUBENI Innovation Lab Agora / Deputy General Manager, Marubeni Corporation Chubu Branch

【Moderator】

• Kazutaka TACHI | Chairman, Startup Support Committee, Chubu New Business Conference (CNB)

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18:00 - 18:30 | HYBRID (In-person & Online)
How to enjoy NAGOYA CONNÉCT
We will explain the vision of Venture Café Tokyo and NAGOYA CONNÉCT. We will also provide information on the startup ecosystem in Nagoya. If you are participating in NAGOYA CONNÉCT for the first time, please be sure to watch this session.

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18:30 - 19:30 | HYBRID (In-person & Online) (ENGLISH&JAPANESE)
Data-Driven, Learning-Led: The New Blueprint for Leadership in "VUCA 3.0"
Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. We are now in the midst of “VUCA 3.0,” an era shaped by the simultaneous acceleration of AI, geopolitical shifts, and increasing diversity in values and ways of working. Traditional leadership based primarily on experience and intuition is reaching its limits. What is now required is a new perspective that combines objective, data-driven decision-making with continuous learning and reskilling that can move the entire organization forward. In this session, three speakers with deep practical experience and insight in talent assessment, HR digital transformation, and reskilling across both global and local contexts will come together to share their perspectives. Framed around the theme of “Data × AI × Learning,” they will explore how data can make talent and organizations more visible, how learning can be translated into real change in business and on the ground, and what capabilities future leaders truly need. In a time when experience and instinct alone are no longer enough, the challenge is not to view data and learning as opposing forces, but to leverage them as two complementary drivers of transformation. This session will offer valuable insights for business professionals in Nagoya with a global outlook, leaders involved in organizational change, and HR and talent development professionals seeking their next step. This session will be conducted in a mix of English and Japanese, with interpretation available, so please feel free to join us!
【Presenters】

• Kevin Tan | Director of International Business Development, Harrison Assessments International, Ltd
• Hideaki KANAMORI | Principal Project Manager, SAP Japan Co., Ltd.
• Ryoyu ‘Roy’ OTSUKA | Udemy, Inc. Director of Sales & Partner Success, Japan

【Moderator】

• Tomomi KOMURA | Founder & CEO of CREATRY, Inc.

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19:40 - 20:40 | HYBRID (In-person & Online) (JAPANESE ONLY)
Faster than an IPO, Quieter than M&A: Let’s Talk About the "Secondary" Exit Strategy
When talking about "EXIT" for startup investment, IPOs or M&As dominate the discussion. However, "secondary transactions"—where existing shareholders, founders, and employees sell their shares to a third party—are quietly but steadily increasing in the Japanese startup scene, especially looking toward 2025 and beyond. If you feel uneasy about things like "the IPO feels distant," "investors are pushing for an exit," or "talented employees are leaving while still holding SO," this session is for you. In this 60-minute session, a founder who has experienced secondary transactions, a VC facing the reality of fund deadlines, and a player who knows the buyer's side will talk about the facts and figures. We will discuss new ways to move startup capital—information you can't afford to miss.
【Presenters】

• Nobuyuki MATSUDA | Director, KEPPLE GROUP
• Keiichi KANEKO | Director, Deep Tech Startup Supporters Association (DTSSA) / Executive Officer, Relic Inc.

【Moderator】

• Daijiro MITSUNAGA | Assistant Manager, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank (Nagoya)

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17:30 - 21:00 | In-person Only
Networking
All participants of NAGOYA CONNÉCT are invited to network. Let's expand the circle of innovation together through this program.