Kobe City: Dispatch of young people to Silicon Valley for entrepreneurship development

Press Release (November 30, 2022) provided by
New Industry Division, New Industry Department, Medical and New Industry Headquarters, Planning and Coordination Bureau

As part of its measures to increase the number of “young people who want to take on challenges in Kobe,” which is important for the sustainable growth of the Kobe economy, the City of Kobe is implementing a program to send young people, mostly in their teens, to Silicon Valley, a global center of innovation.

This program has been implemented five times since 2015, with approximately 100 participants so far, and some members have been born to participate in entrepreneurship and startups after their participation.
Although the program had been suspended due to the impact of the new coronavirus infection, it will be held again this year for the first time in three years.
This year’s program, the sixth in the series, will take participants to Silicon Valley, a place with a diverse mix of cultures, where they will interact and work with local entrepreneurs and students to experience the diversity of the world, expand their future options and possibilities, and develop their entrepreneurial mindset.

Outline of “Redefine Your World! from Silicon Valley

1. Target Participants

Junior high school and high school students and above who aspire to start their own businesses in the future or are interested in doing so (about 20 people)

Period of dispatch

Sunday, March 5, 2023 – Saturday, March 11, 2023
*Gather locally and disband locally

Program Outline

• Interaction with entrepreneurs from various backgrounds
• Visits to non-profit organizations that are trying to solve social issues
• Workshops on design thinking and entrepreneurial mindset training
• Visits to local universities and interaction with students

4. Participation fee

80,000 yen
*Travel to the destination, local food, overseas insurance, and ESTA fees are not included. Participants are responsible for their own expenses.

How to apply

(1) Preliminary orientation:
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 11:00-13:00 (online)
Thursday, December 15, 2022, 18:00-20:00 (online )

(2) Application
period: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 – Friday, December 23, 2022 (23:59)
Participants will be selected through document screening and web interviews.

Selection results will be announced in mid-January 2023.

To attend the preliminary briefing session and participate in the program, please apply through the website below.
https://b-bridge-education.com/kobesiliconvalley (external link)

6. For inquiries, please contact

Redefine Your World! from Silicon Valley Office
Email : info@b-bridge.com