On January 29th, Blackbox held its first meeting with media representatives, an event that took place between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm and attracted a large attendance from journalists and members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. During this occasion, the company’s CEO, Taiki Iwasaki, presented Blackbox’s objectives statement and explained the social context that led to the company’s creation.
Iwasaki emphasized the increase in support for startups in Japan, especially those led by foreign entrepreneurs. Under the five-year plan for developing startups promoted by former Prime Minister Kishida, over 700 visas have been granted to startups, highlighting Japan’s intention to promote innovation. However, the director also pointed out that foreign entrepreneurs face significant challenges, as information on visa management and setting up new businesses is often only available in Japanese and fragmented.
To address these difficulties, Blackbox is developing an English directory that will compile information on visas, government support programs, and local resources, thus facilitating access to crucial information for foreign entrepreneurs in Japan. Additionally, the event discussed the Japanese government’s roadmap for developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem, presented by Toru Udagawa from the Secretariat for Scientific, Technological, and Innovative Policy.
Among the highlighted activities was a roundtable discussion involving representatives from various Japanese cities such as Shibuya, Nagoya, Kobe, Kyoto, and Sapporo, all designated as Special Economic Zones. The delegates shared how each city’s cultural and historical context influences the development of new businesses and presented their respective future projects. For example, it was mentioned that Nagoya aims to expand its industrial base to global markets, while Shibuya seeks to attract foreign investment.
With the recent celebration of its second year of operations, Blackbox continues to evolve and seek new ways to facilitate understanding and access to the startup landscape in Japan.
via: MiMub in Spanish