Entrepreneurship Fever Hits Musashino Valley! : Underdogs’ First Startup Boot Camp in Japan

"Can entrepreneurship training be 'exported'?"

“Yes, it can!”

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For nearly a decade since its founding in 2015, South Korea’s entrepreneurship education company, “underdogs,” has pioneered the scene, training around 20,000 aspiring entrepreneurs with its hands-on learning approach.

This time, underdogs took its expertise to Japan, bringing practical entrepreneurship content to the Musashino Valley. In thisarticle, we will cover this exciting and vibrant experience!

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Act-preneur Bootcamp in Musashino Valley

"Japan’s aspiring entrepreneurs seemed eager for this training!"

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On October 27, 2024, underdogs officially launched its first local training program, the "Act-preneur Boot Camp," in collaboration with Musashino University in Tokyo’s Musashino Valley.

Based on underdogs' unique curriculum, the program guided participants through a full day of entrepreneurship essentials, focusing on solving social issues. Seventeen participants—including high school students, university students, and other adults—were grouped into four teams for team-building and hands-on learning.

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The atmosphere was vibrant, with participants showing great enthusiasm and engagement. The program consisted of three main components: personality assessment, social innovation methodology, and networking.

It started with underdogs' proprietary assessment tool, designed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their teammates. This mutual understanding facilitated easy connections, even among first-time acquaintances.

Next, the social innovation segment, a core part of the curriculum, guided participants in identifying problems and developing solutions, offering practical insights into launching a business.

The networking session fostered exchanges with coaches and Musashino University faculty, allowing participants to discuss their ideas freely.

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underdogs' Program Captivates Japan

"This kind of training is new here in Japan..." commented one of the participants.

In Japan, entrepreneurship education is generally centered around universities, with around 70% of participants already having prior experience. The level of focus and passion participants demonstrated was truly impressive. A key difference in underdogs’ program was its emphasis on "action"— giving participants a chance to develop and refine their ideas. 

Many participants noted how the hands-on approach, diagnostic tools, personalized facilitation, and relaxed atmosphere set underdogs' program apart.

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Post-program feedback underscored the impact:

- Mr. Onodera: "It was great to learn by doing rather than just sitting through lectures. (座学ではなく実際に体験しつつ学ぶことができること。)”

- Ms. Sekine: "Brainstorming and developing a business idea in a short period of time was challenging but rewarding. (議論をしながら、短時間で起業アイデアを考える訓練ができた)"

- Mr. Matsuura: "The content was well-structured, and the facilitators added tremendous value to the experience. (コンテンツ内容としてはコンパクトにまとまっていてよかった。その上で、競合優位性という点ではファシリテーターの充実度が高い点である。)"

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Tailored Entrepreneurship Training with a Focus on Localization

“To convey our message effectively, we prioritized content localization.” 

One of underdogs’ priorities in Japan has been adapting its training for the local context. By cultivating Japanese coaches who are familiar with Japanese culture and the startup industry, underdogs has ensured that its approach resonates meaningfully. These certified coaches can deliver underdogs’ know-how considering Japan's specific entrepreneurial environment at the same time. 

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“When we trained and developed local business owners as entrepreneurship coaches, we were able to achieve our intended goals. They bring a unique understanding of the local context and can convey details that can’t be fully captured by underdogs’ training materials alone.” – Jaesung Lim, Program Director

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Taking into account the language and unique characteristics of the local entrepreneurial landscape, underdogs goes beyond simply delivering its original startup training content. Instead, it works to create a truly localized learning experience, reinterpreting the material to reflect cultural nuances and perspectives from the Japanese viewpoint.

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Japan’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Moved the Coaches

The Japanese participants’ passion for entrepreneurship greatly inspired the coaches and facilitators involved in the program. Mayuko, one of the lead instructors, shared her thoughts: “It was a day where people of all ages and backgrounds came together, connected deeply, and energized each other. Seeing the enthusiasm from the participants was truly moving.”

Facilitator Younghoon Ko echoed these sentiments, adding, “Discussing with people full of positive energy and diving deeply into the process of building a business—it was an incredibly valuable time. The active engagement from the participants made it possible to achieve so much in such a short period.”

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What’s Next for underdogs?

Looking ahead, underdogs aims to expand its offerings in Japan, adapting further to local needs. While the program was intensive, feedback highlighted a desire for extended training that includes prototyping and revenue modeling. In response, underdogs plans to introduce a broader variety of training formats to cater to the Japanese market.

The collaboration between underdogs and Musashino University showed the potential for Korean entrepreneurship training in Japan. It was a valuable opportunity to understand the needs of Japanese entrepreneurs. Building on this foundation, underdogs is poised to cultivate more action-driven entrepreneurs—or "Act-preneurs"—in Japan.

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Written by ud (Link)

※Original Source : “교육도 수출이 되나요?” 언더독스의 첫 일본 현지 창업 교육

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