■Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture

February to March 2022 (4 sessions)

Higashihiroshima Startup Workshop 2022 Online: https://www.hiwave.or.jp/hsusc/topics/15236

We were commissioned to organize a course for aspiring entrepreneurs and those who have recently started businesses in Higashihiroshima City. The goal was to nurture individuals with a spirit of challenge who could contribute to the creation of new industries by imparting the necessary know-how and knowledge. Our program was based on the concept of a “hands-on startup workshop” where participants could experience the ‘real’ aspects of entrepreneurship, focusing on the mindset rather than just technical knowledge.

【Challenges】

・Preventing the decline in the number of businesses and the city’s total production value, and creating high-value-added businesses

・Providing practical support to those aspiring to start a business (moving away from passive, knowledge-based startup workshops)

【Support Provided】

・Planning and managing a 4-day online and in-person course, considering the regional characteristics (entrepreneurial environment) of Higashihiroshima City

・Selecting the most suitable instructors based on the four essential elements for entrepreneurship: will, business, people, and funds

・Conducting interactive workshops that allowed for dialogue and interaction between instructors and participants, as well as among participants themselves

・Carrying out necessary publicity tasks (creating flyers, information dissemination)

・Providing post-workshop support (information sharing, event hosting, consultation sessions)

【Results/Outcomes】

・We conducted lectures on the four themes of will, business, people, and funds, which are essential for starting a business, for a full group of 16 participants. After the course, we received a high satisfaction rating (4.27/5.00).

・We achieved the following milestones set for the startup workshop: