― An Immersive Program for Experiencing Global Markets Firsthand, Focused on Building Real Momentum Through Continuous Practice ―Program OverviewDMZ Japan Basecamp was implemented with the support of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to cultivate early-stage founders and aspiring young entrepreneurs equipped with a global perspective and hands-on startup-building skills.From refining business ideas and developing prototypes to understanding customers and markets, pitching, and designing marketing strategies, participants systematically worked through the core processes required to launch a startup. Alongside this, they gained practical exposure to foundational knowledge in legal and financial matters, international expansion strategies, and English business communication.Through close interaction with local mentors, entrepreneurs, and investors, the program enabled participants to strengthen both the execution capabilities and entrepreneurial mindset needed to operate in global markets.A Step-by-Step Program DesignThe program was structured around a three-phase learning journey: Prepare → Act → Validate.⚫︎Online Preparation Program (Early July – Early August 2025)Participants took part in workshops focused on startup fundamentals and customer discovery methodologies. Prior to traveling to Toronto, they clarified their business ideas and hypotheses, identifying key assumptions to be tested on the ground.⚫︎Toronto Program (Late August)While engaging directly with North American markets through interactions with local mentors and founders, participants conducted customer interviews and small-scale validation projects. Workshops, pitch training sessions, and participation in pitch competitions further deepened their understanding of global markets and strengthened their practical execution skills.⚫︎1-on-1 Mentoring (Conducted online and during the Toronto program)Personalized mentoring sessions were provided based on each participant’s business stage and challenges. Mentors worked closely with participants to translate workshop learnings into concrete actions within their own ventures. Repeated feedback on English pitches helped sharpen clarity, confidence, and persuasiveness.(Workshops during the Toronto program)◆Practicing in Toronto: Engaging Directly with the MarketIn Toronto, workshops addressed themes such as pitch development, customer research, global expansion, and practical English communication.Participants quickly put their learning into practice. For example, they conducted user interviews at local apparel stores and engaged in collaboration discussions with Toronto-based startups, rolling out pilot initiatives aligned with their respective business stages.(AI vision board workshop / pilot initiatives)A guided tour of Rakuten Kobo’s headquarters and a talk session by Nimod, Chief Technology Officer at Rakuten Kobo, provided rare insight into real-world startup decision-making, covering topics such as engineering recruitment, scaling strategies, and long-term career development.(Talk session at Rakuten Kobo headquarters)In addition, approximately 70 participants, including local companies, venture capitalists, and government representatives, gathered at DMZ headquarters for the networking event “Japan Night.” Participants pitched their ventures in English, leading to follow-up requests for pitch decks and multiple discussions around potential business collaborations—clear evidence of market traction beyond the classroom.(Networking event “Japan Night” at DMZ headquarters)◆Highlight: Basecamp Demo DayThe culmination of the program was Basecamp Demo Day.Held jointly with approximately 30 startups participating in DMZ’s Canada-led Basecamp, the Demo Day featured startups on stage. From the Japan cohort, three participants advanced through preliminary selection to present their ventures in English in front of an audience of roughly 150 entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and corporate partners.Among them, one participant from Japan, placed 4th overall, earning a CAD 5,000 cash prize. This achievement demonstrated that founders from Japan could compete and be evaluated on merit within a highly competitive global startup environment, underscoring the effectiveness of the program.For participants, the experience of competing on equal footing with international founders provided both tangible validation and confidence for future global expansion.(Basecamp Demo Day)◆Participant Growth and FeedbackOverall program satisfaction was exceptionally high, averaging 4.9 out of 5. Participants reported a strong sense of personal growth and clear applicability of the learning to their real-world ventures.The most significant improvements were observed in:International knowledge and networks (+102%)English pitching and communication skills (+45%)Action-oriented readiness for global expansion (+58%)These gains were driven by hands-on experiences, including pitching in Toronto, conducting on-site market research, and engaging in user interviews. Such outcomes cannot be replicated through classroom learning alone.Participant feedback included comments such as:“Expanding overseas now feels realistic, not abstract.”“Customer research revealed markets I hadn’t previously considered.”“Successfully pitching in English gave me real confidence.”(Participant survey results)Looking AheadDMZ Japan Basecamp delivered strong outcomes toward its goal of developing young founders capable of competing in global markets. By offering a seamless journey that connected online learning with on-the-ground execution in Toronto, networking opportunities, and a high-stakes Demo Day, the program equipped participants with international networks, practical skills, and a solid foundation for sustained entrepreneurial challenge.Looking forward, DMZ Japan will continue to refine program content based on participant readiness and expand opportunities for in-person engagement, enabling an even broader range of founders to pursue global ambitions with confidence.