My experience at Kyoto Startup Summer School in 2021
By: Ricardo Martinez
Tags: Entrepreneurship, Summer School, International, Experience, Startup

The return of an international entrepreneurship program rebounding from the global pandemic.

First day of KS³ starting with great energy. Image courtesy of KYOTO Design Lab.

This year I joined Kyoto Startup Summer School (KS³), the flagship entrepreneurship program from KYOTO Design Lab. I would like to share some of the highlights of my experience as a participant hoping that it will be helpful to those interested in joining the program next year, or those who may be simply curious about it.

Online format

One important thing to keep in mind is that this year was the first time the program was conducted entirely online, after being cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I appreciate the organizing team for making the program happen despite all the challenges, as many of us wouldn’t have been able to join otherwise.

The overall timetable was designed in a way that sessions were spread over a variety of time zones, and those who couldn’t attend live had recordings of lectures and panel discussions available the next day. Of course, attending live was the best option that allowed active participation in the discussions, but it was not always possible as a natural result of having participants from all over the world, which brings us to the next point; how international the program was.

International environment

With participants coming from more than a dozen countries, KS³ felt truly international and really lived up to my expectations. Joining discussions with like-minded entrepreneurs from all kinds of professional and cultural backgrounds was definitely a highlight for me. I believe this type of diversity is conducive to an environment where innovation can be sparked. For example, participants in Q&A sessions would come up with insightful questions that added value to the discussions and having them as teammates during hands-on workshops was equally enriching.

Quality of content

As for the content of the program itself, there was a healthy mix of complexity levels in the lectures and workshops. They were led by expert instructors in a wide range of topics like fund raising, pitching, crowdfunding, marketing, social entrepreneurship, hardware startups, artificial intelligence, robotics, and more. Since KS³ doesn’t require previous experience in a particular area of knowledge to join, certain sessions were adequate for people just getting started in the entrepreneurship world. However, even those lectures taking a deep dive into the latest technology trends had a style that was easy to understand for beginners, yet still captivating for experienced participants.

Takeaway

A key takeaway I got from the program was the confirmation that entrepreneurs are not only those who create a company. With proper guidance and mentoring, anyone can develop an entrepreneurial mindset regardless of their current role or career stage. Anyone can help promote innovation and create value within their school, workplace, city, or any other social structure they are part of.

“Entrepreneurs are not only those who create a company”

While KS³ has a strong focus on startups, much of the content that was taught can also be applied to other aspects of the participants’ career journey. Just to mention a couple of examples, we had a workshop on online-based brainstorming techniques that can easily be used in any job that requires working with remote team members. Another lecture focused on delivering effective startup pitches with many concepts and tips that can also be used to improve public speaking and presentation skills in almost any other professional context.

Closing thoughts

All things considered, despite having an intensive schedule that required strong focus and commitment from all participants, the program was a rewarding experience; I had the chance to not only explore a broad range of topics, but also to meet other talented participants with a similar passion for making meaningful and positive changes in society. For me, this was the biggest reward of being part of KS³.

My advice for future participants? Be ready to have your views challenged by peers coming from a multitude of different backgrounds and definitely make sure to free up plenty of time in your personal calendar for the duration of the program. It will most likely demand a lot of your energy and focus as it tries to live up to the expectations of being “Japan’s most international and intensive summer entrepreneurship program”.