First, Venture Generation is a co-working office environment, providing space at low monthly cost for companies that do not yet have significant cash flow or which are trying to minimize their start-up costs.  The facility has dedicated, furnished workstations, meeting rooms, Wi-Fi, and office equipment.  The central location will allow companies convenient access to Tokyo's main business districts.  Companies within the Venture Generation incubator also have the advantage that they can scale flexibly since seating spaces can increase incrementally while they are growing.  This flexibility and the short-term contracts enable members to concentrate on building and driving their business.  

Second, Venture Generation has created a community to help entrepreneurs master the challenge of building a sustainable business.  More than twenty-five venture advisors have committed to support Venture Generation members on a voluntary basis.  The team consists of successful entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, marketing professionals, accountants and lawyers, and thus, is able to provide valuable support in all areas relevant to an early-stage venture.  However, there is more to the community than expert proximity and advice.  Venture Generation's management will actively promote collaboration among members.  Early-stage companies face many similar challenges, and thus, provide a great opportunity to learn from each other. 

With this unique approach, Venture Generation aims to serve as a source of expert knowledge and contacts for start-ups, and thus, make the difference between success and failure.  The founders of Venture Generation emphasize that this is a key element that has been lacking in many business incubators. 

Furthermore, the advisors recruited so far include both Japanese and foreign professionals, so that companies which aim to expand outside of the Japanese market will have sources of market insight that cover both the Japanese and foreign markets.  Similarly, foreign companies entering the Japanese market will have access to English speaking advisors who can help them overcome common market entry problems.  

Another integral part of the Venture Generation approach is to provide on-site workshops, seminars and business-related events for members to further foster collaboration and exchange knowledge, as well as establish contacts for recruiting, fund raising and business development.  All activities aim to provide members with a competitive advantage and increase their chances of success.  Venture Generation will screen applicants to ensure that only selected firms are offered membership.  

In addition to playing an instrumental role in helping launch new ventures, Venture Generation will also provide university student interns with an experiential education not available in the classroom.  According to C. Jeffrey Char, founder and CEO of J-Seed Ventures, "An intern experience at Venture Generation or one of our member companies will help students bridge the "theory-to-practice-gap" that often exists in academic programs.  These students in turn are likely to become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow so it is in everyone's best interest to make sure they benefit as much as possible from their internship."

Three businesses have already been selected to be members at Venture Generation. J-Seed Ventures looks forward to working with and providing resources to many others in the future.  To apply for membership or an internship, please contact info@j-seed.com.

Location:   Isshin Building, Yaesu 2-11-7, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0028 

Size (space):  two floors, 180 square meters total 

Number of desks: 30 workstations 

Meeting facilities: three conference rooms 

Contact: 

Ayumi Takemura: ayumi@j-seed.com

J-Seed Ventures, Inc.

Address: Isshin Building 9F, Yaesu 2-11-7, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0028, Japan

Tel: +81- 3-3568-8880

http://www.j-seed.com/