INC-3rd Term Applications Open
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The General Incorporated Association ASIBA (https://asiba.or.jp/) will launch the third cohort of the ASIBA Creative Incubation Program in April 2025. The program is designed for individuals aged 30 and under working in the creative fields, aiming to foster “creative entrepreneurship that moves back and forth between inquiry and practice” and to promote social action.Applications are now being accepted starting today.
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The 3rd cohort of the ASIBA Creative Incubation Program will be conducted with a focus on the following core values.
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The program schedule is as follows:
Session 1: “Kickoff” – April 19 (Sat), 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Meet your fellow participants for the three-month program and share the goals of each project.
Session 2: “First Half Retreat” – April 26 (Sat) – April 28 (Mon): A 2-night, 3-day retreat featuring lectures and workshops to lay the groundwork for launching your projects. *We will provide the detailed schedule at a later date.
Session 3: “Pilot Plan” – Saturday, May 10, 1:00 PM–6:00 PM: We’ll learn how to develop a plan for piloting our proposals.
Session 4: “Mid-Program Retreat” – May 24 (Sat) – May 25 (Sun): During this two-day, one-night retreat, we’ll facilitate matchmaking with pilot sites and partners to move toward project implementation. *We will provide the detailed schedule at a later date.
Session 5: “Hypothesis Testing and Funding Plan” – Saturday, June 7, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM: You’ll learn how to test hypotheses and manage project cash flow, and we’ll provide support for securing funding.
Session 6: “After Hypothesis Validation” – June 21 (Sat), 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: We’ll organize the lessons learned from hypothesis validation and focus on making small, steady progress.
Session 7: “The Next Cycle” – Saturday, July 5, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM: We’ll move on to the next step to take your project to new heights.
You can also check out the second-term program in the magazine below.
Participants must meet all three of the following criteria:
① Individuals under 30 working in the creative field *The “creative field” refers to areas involving the design and expression of things, including architecture, product design, art, urban planning, community development, gaming, hands-on projects, fashion, services, and advertising.
② Ability to attend all sessions: As a general rule, participants are required to attend all sessions. However, we are open to discussing exceptions if unavoidable conflicts arise due to university events or other commitments.
③ Individuals who resonate with the program’s overview and objectives and are committed to proactively working toward the realization of their own projects
Additionally, while there are no restrictions on team size at the time of application, this program places a strong emphasis on teamwork, and participants are required to form a team of at least two people by the third session.
The entry process consists of two steps
Please have one representative submit an application using the pre-entry form below.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfET2wNr6U1UORjES0rzzxZ1JGLiou0HVFmhakXG2pl6oiY1A/viewform?usp=dialog
Once your pre-entry is received, the secretariat will email you the official entry form. Only those who have completed the pre-entry within the specified period may submit the official entry form.
Please submit the files listed below as ① and ② via this official entry form. File name: Name_Project Name_Document Number (Example: Taro Yamada_ASIBA Incubation_01) *The project name may be the current one. *The document number is for identification purposes only; please assign numbers to each document as you see fit.
① Action Sheet: Download the PDF below, fill in the required information, and submit it. https://drive.google.com/file/d/18e-ep2GBl_QTOo9U0jrU0MfFWhF-6B8v/view?usp=drive_link
② Supporting Materials (Optional) If you have any supporting materials that illustrate your past activities or provide insight into who you are, please submit them. There are no restrictions on the number of pages or file format. Examples: portfolios, research papers, project activity reports, etc. *The purpose of these supporting materials is to understand the participant’s interests and background; having won awards does not necessarily result in a higher evaluation.
Selection Process: Selection will be based on a review by the organizing committee and mentors using the submitted materials. Information regarding the mentors will be updated as needed.
Fees: Participation fee: Free of charge in principle. Travel and production expenses: Assistance available under certain conditions. *The estimated amount ranges from 100,000 to 500,000 yen, depending on the scale of the project. *Separate fees will be required for participation in retreats and similar events.
Application Period: The application periods are as follows. Please note that the pre-entry period and the main entry submission period are different.
Pre-entry Deadline: April 9, 2025, 6:00 PM Final Entry Form Submission Deadline: April 9, 2025, 11:59 PM Notification of Selection Results: By April 12, 2025
In addition, we held a pre-program orientation session. You can view an archived recording of the session via the link below. https://youtu.be/nvrcDFipmIs
Please view or download them here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uJ89ikFuXthciDQph_PbClXZS7CA6y5EwIwrj0cDDcs/edit?tab=t.0
Ahead of the third incubation cycle, ASIBA’s first- and second-cohort alumni—who are active in their respective fields—will gather for a casual Instagram Live chat to discuss their recent initiatives, memories of the incubation program, and the realities of the journey from student projects to real-world practice. Please join us to get a glimpse of their authentic questions and experiences.
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We are recruiting approximately 10 members for our operations team to ensure the smooth running of this program, enrich its content, and create opportunities for those interested in future Incubation programs to take their next step.Even if you feel it’s still too early to join the ASIBA Creative Incubation Program, this is a place where you can hone your skills in your own field while cheering on and supporting your peers on the front lines. Please check here for details.
Organizer: ASIBA General Incorporated Association; Representative Director: Yuta Nihei (University of Tokyo); In cooperation with: Companies in the construction, real estate, design, and startup sectors (to be announced as available); Inquiries: info@asiba.or.jp
