We facilitate diverse communities
that help entrepreneurs
learn and drive social change.
Community of entrepreneurs
driving industrial innovation In Japan
Thinka 6th Batch Applications are Closed
Application ClosedConcept
What we do.
Thinka is a social community for founders, managed by FIRSTLIGHT Capital.It is a place
where next-generation entrepreneurs can gather, learn,
and express themselves with the shared goal of advancing Japan's industrialization.
Real experience over theory.
Failure over success. Sharing over showing-off.
At Thinka, we bring together the top entrepreneurs, business people,
and specialists to share their own experiences, and discuss the challenges
that our founders face, all to foster a culture of learning from mistakes
and a readiness to take on new challenges.
Thinka Members
Batch 5
Batch 4
Batch 3
Batch 2
Batch 1
Benefit
Foundation
Learn The Ropes.
Build Essential Business Development Skills
Members will participate in five Monthly Thinka sessions and working groups to dive deep into PMF, product development, growth strategy, financing, and other essential topics in launching a business, together with highly accomplished guests who offer valuable insights.
1on1
Get The Support You Need.
1-on-1 Mentoring with FIRSTLIGHT Capitalist
A designated mentor will assist your groundwork for early-phase business development, covering critical issues such as business planning, financing, and engagement with different stakeholders.
Network
Connecting With People
Relation-building support for Thinka members
Thinka members are provided with opportunities to expand their network through connecting with peer members, businesses supported by FIRSTLIGHT Capital, and participants of earlier Thinka batches.
Monthly Thinka
Kick-off event in July 2024,
followed by five themed Monthly Thinka sessions
*The contents
and order of the program are subject to change
Kick-off
July 2024
Workshop
Self-awareness workshop + networking event
Session 1
August 2024
Starting Up & PMF
Dos and Don'ts up to initial product building
Session 2
September 2024
Business Model
Ensuring expandability to become a leading player
Session 3
October 2024
Financing
What to think and do in startup financing
Session 4
November 2024
Hiring & Team-Building
What startups must know and consider in their HR strategy
Session 5
December 2024
Growth Strategy
Drawing a sustainable growth strategy from the early phase + graduation ceremony"
Guest Speakers
Guests who have spoken at past Monthly Thinka events (only partially)
Taku Toguchi
AI inside Inc. CEO
#drive exponential startup growth
Junichiro Tobe
NOVASELL, Inc. CTO
#build an engineering team for higher quality & speed of development 方
Shinpei Noguchi
ITANDI Inc. CEO
#growth strategy to guide vertical SaaS to success
Ryota Hayashi
Finatext Holdings Ltd. CEO
#design a sustainable growth strategy from the early phase
Hiroto Morooka
Kaminashi, Inc. CEO
#identify issues and plan/design fundamental value to build an essential product
Shota Kawaminami
HENNGE K.K. Executive officer
#pricing principles of SaaS business
Kenta Koyama
Smartround Inc. CTO
#early-phase product team management
Go Akazawa
AlphaDrive CTO/NewsPicks for Business Director
#early-phase product team management
*The company name and position of Mr. Noguchi (ITANDI Inc.) and Mr. Akazawa (AlphaDrive) are at the time of the event.
Application
Join us.
- Theme
- Innovation in legacy industries
- Automation/replacement/streamlining of on-site analog workflows
- Industrial IoT/AI/Robotics
- New ways of working
- Structural transformation of established industries - Phase
- Before Pre-series A (may be before or after seed funding)
- Requirement
- Ability to attend monthly program sessions held in Tokyo in person
- Application/selection process
- - Deadline: Applications are Closed
- Selection: Document screening followed by online interview
(Screening results will be notified to applicants within one week from submission of the application form.)
