THE SEED to Host 11th 'Startup Kansai 2026' on June 21 - The Frontier of Business and Career in the AI Era | Speakers for Session 1 'AI Utilization for Entrepreneurs' Announced

Pre-seed and seed venture capital firm 'THE SEED' (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Taiki Hirosawa) will hold the 11th 'Startup Kansai' event for students and young professionals in the Kansai region on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at Blooming Camp, JAM BASE 3F, Grand Green Osaka.

The theme for this installment is 'The Frontier of Business and Career in the AI Era.' As AI reshapes the fundamental assumptions of business, the event will feature three sessions to discuss how to live and thrive in the AI era. Additionally, recruitment for student staff to help manage the event has begun.

In this first announcement, we are revealing the speakers for Opening Session 1: 'AI Utilization for Entrepreneurs — Inside the Minds of AI-Native Entrepreneurs.' Details and speakers for Session 2 and Session 3 will be released in upcoming announcements.

About 'Startup Kansai' — Background and Vision

While Japan sees approximately 1 trillion yen in annual startup investment, the vast majority is concentrated in Tokyo, with investment in the Kansai region accounting for only about 5-7% of the total. The 'Startup Development Five-Year Plan' established by the government in 2022 aims for a 10 trillion yen scale by 2027. With the deadline approaching next year, it is a critical challenge to ensure Kansai is not left behind in Japan's overall growth.

On the other hand, Kansai is home to approximately 600,000 university students, making it an area with high inherent potential. 'Startup Kansai' has functioned as a rare platform where Kansai students/prospective entrepreneurs can directly talk with entrepreneurs, VCs, and recruiters. The 10th event (held in October 2025) had 123 participants, an average satisfaction score of 4.7/5, and a 95% 'want to participate again' rate, drawing from major universities such as Kyoto University and Osaka University.

SESSION 1 | AI Utilization for Entrepreneurs — Inside the Minds of AI-Native Entrepreneurs

A panel discussion featuring entrepreneurs who routinely utilize AI to launch and grow businesses. They will share real-world perspectives on how they master AI and leverage it for business.

Expected Discussion Themes: - Incorporating AI from idea validation to product development and sales - Actual tools, prompts, and workflows used daily - The balance between data and intuition: The reality of management decisions changed by AI - What is required of entrepreneurs in the AI era

Speakers Info: - Mr. Itaru Watanabe, Representative Director & CEO, cactuz Co., Ltd. - Mr. Taiga Ishii, Representative Director & President, No-code Research Institute Co., Ltd. - Moderator: Taiki Hirosawa, Representative, THE SEED

Recruitment for Student Staff Started

We are starting to recruit student staff to co-manage the event operations. If you are interested in startups or event management, please apply.