AgVenture Lab Announces Selected Entrepreneurs for the Third Cohort of the Entrepreneurship Development Program "GROW & BLOOM"

AgVenture Lab (hereinafter "AgLab"), a general incorporated association established by eight nationwide organizations of the JA Group and headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, with Aiko Tsuchida as Representative Director, has announced the selected participants for the third cohort of its entrepreneurship development program "GROW & BLOOM" (https://grow-bloom.agventurelab.or.jp/).

A kickoff event was held on June 27 (Sat) together with the five participants selected from nearly 200 applications. The program officially begins today, June 29 (Mon), and will culminate in a final presentation event scheduled for September 12 (Sat), during which participants will refine their business plans.

"GROW & BLOOM" is an entrepreneurship development program hosted by AgLab, targeting students and professionals interested in starting a business or planning to launch within one year, as well as startups in the early stages of founding. The program launched in fiscal year 2024, aiming to realize business ideas and commercialize ventures by leveraging the JA Group's extensive assets and expertise, along with mentorship support.

The program features two tracks: GROW and BLOOM. The GROW track targets individuals without a concrete business plan yet, providing input through online workshops ranging from mindset development to business model formulation. The upcoming BLOOM track offers specialized support for those who have established or are establishing a company and aim to secure funding. Through mentoring and structured guidance, it helps elevate ideas and ventures to the next level.

The selected participants for the BLOOM track of the third cohort are as follows:

Company Name

Representative

Business Overview

TERRIA Inc.

Koyo Yamamoto

Land-based aquaculture of purple sea urchins using culled sea urchins, discarded vegetables, and idle assets in a circular model

MINORICA Inc.

Yuya Hirata

Creating next-generation farming models based on plant enhancement technology

[Undisclosed]

Akira Okuda

A platform for farmers to validate the effects of biostimulant agricultural inputs

[Undisclosed]

Yusuke Kato

Establishing frozen preservation of boar semen and expanding into a frozen semen sales business

[Undisclosed]

Katsuya Suzuki

"Gyuu-List": A record-keeping and operational visibility app for Wagyu cattle breeding farmers

For the GROW track, selected participants will not be publicly announced, as their business ideas are not yet fully developed.

[About AgVenture Lab (AgLab)] (https://agventurelab.or.jp/)

AgVenture Lab is an innovation lab jointly established on May 27, 2019, by eight nationwide JA Group organizations: the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu), the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (Zen-Noh), the National Federation of Mutual Aid Associations for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Norinchukin Bank, Ie no Hikari Association (a general incorporated association), Nihon Nogyo Shimbun, Inc., the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations for Insurance, Welfare, and Credit, and Nokyo Tourism Co., Ltd. The lab aims to co-create new businesses and services, and solve regional challenges by collaborating with startups, partner companies, universities, and government agencies, leveraging diverse knowledge and technologies.