ud.Japan Launches Global Entrepreneurship Program in Kyoto: 100% Satisfaction Rate Among Participants from Over 6 Countries

ud.Japan (Headquarters: Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kim Jong-hoon; hereinafter "ud.") and its parent company, Seoul-based UD IMPACT Inc. (Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea; CEO: Kim Jong-hoon), in collaboration with the Kyoto Association of Corporate Executives (Kyoto Chie-Sangyo Sozo no Mori), conducted the "Kyoto Global Entrepreneurship 2DAYs Program" in March 2026. The program attracted entrepreneurs and aspiring founders from over six countries, including Japan. It was delivered as a two-day hands-on program combining online sessions with in-person workshops at the Open Innovation Cafe “KOIN” in Kyoto. Participant surveys reported a 100% satisfaction and re-participation rate, with an average recommendation score of 9.0 out of 10. The final pitch session. Participants developed landing pages and pitch decks based on ideas refined over the two days.

From Kyoto to the World: Background of Global Entrepreneurship Development In recent years, startups have gained global attention as the core of new industry creation and innovation. While global expansion into emerging markets, particularly in Asia and Africa, is accelerating, interest in global expansion is also rising within Japan. Furthermore, as the world faces cross-border social and environmental challenges, there is a rapidly growing demand for "social impact startups" that balance business growth with solving societal issues. Kyoto possesses a unique industrial foundation where traditional and cutting-edge industries coexist, alongside an influx of international talent due to its high concentration of universities, making it a city with immense potential as a hub for global entrepreneurship development. This program was implemented to leverage these characteristics of Kyoto, aiming to foster globally-minded entrepreneurs and connect international ecosystems. ■ Program Overview: Hybrid Design of Online and Offline Sessions The program featured an original curriculum designed to take regional issues in Kyoto and Japan as a starting point, redefine them as global challenges, and translate them into viable, world-class business ventures.

To enhance practical skills in a short period, the program was designed as a hybrid model combining online pre-learning with in-person workshops. Throughout both days, the program was conducted with consecutive Japanese-English interpretation and individual follow-ups to minimize language barriers.

Additionally, by discovering "glocal entrepreneurship seeds," the program provided educational opportunities to guide those interested in starting a business or those at the idea stage toward concrete entrepreneurial actions.