本セッションは、ハイブリッド（現地＆オンライン）セッションです。
This session will be held in a hybrid format (onsite and online).
主催 | Organizer：Cognisor AI
会場 | Venue：CIC Tokyo（東京都港区虎ノ門1-17-1 虎ノ門ヒルズビジネスタワー 15F）
言語 | Language：英語 | English
*Simultaneous translation tool available (text only)
概要 | Descriptions：
This session explores how artificial intelligence, collaborative innovation, and aligned capital can converge to create scalable social impact in Japan. As the country faces structural challenges such as demographic shifts, sustainability pressures, and evolving workforce dynamics, meaningful solutions require coordinated effort across sectors.
The discussion will focus on how co-creation between startups, corporates, academia, investors, and communities can drive practical AI-driven solutions. It will examine how open innovation accelerates development beyond organizational silos and how impact capital enables long-term sustainability without compromising mission integrity.
Designed as a strategic ecosystem dialogue rather than a promotional event, this session brings together leaders from entrepreneurship, academia, and venture capital to explore how technology, collaboration, and investment structures can collectively generate measurable societal value.
登壇者 | Speakers：
-
Dr. Joe Hug, Professor at iU University, Angel Investor, TEDx Lead Organizer
-
Erdinç Ekinci, VC at Co-Capital, Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan & Korea
-
Sarah Ju-En Tan, Senior AR, VR Product Designer, Global Top 100 Women in Emerging Tech
モデレータ | Moderator：
- Mir Farhan Morshed, Founder & CEO of Cognisor AI
—
■オンライン参加方法 | How to join the session online
- Thursday Gathering開始後、本ページ上に「Join Remotely」ボタンが表示されます。そちらをクリックし、オンライン参加いただけます。
- 「Join Remotely」ボタンが表示されていない場合は、メインページのセッション一覧にある「Join Remotely」ボタンよりご参加ください。
- Once Thursday Gathering begins, a “Join Remotely” button will appear on this page. Click the button to join the event online.
- If the “Join Remotely” button is not visible on the session page, please join by clicking the “Join Remotely” button in the session list on the main page.
Speakers
Dr. Joe Hug is an accomplished entrepreneur, educator, and strategic advisor with over 15 years of international business experience. After beginning his career in U.S. military healthcare, he transitioned into consulting, where his firm delivers cross-cultural strategy planning and executive training programs to leading multinational corporations in Tokyo.
Academically, he has taught at institutions including New York University (NYU), the University of Tokyo, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He is currently a full-time Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at iU University and serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) MBA program and Hosei University's GMBA program. His work bridges entrepreneurship, global strategy, and ecosystem development.
Erdinç Ekinci is a startup founder, venture builder, aspiring investor, and ecosystem leader, serving as Co-founder & CEO of Openfor.co and Director of Founder Institute Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. He empowers individuals to tackle major challenges through entrepreneurship and sustainable business building. He advises startups, enterprises, and governments on go-to-market partnerships and ecosystem development across the U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Without external funding, he launched Founder Institute Accelerator in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, expanding its mentor network to 200 entrepreneurs and investors. At Openfor.co, he drives partnership-led growth, supporting enterprises and pre-seed startups. Having reviewed thousands of startup pitches, mentored 300 startups, and organized 100 events, he is now launching Co-Capital.co, a pre-seed GTM Accelerator VC, accelerating startup growth through partnerships.
Sarah Tan is an award-winning Product and UX Designer who has designed experiences for Google, Meta, Adobe, Atlassian, and more.
Recognised with over eight tech awards, including B&T’s 30 Under 30 and the Global Top 100 Women in Emerging Tech, she specialises in designing for AR, VR, and AI. She has spoken at more than 20 global conferences including SXSW and the Global AI Summit.
Her work has also been featured in Forbes, ABC, SBS, and The Australian, reflecting her passion for innovation and advancing emerging technologies.
本セッションは、ハイブリッド（現地＆オンライン）セッションです。
This session will be held in a hybrid format (onsite and online).
主催 | Organizer：Cognisor AI
会場 | Venue：CIC Tokyo（東京都港区虎ノ門1-17-1 虎ノ門ヒルズビジネスタワー 15F）
言語 | Language：英語 | English
*Simultaneous translation tool available (text only)
概要 | Descriptions：
This session explores how artificial intelligence, collaborative innovation, and aligned capital can converge to create scalable social impact in Japan. As the country faces structural challenges such as demographic shifts, sustainability pressures, and evolving workforce dynamics, meaningful solutions require coordinated effort across sectors.
The discussion will focus on how co-creation between startups, corporates, academia, investors, and communities can drive practical AI-driven solutions. It will examine how open innovation accelerates development beyond organizational silos and how impact capital enables long-term sustainability without compromising mission integrity.
Designed as a strategic ecosystem dialogue rather than a promotional event, this session brings together leaders from entrepreneurship, academia, and venture capital to explore how technology, collaboration, and investment structures can collectively generate measurable societal value.
登壇者 | Speakers：
-
Dr. Joe Hug, Professor at iU University, Angel Investor, TEDx Lead Organizer
-
Erdinç Ekinci, VC at Co-Capital, Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan & Korea
-
Sarah Ju-En Tan, Senior AR, VR Product Designer, Global Top 100 Women in Emerging Tech
モデレータ | Moderator：
- Mir Farhan Morshed, Founder & CEO of Cognisor AI
—
■オンライン参加方法 | How to join the session online
- Thursday Gathering開始後、本ページ上に「Join Remotely」ボタンが表示されます。そちらをクリックし、オンライン参加いただけます。
- 「Join Remotely」ボタンが表示されていない場合は、メインページのセッション一覧にある「Join Remotely」ボタンよりご参加ください。
- Once Thursday Gathering begins, a “Join Remotely” button will appear on this page. Click the button to join the event online.
- If the “Join Remotely” button is not visible on the session page, please join by clicking the “Join Remotely” button in the session list on the main page.
Speakers
Dr. Joe Hug is an accomplished entrepreneur, educator, and strategic advisor with over 15 years of international business experience. After beginning his career in U.S. military healthcare, he transitioned into consulting, where his firm delivers cross-cultural strategy planning and executive training programs to leading multinational corporations in Tokyo.
Academically, he has taught at institutions including New York University (NYU), the University of Tokyo, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He is currently a full-time Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at iU University and serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) MBA program and Hosei University's GMBA program. His work bridges entrepreneurship, global strategy, and ecosystem development.
Erdinç Ekinci is a startup founder, venture builder, aspiring investor, and ecosystem leader, serving as Co-founder & CEO of Openfor.co and Director of Founder Institute Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. He empowers individuals to tackle major challenges through entrepreneurship and sustainable business building. He advises startups, enterprises, and governments on go-to-market partnerships and ecosystem development across the U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Without external funding, he launched Founder Institute Accelerator in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, expanding its mentor network to 200 entrepreneurs and investors. At Openfor.co, he drives partnership-led growth, supporting enterprises and pre-seed startups. Having reviewed thousands of startup pitches, mentored 300 startups, and organized 100 events, he is now launching Co-Capital.co, a pre-seed GTM Accelerator VC, accelerating startup growth through partnerships.
Sarah Tan is an award-winning Product and UX Designer who has designed experiences for Google, Meta, Adobe, Atlassian, and more.
Recognised with over eight tech awards, including B&T’s 30 Under 30 and the Global Top 100 Women in Emerging Tech, she specialises in designing for AR, VR, and AI. She has spoken at more than 20 global conferences including SXSW and the Global AI Summit.
Her work has also been featured in Forbes, ABC, SBS, and The Australian, reflecting her passion for innovation and advancing emerging technologies.