Sophia University Launches Sophia Entrepreneurship Network

Sophia University is proud to announce the launch of the Sophia Entrepreneurship Network (SEN), aimed at equipping students with practical skills and a mindset to tackle social issues through entrepreneurship education.

SEN will serve as a hub for fostering the ability to define and solve social challenges, offering opportunities for students to develop their problem-solving and planning skills.

To mark the beginning of this initiative, Sophia University will host Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW2024) on November 18-19, the first time this global event will be held in Japan.

Initiative Background

Sophia University, guided by its educational philosophy “For Others, With Others,” seeks to develop individuals who collaborate to address today’s rapidly changing realities. The university offers mandatory courses to enhance recognition of social issues and promotes programs for understanding global challenges. The launch of SEN aims to bolster these initiatives.

Entrepreneurship involves envisioning a future and experimenting to achieve it. As focus shifts from productivity to creativity, it’s essential in all sectors for economic growth and social contribution. SEN will emphasize “Social Issue Definition and Solution-Oriented Entrepreneurship,” collaborating with global organizations and experts.

Sophia University envisions its campus as a diverse learning space. Through the Sophia Future Design Platform (SFDP), it offers various learning opportunities for university students, high school students, and working professionals. These include the Sophia Global Citizen Program, Professional Studies for working professionals, and short-term intensive courses in collaboration with UC Berkeley’s business school. SEN is positioned as one of the projects under the SFDP.

SEN Activities and Structure

SEN will offer a range of programs, including a 10-session entrepreneurship course with Sparx Group Co., Ltd. These focus on skill development, workshops for defining and solving social issues, and networking with entrepreneurs, including successful alumni. All Sophia University students, regardless of faculty or year, can join SEN’s programs.

These programs help align with career goals and future visions. SEN’s operation is guided by strategies from the SEN Executive Committee, led by the university’s President. The SEN Operations Committee, mainly external experts, collaborates to advance activities.

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2024 to be Held in Japan for the First Time

Sophia University will host Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW2024) in Japan for the first time on November 18-19, 2024. This event is part of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), headquartered in Washington, D.C., which annually organizes GEW simultaneously across the globe.

GEN is a global non-profit organization that promotes the development of entrepreneurship ecosystems in 180 countries worldwide. GEW2024 carries the theme “Entrepreneurship is for Everybody,” and through collaboration with GEW, SEN will establish connections with the global entrepreneurship community from the outset.

These events are primarily intended for Sophia University students and other university affiliates. Media representatives who wish to cover the events are requested to contact the Office of Public Relations in advance.

１．SEN Kickoff Panel Discussion ”Exploring Entrepreneurship as a Career”

Date: Monday, November 18

Time: 5:30pm-7pm

Venue: 17th floor, Building 2, Yotsuya Campus (in-person only)

２．Special Lecture “What I Learned from Akio Morita, Founder of Sony”

Speaker: Mr. Kunitake Ando, Former President of Sony Corporation

Date: Tuesday, November 19

Time: 6:30pm-8pm

Venue: Room 101, 1st floor, Building 6, Yotsuya Campus (in-person only)

List of Members in the SEN Operations Committee

Naohiro Nishiguchi

Chair

Specially Appointed Professor at Sophia University and Serial Entrepreneur. Specializes in innovation management and startup ecosystems. Japan Representative for Global Entrepreneurship Network and Startup Genome. Holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Akira Ishikawa

CEO of Incubator Inc. After joining Recruit, he founded All About, Inc. and later became independent. Has been engaged in bottom-up new business creation in large corporations for 15 years. Visiting Professor at Meiji University Business School and Specially Appointed Professor at Shizenkan University.

Keiko Hamada

Journalist and Representative of the Digital Journalist Education Institute. Former Editor-in-Chief of Weekly AERA and Business Insider Japan.

Serves as a board member of the B.League. Frequently appears as a commentator on television programs and gives numerous lectures on topics such as diversity.

Katsuya Hirokawa

After working at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Hokkaido University, and as an Incubation Manager at Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus, he established the SFC Forum Foundation and became its Secretary-General.

He also serves as the Fund Manager for the SFC Forum Fund, a Specially Appointed Professor at Yamagata University, a Part-time Lecturer at Sophia University, and an external board member at King Jim Co., Ltd. and Daidai Co., Ltd.

Chikara Funabashi

After joining Itochu Corporation, founded the education company Will Seed. Recognized as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum in 2009.

A “serial social entrepreneur,” he has launched several initiatives, including the Tobitate! Study Abroad Initiative, Table for Two, MORIUMIUS, Beyond Tomorrow, and Satonoba University, among others.