Phoenixi, a Kyoto-based residencial incubator for corporate intrapreneurs and social entrepreners, announced on 1 May the six Fellows selected for the 11th cohort of its Incubation Program.
The six new Fellows will participate in the program from 8 May to 18 September 2026 at Phoenixi’s co-creation hub “toberu”, where they will refine and develop their business ideas addressing social issues.
The Kickoff event for the 11 cohort will be held in person on 12 June at toberu. Following pitches of the fellows’ business ideas, the event will feature a panel discussion, “Mission Possible 2: Foster New Ventures and Talent in Synergy”, along with a networking and Q&A session with light refreshments 🧀🍷.
The event is free of charge and open to the public, but advance registration is required (limited to 80 participants on a first-registered, first-served basis). Please register via this link and join us.
Incubation Program Cohort 11 Fellows
- Toshiyuki Yamada | Ajinomoto Co., Inc. | Home delivery frozen bento business that allows to consume vegetables easily
- Kaori Tada | Daikin Industries | Maximizing customer value and realizing a circular economy
- SuKha (Susan Khan) | Fashion designer & icon | “Something to Wear”: Up-cycling kimono to ignite sustainability in fashion
- Yuya Ogawa | Founder & CEO, Noevis Inc. | “Razi”: An AI x Science-Powered Developmental Support Platform
- Pandi Agnes | Doshisha Business School, Global MBA ’25 | Mobility platform for international visitors accessing local services in Japan
- Brian Roy Tan, PhD | Co-founder & CEO, Wisdom Approach Pte Ltd | “Scam Protect”: protecting entities from scams through scam identification
Incubation Program Cohort 11 Kickoff
- When: 12 June 2026, 17:45–20:00
- Where: toberu 1 (in person)
- Language: Japanese and English
- Registration: Required (first 80 registered, first served)
- Note: Free of charge. Entering/Leaving halfway through the event is acceptable.
- Opening remarks
- Yutaka Iijima | COO and executive director, Phoenixi
- Masaru Takayanagi | Executive Officer, VP & CIO, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
- Yoshiko Koizumi, PhD | Planning Group Manager, Marketing Research Div., Daikin Industries [on behalf of Katsunori Ishii, Executive Officer]
- Mihoko Arai | International Affairs Director, Economic Strategy Bureau, Osaka City
- Pitches by six new Fellows
- Panel discussion: “Mission Possible 2: Foster New Ventures and Talent in Synergy”
- Masaru Takayanagi | Executive Officer, VP & CIO, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
- Yuichi Yoshimura | New product planning Senior Manager, New business development office, NISSHA
- Izumi Kobayashi | Co-founder, Phoenixi | Independent Director of Omron and Fujits
- Q&A and networking session with refreshments
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About Phoenixi Co Ltd: Phoenixi operates a residential incubation program and a fund for program graduates to foster both business ideas that address social challenges and the entrepreneurial talent behind them. Program participants (Phoenixi Fellows) — including corporate employees, university faculty, students, and entrepreneurs — live for four months at the company’s facility “toberu”, where they engage in daily cross-sector interactions, startup-focused skill training, and personalized mentoring and coaching. Through this process, they develop new businesses that generate both profit and social impact. Founded in 2018 in Kyoto by Yukiko Hashitera, Dr Sachiko Kuno, and Izumi Kobayashi, Phoenixi is built around the concepts of “creating corporate-born ventures” and “sharing unusual time and space.” Since its inception in 2019, the company has supported a total of 13 cohorts and 96 Fellows (44 sponsored Fellows and 52 independent Fellows), with 31% women and 21% international participants.
