Build In Japan
May 15th - 29th, 2025
"AI and Mobility for All"
powered by Ludus Labs
Register Here!
15 Days in Japan:
Experience Japan’s culture, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit over 15 immersive days. Discover dynamic cities, rich traditions, and cutting-edge technologies in this unique setting.NVC Certification:
Earn a University of Colorado, New Venture Challenge Micro-Credit in Innovation and Global Entrepreneurship, highlighting your skills in building and launching a startup. This credential sets you apart with real-world startup experience and global collaboration.Startup Know-How:
Gain hands-on startup experience. Develop entrepreneurial skills and bring your ideas to life in a global business environment.Global Collaboration:
Work with international students to solve real-world challenges. Build lasting global networks and gain insights from diverse perspectives.Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience:
This is more than a study tour—it’s a transformative adventure that combines entrepreneurship, cultural immersion, and personal growth, offering memories and skills that will last a lifetime.
University of Colorado students will join peers from Nagoya University to form international startup teams. Together, they will explore AI fundamentals and address Japan’s demographic challenges of population collapse.Through design thinking, teams will craft innovative startup concepts aimed at tackling real-world issues.
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Overview
Course Description:
This 15-day study course, offered in the spring of 2025 (5/15 - 5/29) facilitates a unique collaborative environment between the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU), and Nagoya University (NU) students. The course aims to develop innovative startup ideas at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and mobility through a design thinking approach. The program includes a blend of online teamwork and an immersive visit to Japan, providing students with firsthand experience in the international startup ecosystem, engagement with leading technology companies, and cultural exposure. This course, titled "AI and Mobility for All," aims to broaden the concept of mobility beyond physical transportation to include access to social, economic, and well-being opportunities through innovative AI solutions.Why Japan?
Japan serves as an ideal laboratory for this course due to its unique demographic challenges, including an aging population and a societal commitment to technological innovation. These factors make Japan a dynamic testing ground for AI solutions aimed at improving quality of life and health. The country's advanced infrastructure and openness to digital transformation provide a real-world context in which students can develop, test, and refine their AI-driven innovations.Course Overview:
The course begins with a series of online workshops where students from CU and Nagoya University will form international teams to explore the fundamentals of AI and Japan’s unique demographic challenges. They will then employ design thinking to ideate and craft initial AI startup concepts that address specific well-being challenges.Upon arriving in Japan, the teams will immerse themselves in an environment that combines high-tech innovation with profound societal needs. This blended online and in-person program includes hands-on workshops, collaborative projects, and expert-led seminars that deepen their understanding of how AI can be applied to real-world scenarios. Students will engage in critical analysis of AI's impact on society, exploring ethical considerations, user-centered design, and scalability.Who is New Venture Challenge?
The New Venture Challenge (NVC) connects the CU Boulder campus with the Boulder community to develop and fund innovative ideas. Participants attend year-round events, network and collaborate with mentors to refine their ideas and form startup teams to pitch for funding (more than $100,000!) at the NVC Finals.Who is Ludus Labs?
Ludus Labs is a startup incubator focused on creating impact by leveraging AI technologies with a global reach. We do this by grouping teams from around the world in digital and collaborative environments, and challenging them to solve problems related to healthcare, energy, and education. University students pursuing entrepreneurship, global impact, and building international networks are encouraged to apply. The work of Ludus Labs is supported by our visionary sponsors, university partners, volunteers, and mentors.
Program Fees
Program: Build In Japan: AI and Mobility for All
Country: Japan
City: Tokyo & Nagoya
Term: 5/15 - 5/29/25
Residency Status: In-state, Out-stateProgram Fees*
Instructional Cost: $2,700
Health Insurance: $105
Housing included in fee: $1,800
Total Program Fee: $4,605Total Estimated Cost not included in Program Fees
Books & Supplies: $80
Meal Costs: $420
Personal Expenses: $500
Airfare: $1,200
Estimated Cost not included in Program Fee: $2,200Total Estimated Budget: $6,805*Program fee includes instructional cost, all lodging, transportation, daily breakfast, and 3 dinner events.**Partial scholarships available. Contact Us to apply.
Team
Stan Hickory: Stan is the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at CU Boulder. One of the key programs run by his office is the New Venture Challenge (NVC). Ranked 15th in the country, the NVC is the launching pad for many CU Boulder startups with over $$200,000 in funding available.Skilled as a project manager, leader, collaborator, and communicator. Stan is an agile leader with work experience in many different fields. Skilled in middle school and high school education and administration, design thinking, emergency management, curriculum design, and educational technology. Stan is a presenter, author, and public speaker. Stan has experience in the non-profit and for-profit world as well. Stan has founded and managed three companies: home remodeling, adventure travel, and an educational travel non-profit.Sam Goodman: Sam is the Founder and Director of Ludus Labs, a startup incubator focused on creating impact by leveraging AI technologies with a global reach.Sam is passionate about the crossroads of startups, education, technology, and impact by building transformative edTech platforms at the nexus of tech, global collaboration, and entrepreneurship.
Dates & Deadlines
Program Dates: 5/15 - 5/29/25
Online Prep Program: Early March
Earlybird Registration Deadline (10% discount): 12/31/24
Registration Deadline: 2/28/25
Cancellation Deadline: 3/1/25
Thank You
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