Startup Weekend Kyoto ZET Held in Kyoto, a City of History, Tradition, and Technology | Applications Now Open

TSUKUREA Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hideki Suzuki), a company supporting startups, will hold "Startup Weekend Kyoto ZET" for three days from July 17 (Fri) to 19 (Sun), 2026, at "ZET-BASE KYOTO" (Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture), a co-creation hub for decarbonization technology selected and operated by Kyoto Prefecture.

This event is a 54-hour startup experience program held over a weekend, covering everything from idea generation and team formation to hypothesis testing, product development, and final presentations.

The theme this year is "Let's Start a Business in Kyoto. ~In a City of History, Tradition, and Technology~."

We will challenge participants to create new businesses and social value by combining technology with the history, tradition, and regional resources rooted in Kyoto. We are seeking diverse participants, including students, working professionals, business owners, researchers, creators, and engineers, regardless of prior entrepreneurial experience.

▼For application details, please visit the Peatix event page below:

https://swkyotozet2026.peatix.com/

<Recommended for those who>

・Are interested in entrepreneurship and creating new businesses ・Are interested in businesses that leverage history, tradition, and regional resources ・Want to challenge themselves in creating businesses using technology ・Are interested in regional issues and community development ・Want to learn the process of startups and business creation practically ・Want to meet new friends and co-creation partners

Experience the necessary processes for starting a business in 54 hours

Startup Weekend is not an ideathon or business plan contest, but a program for practically experiencing the process of starting a business and creating new ventures.

On the first day, participants will pitch their ideas and vote to form teams. On the second day, they will work on discovering customer needs, testing hypotheses, and developing products, refining their ideas with feedback from coaches. On the third day, final presentations will be held, and after Q&A with the judges, the winning team will be decided.

A key feature is the ability to experience the entire flow of identifying a problem, gathering teammates, listening to customers, creating a tangible product, and communicating it within a limited time.

Day 1: Idea Pitch Day 2: Feedback from Coaches Day 3: Final Presentation

In a past event, 25 participants who met for the first time shaped 5 business ideas in 3 days.

In the first "Startup Weekend Kyoto ZET" held in July 2025, 25 people participated. After 9 people pitched their ideas and voting narrowed them down to 6, 5 teams were ultimately formed.

At the final presentations after three days of activity, five teams presented their business ideas: "Gan HAZ," which aims to raise awareness for cancer survivors; "AIZAP," which provides AI-powered support for internal communication; "ASHITERASU," which utilizes traditional craft techniques; "TAKENOMUKO," which addresses the issue of abandoned bamboo forests in Muko City; and "Huglink," which aims to solve problems in fertility treatment. "TAKENOMUKO" won the championship.

[1st Event] Startup Weekend Kyoto ZET 250718-20 Event Report

https://nposw.org/kyoto250718/

Coaches, Judges, and Organizers Support Participants' Challenges

In this event, judges, coaches, and organizers with diverse expertise, including university faculty, heads of new business development at railway companies, startup support staff at financial institutions, and patent attorneys, will participate.

Most of the organizers participated as contestants in the previous event held in 2025. Some of them won the grand prize for their business ideas utilizing regional resources and will now support participants' challenges as organizers.

▶Coaches

Sushi Suzuki Associate Professor, Kyoto Institute of Technology

Hiroko Yamagami Representative Director, 100 Inc. (One Double O); Director, General Incorporated Association Senior Life Partners; Director, Kansai Health Management Promotion Council; Employee of a domestic pharmaceutical company; Master of Business Administration & WTC Certified Femcare Plus Expert

Satoshi Fujimoto Deputy Senior Manager, Kyoto Startup Support Center, People's Livelihood Business Headquarters, Japan Finance Corporation

Toshihiko Go Center Manager, Research Cooperation Center, Kyoto University of Advanced Science; Regional Manager, UntroD Capital Japan Co., Ltd.; Specialist, INPIT Intellectual Property Comprehensive Support Desk; Patent Attorney/Certified Internal Auditor

Hiroyuki Kashiwagi Representative, lei consulting; National Certified Career Counselor

▶Judges

Keiko Arima President, Kyoto Sangyo University

Yosuke Monma President, JR West Innovations Co., Ltd.

Hiroyuki Kato CSO, TSUKUREA Inc.

▶Facilitator

Hitoshi Asano

▶Organizers

Yoshiki Yano Representative, Cross-V Works Inc.; Director, Japan Culture Planner Association

Wataru Obata Representative, Obata PR

Shuhei Kobayashi Affiliated with Wacoal Inc.

Ryuta Hiyaji Affiliated with a medical startup

Venue: "ZET-BASE KYOTO," a Co-creation Hub in Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture

The venue, ZET-BASE KYOTO, is a startup support facility for decarbonization technology, established as the first hub for the "ZET-valley concept" promoted by Kyoto Prefecture.

As a co-creation hub where startups, companies, researchers, government agencies, and local businesses interact, it promotes initiatives for solving social issues and creating new businesses.

"Startup Weekend Kyoto ZET" will leverage the characteristics of this space to support new challenges originating from regional resources and issues.

Event Overview

Event Name: Startup Weekend Kyoto ZET Date: July 17 (Fri), 18 (Sat), 19 (Sun), 2026 Venue: ZET-BASE KYOTO Address: 3rd Floor, Kyoto Financial Group MUKOU Building, 21 Yamanawa-cho, Terado-cho, Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture Access: Immediately after alighting at JR "Mukomachi" Station, 7-minute walk from Hankyu "Higashi-Mukō" Station Capacity: 30 people

Participation Fee: Includes 5 meals over 3 days

Early Bird: General ¥7,000 / Student ¥5,000

Regular: General ¥8,000 / Student ¥6,000

*Early bird deadline: July 12 (Sun), 23:59

Organizer: NPO Startup Weekend Support: Kyoto Prefecture, Muko City, Japan Finance Corporation, Muko City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sponsors: JR West Japan, Wacoal Inc., eiicon Inc.

▼For application details, please visit the Peatix event page below:

https://swkyotozet2026.peatix.com/

Schedule

July 17 (Fri) - Day 1

After participants mingle, a 1-minute idea pitch will be held for those who wish. Participants will then vote, and teams will be formed around the ideas that receive the most votes.

July 18 (Sat) - Day 2

Teams will work on shaping their ideas. In the afternoon, coaches, including experienced entrepreneurs and startup supporters, will provide coaching to each team.

July 19 (Sun) - Day 3

Teams will finalize their business ideas for the final presentation. Each team will present, and after Q&A with the judges, the winning team will be decided.

We look forward to your participation.

About Startup Weekend

Startup Weekend is a hands-on program for experiencing entrepreneurship and startup businesses over a 54-hour weekend.

Participants learn the mindset and actions necessary for business creation by conducting idea pitching, team building, customer problem discovery, product development, validation, and presentations in a short period.

https://nposw.org/

About ZET-BASE KYOTO

ZET-BASE KYOTO is an incubation facility that supports startups tackling decarbonization. As a promotion hub for Kyoto Prefecture's "ZET-valley concept," it provides mentoring and networking support from experts.

https://zetbase-kyoto.com/

<Facility Overview>

Name: ZET-BASE KYOTO

Opening: April 21, 2025

Location: 3rd Floor, Kyoto Financial Group MUKOU Building, 21 Yamanawa-cho, Terado-cho, Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture (2-minute walk from JR Mukomachi Station)

Main Functions: Co-working space, private offices, meeting rooms, event space

Features: Accompaniment support by incubation managers, ZEB certified building

For inquiries about the facility, please contact us here.

About TSUKUREA Inc.

"Let's go on the startup side."

TSUKUREA is a professional group that develops businesses centered on startup support and creative production support. Focusing on four fields: deep tech, creative, global, and entrepreneurship education, we provide multifaceted support to entrepreneurs, startups, creators, and researchers through event planning, consulting services, and program operation. We also operate ZET-BASE KYOTO, a support hub for decarbonization-related startups.

Head Office: 4th Floor, Kagaku Kaikan, 1-5 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Kyoto Office: 2nd Floor, Kikusann Building, 112 Machikōzu, Shinmachi-dōri Sanjō-agaru, Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto City

Representative: Hideki Suzuki, Representative Director

Business Activities: Startup support services, incubation business, acceleration program development business, business production, startup investment, etc.

Company HP: https://tsucrea.com/

<Owned Media>

StartupSide Magazine: https://magazine.startupside.jp/

Incubation Labo: https://incubation-labo.com/

Yomlier: https://tsucrea.com/magazine/

【Contact Information for this Matter】

Startup Weekend Kyoto ZET Organizer [email protected] Contact Person: Yano

ZET-BASE KYOTO Phone: 075-323-7737 (Weekdays 9:00 - 17:30) Email: [email protected] (Contact Person: Ota)