High School Entrepreneurship Experience Program
By President and CEO Riyako Namiki
The "JPX Entrepreneurship Experience Program 2024 in AKITA," an educational program that allows high school students to experience real entrepreneurship, concluded its three-month-long project with a "Shareholders' Meeting" held on January 12, 2025, in Akita City.
This was the first time the program was held in Akita City. Approximately 80 first- and second-year students from Akita High School, Akita Kita High School, and Akita Minami High School participated in the program, which was proposed by Mayumi Oku, the representative of the general incorporated association Sail on Japan. Sail on Japan is widely involved in educational initiatives and promotes the use of this entrepreneurship program in high schools across Akita Prefecture.
The "JPX" in the program's name refers to the Japan Exchange Group, which oversees the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Osaka Stock Exchange, and others. It is where listed stocks are traded. This program was developed by JPX and is implemented in various regions across Japan.
The first orientation session for the program was held in August 2024. Participants were divided into 10 groups to brainstorm business ideas. They then presented their ideas to investors (venture capitalists), created business plans, and received funding to establish their own companies. Subsequently, manufacturing companies produced actual products, and in December, they opened mock stores to sell their products to the general public and explain their services to visitors, providing a realistic business experience. Finally, on January 12, the program concluded with a "Shareholders' Meeting," where participants gave presentations summarizing their activities over the past few months.
During the Shareholders' Meeting, the high school students shared the challenges they faced in starting their companies, how they turned vague business ideas into concrete plans, how they determined pricing, and the strategies they used to sell their products. They also spoke about the need to seek cooperation from various adults during product development and sales.
For most high school students, their daily lives revolve around classes and club activities, with little interaction with adults outside of their teachers and parents. However, this JPX Entrepreneurship Experience Program is supported by companies, allowing students to meet company presidents and receive advice from them. For many students, this was likely their first such experience.
I became a shareholder in one of the 10 companies, "Ichigo Ichie Co., Ltd.," established by students from Akita Minami High School. I was particularly moved by the passionate enthusiasm of the sweet-loving girls who adore strawberries, which led me to invest in their company. What impressed me most was the business acumen of the young female CEO. I trusted her intuition and decisiveness, leaving all business decisions to her while offering some advice on the mindset of a leader. Additionally, I supported another company by providing sapphire and ruby scraps from Orbray. With a focus on SDGs, they skillfully utilized these materials to create and sell accessories. I heard that their designs were highly praised. Every company was filled with the dreams and passion of the high school students, making them truly remarkable enterprises.
The most important thing in realizing a dream is "the determination not to give up." Not giving up means recognizing how much you love your dream and how strongly you feel about it. Moreover, the journey to pursue a dream is never a solitary one. It is the presence of companions who share the same goal that enables one to overcome challenges. Through this initiative, I believe the high school students experienced the joy of creating something together with their peers and the deep sense of accomplishment that comes with achieving a goal.
By the way, do you know what a "corporation" is? Among the various types of companies, corporations are particularly challenging to establish. However, they are well-suited for conducting large-scale business. Of course, the companies established in this program were not real, but the students were able to learn the basic structure of a corporation. The origin of corporations dates back to the 17th century with the establishment of the Dutch East India Company. The company raised large sums of money from many investors to fund voyages to Asia and the Americas to purchase spices. In return, they issued shares as proof of investment. The profits from selling the goods brought back from these voyages were distributed to shareholders. For shareholders, even if a ship was lost at sea, their losses were limited to their initial investment, and they did not face the risk of incurring massive debts. On the other hand, successful voyages yielded significant profits, which led to the widespread adoption of this system.
Through this entrepreneurship experience
Mayumi Oku of Sail on Japan commented, "For the students, this was likely their first time seriously thinking about money and numbers—how to price a product, how to sell it, and how to make a profit. They had to consider how many items to prepare and how to set up their stores. This was not the usual 'learning to find the correct answer' but rather 'learning where there is no correct answer.' What’s important is that they were using their own money. Because it was personal to them, they took it seriously, and because investors also provided funding, they had no choice but to take it seriously. On the night after the Shareholders' Meeting, I received feedback from students saying they didn’t want it to end, that they wanted to continue, and that they now wanted to study business administration in university. Through this entrepreneurship experience, I hope the students will become individuals who can think and act independently, rather than simply following a predetermined path."
The experience of starting a company is something that even most adults have never had. By participating in this program, even in a simulated manner, the high school students who experienced starting and managing a company will likely become more attuned to societal and economic trends, such as corporate financial reports, labor costs, material costs, and inflation. I hope they will be able to make decisions with a business owner’s perspective when they pursue higher education or enter the workforce. If any of the students decide to establish their own companies in the future, that would be even more rewarding. I look forward to watching the future of these participating high school students with great anticipation.