tayo, inc.

Web site

Overview

【tayo, inc】Founded in May 2019 by Dr. Kumagai, a former researcher at a national research institute, tayo, inc aims to break down the barriers between private enterprises and academia, creating a society where research personnel can choose diverse career paths. We primarily introduce research personnel to university-based startups and other entities. In addition, we collaborate with local governments to support industry-academia collaboration in entrepreneurship, organize online and offline events for researchers, and plan public relations activities. Moreover, we operate and develop the SNS "tayo," which facilitates interaction and information sharing among researchers, with over 3,000 researchers registered to date.

Partner entities

An-Nahal Inc.

Beyond Next Ventures Inc.

Initiative details

We propose initiatives to support the participation of young women researchers in the deep-tech sector through entrepreneurship and engagement with the startup ecosystem. Tayo Inc., which possesses one of Japan’s largest networks of young researchers, will collaborate with Beyond Next Ventures, known for its strong support of researchers starting businesses, and An-Nahal, with a proven track record in minority support. In partnership with major universities in the metropolitan area, such as GTIE(Greater Tokyo Innovation Ecosystem) and Teikyo University, the following will be provided to young women researchers: 1) community building and workshop retreat aimed at supporting team-building and raising awareness, and 2) hands-on entrepreneurship support through a women-only GAP fund.
Through these efforts, we aim to improve the entrepreneurial mindset and self-efficacy of women researchers, foster the creation of entrepreneurship preparation projects, and lay the groundwork for the continuous emergence of women deep-tech entrepreneurs.
We expect these outcomes to contribute to Tokyo’s “10×10×10 Innovation Vision” and its goal of increasing the number of startups in Tokyo by tenfold over the next five years.

Progress

KPIs & Achievements

Can be viewed by scrolling horizontally.

Outcomes / As of December 31, 2024

Outputs / As of December 31, 2024

(*3)Hosting the workshop retreat exclusively for women researchers

Details

1. Overview

WISER was launched in October 2024 to foster mutual exchange among women researchers and support entrepreneurship, research implementation, and career development. During this period, WISER held various events both online and onsite, providing opportunities for members to deepen their interactions.

2. Key Activities and Achievements

(1) Activation of the Discord Community

●Operated a Discord community as an online space where women researchers can easily seek advice.

●Over the past three months, the number of community members increased to approximately 80, bringing together women researchers from diverse backgrounds.

●Discussions on research challenges and career concerns became more active, with members frequently exchanging advice.

●The "Inquiries And Advice Channel" and "Casual Chat Channel" were particularly well-utilized, fostering a culture of mutual support.

●The "Entrepreneurship & Social Implementation Channel" became a hub for members interested in solving social issues through research, facilitating discussions on practical implementation and concrete initiatives.

●women researcher-turned-entrepreneurs who spoke at online events were invited to join the Discord community, allowing members to directly consult with them. This provided aspiring entrepreneurs with a valuable opportunity to receive practical advice from experienced business founders.

(2) Hosting Online and Onsite Events

●Between October and December 2024, a total of eight events were held online and onsite.

●These events facilitated connections among researchers across different disciplines and career stages, leading to active interdisciplinary networking.

●Even after the events, engagement within the Discord community continued to grow, ensuring ongoing discussions and collaborations.

3. Future Plans

Until June 2025: Continued Event Hosting

●WISER will continue to invite women researchers and entrepreneurs from diverse fields to share insights on career development and entrepreneurship.

June 14–15, 2025: Entrepreneurship Retreat

●A women researchers-only entrepreneurship retreat will be held, providing an intensive program for research commercialization.

Summer 2025: GAP Fund Applications Open

●WISER will launch the GAP Fund application process to support women researchers in bringing their research closer to real-world implementation.

WISER will continue to uphold the spirit of "CURIOSITY KNOWS NO BARRIERS!", creating an environment where women researchers can pursue their curiosity and contribute to society.

SU Support Info

Post2024/12/20

tayo, inc.

WISER supports young women researchers by fostering peer connections and encouraging entrepreneurship through communities, events, retreats, and GAP funds.
We are now accepting participants!
Eligibility: Female researchers under 40 years old or within 8 years of obtaining their degree.
Examples: Master's/PhD students, postdocs, university faculty, and working professionals.

Deadline2026/03/31

Post2025/02/07

tayo, inc.

[Now Accepting Applications for Camp Participants]
We are hosting the WISER CURIOSITY CAMP, an experimental startup camp focused on the theme of entrepreneurship and research-based social implementation, on June 14–15. This camp is aimed at early-career women researchers.

Eligibility: Women researchers under 40 years of age at the time of application, who are graduate students (master's level or above) or have equivalent research experience.

Deadline2025/04/20