![\"Thursday](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/fn_th35_2025_cl.png?resize=921%2C524&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nThis week\u2019s Thursday Gathering looks at how innovation is reshaping mobility, IoT, and food systems. Learn from a caregiving mobility pilot in Yokohama, discover the launch of a new IoT open innovation community in Kyushu, and hear from agri- and fisheries experts tackling food supply challenges. Network with startups, corporates, and researchers over drinks and conversation.<\/p>\n
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Date and Time:<\/strong> Thursday, Sep. 4, 2025, 16:00 to 20:00 16:00 \u2013 16:50 17:00 \u2013 17:30 17:30 \u2013 18:20 18:30 \u2013 19:20 Organized by:<\/strong> Venture Caf\u00e9 Fukuoka This week\u2019s Thursday Gathering looks at how innovation is reshaping mobility, IoT, and food systems. Learn from a caregiving mobility pilot in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29305,"featured_media":172921,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"class_list":["post-172920","event","type-event","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","location-tenjin","event-type-community","event-type-seminar","en-US"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event\/172920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/event"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29305"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172920"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nLocation:<\/strong> ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. 6F SKYLOBBY<\/a>
\nAdmission:<\/strong> Free (registration required)
\nRegistration & details are here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nEvent Highlights (In-person only)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nFrom Care to Innovation \u2013 Yokohama Mobility Pilot<\/strong>
\nCaregiving taxis\u2014of which there are about 16,000 in Japan\u2014face inefficiencies in booking and operations. Yokohama-based startup Japan Move, led by a Fukuoka-born founder, is piloting a digital platform that links care facilities, hospitals, and drivers to improve service and efficiency. This session explores how the Yokohama model could expand to Fukuoka and beyond, and how mobility innovation can evolve from a niche caregiving service into a broader open innovation opportunity.
\nMore info<\/a> \u2013 In Japanese<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIntroducing Social Startups Tackling Community Challenges \u2013 Fukuoka City Social Startup MeetUp @ Sub-session Area (Bar Area)<\/strong>
\nFukuoka City actively supports social startups that address community and societal issues to help create a more sustainable and livable future. In this session, entrepreneurs working in diverse fields\u2014including senior care, community resources, and agriculture\u2014will present their projects and share the passion driving their work. Attendees can also explore booths to experience products firsthand and see how these ventures are tackling challenges through business.
\nSpeakers include Junta Kunimura (OYASAI Inc.), Karen Hashimoto and Doukou Shibagaki (Camp\u5973\u5b50 Inc.), Sae Yamauchi (SafeRide Inc.), and Ayaka Matsuo (Fukuoka City Startup Support Division)
\nMore info<\/a> \u2013 In Japanese<\/em><\/p>\n
\nifLink Kyushu Launch \u2013 Hands-On IoT Open Innovation<\/strong>
\nifLink is an open community of more than 200 companies working to \u201cdemocratize IoT\u201d by lowering barriers to use and encouraging co-creation across industries. The new Kyushu chapter aims to connect enterprises, startups, and students in practical collaborations that go beyond borders. Hear from corporate DX leaders, educators, and practitioners about the frontlines of IoT open innovation and what the Kyushu community can contribute to global efforts.
\nMore info<\/a> \u2013 In Japanese<\/em><\/p>\n
\nFrom Farm to Table \u2013 Strengthening Food Systems with AgriTech<\/strong>
\nJapan\u2019s food supply has been shaken by price spikes in vegetables and rice, highlighting the fragility of existing systems. This panel brings together agri- and fisheries innovators to discuss how technology can build resilience from production to distribution. Welzo, an \u201cagri-innovation\u201d company tackling everything from cultivation to sales, is joined by Orbvision of Kagoshima, which runs a farmer-focused EC platform, and Geo Gastronomy, which develops digital tracking for seafood distribution. Together, they will share services and technologies that support producers, stabilize supply, and create sustainable food systems.
\nMore info<\/a> \u2013 In Japanese<\/em><\/p>\n
\nLanguages:<\/strong> Japanese and\/or English (varies by session)
\nAll sessions are in-person only. Pre-registration required via the event website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"