DelightX

DelightX

A stay-based & AI-focused entrepreneurship program in the San Francisco Bay Area

A stay-based & AI-focused entrepreneurship program in the San Francisco Bay Area

Creating businesses that move the world.

DelightX


DelightX is a stay-based entrepreneurship program in the San Francisco Bay Area, designed for Japanese and Japanese-descendant individuals who aspire to launch AI-focused startups.

The program offers sessions led by top-tier VCs active in the Bay Area, mentoring from local Japanese entrepreneurs, access to co-working spaces, and valuable networking opportunities. Participants who pass the pitch selection after an initial two-month stay will receive continued support, including five additional months of local activities and $60,000 in funding.

From business planning and validation to incorporation and fundraising, DelightX provides end-to-end support. Our vision is to cultivate a new generation of globally successful Japanese and Japanese-American entrepreneurs. DelightX is operated by Delight Ventures.

How it works

The flow of the program

Kick Off

Step 1

(2 months/June-July in 2025)


  • Startup preparation support, including initial validation and networking

  • Mentorship sessions with experienced entrepreneurs in the Bay Area

  • Access to a coworking space

  • Program participation is free (participants are responsible for visa, travel, and living expenses)


Pitch&Judge

Step 2

(5 months/open to discussion)



  • $60,000 in funding provided by Delight Ventures

  • Comprehensive startup preparation, including in-depth validation

  • Team building and co-founder matching

  • Incorporation of a U.S. entity (Delight Ventures takes a 5% equity stake), with support for fundraising activities


Raise

Funding in the United States

(includes preparation and submission of a post-program verification report; additional investment from Delight Ventures may be considered based on results)

*Please note: Program details are currently under review and may be subject to change.

Funding in the United States

(includes preparation and submission of a post-program verification report; additional investment from Delight Ventures may be considered based on results)

*Please note: Program details are currently under review and may be subject to change.

Features

Support

Bay Area mentors

Face2Face lectures by top VCs and serial entrepreneurs active in the Bay Area.

Bay Area mentors

Face2Face lectures by top VCs and serial entrepreneurs active in the Bay Area.

Bay Area mentors

Face2Face lectures by top VCs and serial entrepreneurs active in the Bay Area.

Japanese entrepreneurs based in the Bay Area

Mentoring from active Japanese entrepreneurs living in the Bay Area.

Japanese entrepreneurs based in the Bay Area

Mentoring from active Japanese entrepreneurs living in the Bay Area.

Japanese entrepreneurs based in the Bay Area

Mentoring from active Japanese entrepreneurs living in the Bay Area.

Mentoring by the operation members

1-on-1 sessions facilitated by experienced operation members in entrepreneurship and fundraising.

Mentoring by the operation members

1-on-1 sessions facilitated by experienced operation members in entrepreneurship and fundraising.

Mentoring by the operation members

1-on-1 sessions facilitated by experienced operation members in entrepreneurship and fundraising.

Co-Working Space

Providing co-working spaces used by local entrepreneurs.

Co-Working Space

Providing co-working spaces used by local entrepreneurs.

Co-Working Space

Providing co-working spaces used by local entrepreneurs.

Travel & Startup Preparation Package

Provision of useful resource collection for travel and business considerations.

Travel & Startup Preparation Package

Provision of useful resource collection for travel and business considerations.

Travel & Startup Preparation Package

Provision of useful resource collection for travel and business considerations.

Financial Support

Provide participants in Step 2 with $60,000 (before various taxes). Additionally, consider additional investment upon successful fundraising in the United States.

Financial Support

Provide participants in Step 2 with $60,000 (before various taxes). Additionally, consider additional investment upon successful fundraising in the United States.

Financial Support

Provide participants in Step 2 with $60,000 (before various taxes). Additionally, consider additional investment upon successful fundraising in the United States.

"DelightX Program Briefing"

April 8, 2025 (Tue) 18:00-19:30

"DelightX Program Briefing"

April 8, 2025 (Tuesday) 18:00-19:30

Details

On-site and online

On-site and online

Contents

Panel Discussion

QA Session

Panel discussion
QA session

Panel Discussion
QA Session

Kiyo Kobayashi

Founder of Noxx

Kazsa Tamai

Founder of Zypsy

Shunsuke Yamada

Founder of Retreat

Tomoko Namba

Mentors

Mentor
VC, Serial Entrepreneur

Eric Bahn

Co-Founder, General Partner of Hustle Fund

Eric Bahn

Co-Founder, General Partner of Hustle Fund

Siqi Chen

Co-Founder of Runway, Serial Entrepreneur, Angel Investor

Siqi Chen

Co-Founder of Runway, Serial Entrepreneur, Angel Investor

Mar Hershenson

Founding Managing Partner of Pear VC

Mar Hershenson

Founding Managing Partner of Pear VC

Katrina Lake

Founder, Executive Chairperson of Stitch Fix

Katrina Lake

Founder, Executive Chairperson of Stitch Fix

Holly Liu

Capitalist, exCo-Founder of Kabam

Holly Liu

Capitalist, exCo-Founder of Kabam

Ann Miura-Ko

Co-Founding Partner of Floodgate

Ann Miura-Ko

Co-Founding Partner of Floodgate

Tom Moss

Multi-exited Entrepreneur, Investor

Tom Moss

Multi-exited Entrepreneur, Investor

Tae Hea Nahm

Co-Founding Managing Director of Storm Ventures

Tae Hea Nahm

Co-Founding Managing Director of Storm Ventures

Ho Nam

Managing Director, Altos Ventures

Ho Nam

Managing Director, Altos Ventures

Craig Sherman

General Partner at Meritech Capital

Craig Sherman

General Partner at Meritech Capital

John Whaley

Founder of Inception Studio, Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University, Serial Entrepreneur

John Whaley

Founder of Inception Studio, Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University, Serial Entrepreneur

Mentor
Japanese Entrepreneurs

Kiyo Kobayashi

Founder of Noxx, Serial Entrepreneur

Kiyo Kobayashi

Founder of Noxx, Serial Entrepreneur

Steve Satoru Naito

Founder of Anyplace

Steve Satoru Naito

Founder of Anyplace

Kazuki Nakayashiki

Founder of Glasp

Kazuki Nakayashiki

Founder of Glasp

Kazsa Tamai

Founder of Zypsy

Kazsa Tamai

Founder of Zypsy

Shunsuke Yamada

Founder of Retreat

Shunsuke Yamada

Founder of Retreat

Hiro Hasegawa

Founder, VC

Hiro Hasegawa

Founder, VC

Yusuke Tanaka

Founder

Yusuke Tanaka

Founder

And Others...

And Others...

Organizer
Delight Ventures

Tomoko Namba

Managing Partner

Tomoko Namba

Managing Partner

Ryo Bando

Managing Partner

Ryo Bando

Managing Partner

Shuhei Kawasaki

Managing Partner / Engineer

Shuhei Kawasaki

Managing Partner / Engineer

Masato Ushio

Director, Global Strategy

Masato Ushio

Director, Global Strategy

Yusuke Nagano

Principal

Yusuke Nagano

Principal

Kosuke Fujii

Principal, Product Manager

Kosuke Fujii

Principal, Product Manager

Application Guidelines

＜MUST＞

  • Able to stay in San Francisco and commit full-time to entrepreneurial activities during the two-month Step 1 program.

  • If accepted into Step 2, willing and able to dedicate at least five additional months toward full-time efforts, including fundraising.

  • Capable of securing your own visa and housing in the Bay Area (these may be arranged during the preparation period after acceptance).

  • Able to cover all necessary expenses for Step 1 independently.

  • Strong determination to found and lead a global-scale startup (Delaware C-Corp) as the owner.

  • Native-level proficiency in Japanese and functional English communication skills for conducting business.


    ＜WANT＞

  • Ability to prototype the product independently or within your founding team.

  • Strong interest in the advancement of AI in the Bay Area.

  • A concrete business idea you are eager to pursue.

  • Bring passion and grit!


＜MUST＞

  • Able to stay in San Francisco and commit full-time to entrepreneurial activities during the two-month Step 1 program.

  • If accepted into Step 2, willing and able to dedicate at least five additional months toward full-time efforts, including fundraising.

  • Capable of securing your own visa and housing in the Bay Area (these may be arranged during the preparation period after acceptance).

  • Able to cover all necessary expenses for Step 1 independently.

  • Strong determination to found and lead a global-scale startup (Delaware C-Corp) as the owner.

  • Native-level proficiency in Japanese and functional English communication skills for conducting business.


    ＜WANT＞

  • Ability to prototype the product independently or within your founding team.

  • Strong interest in the advancement of AI in the Bay Area.

  • A concrete business idea you are eager to pursue.

  • Bring passion and grit!


We are not currently accepting applications.

We are not currently accepting applications.

FAQ

Can I apply as a team?

Is it necessary for all team members to be Japanese when applying?

Is full-time participation required for Step 1?

Can minors participate?

Is it possible to participate even if the company has already been established in Japan?

Is it possible to participate even if the company has already been established in the United States?

When will the selection results be known?

Can I apply as a team?

Is it necessary for all team members to be Japanese when applying?

Is full-time participation required for Step 1?

Can minors participate?

Is it possible to participate even if the company has already been established in Japan?

Is it possible to participate even if the company has already been established in the United States?

When will the selection results be known?

Can I apply as a team?

Is it necessary for all team members to be Japanese when applying?

Is full-time participation required for Step 1?

Can minors participate?

Is it possible to participate even if the company has already been established in Japan?

Is it possible to participate even if the company has already been established in the United States?

When will the selection results be known?

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