Accelerating Start-up Ecosystem in Singapore & Japan: Collaborative Entrepreneurial Bootcamp Hosted by Reactor

Written by: Erika Taguchi, MSc TIP AY24-25 student

 

From 22 to 24 February 2025, I had the opportunity to attend Entrecamp, a dynamic start-up boot camp designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with real-world start-up experience, which Reactor, a pre-accelerator start-up school organised. Held across multiple launchpads and accelerators in Singapore, the programme provided participants with hands-on exposure to the start-up ecosystem and cross-cultural collaboration opportunities.

 Bridging Singapore and Japan’s Start-up Communities

The bootcamp welcomed a diverse cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students from Kyushu University, Kumamoto University, and other institutions across Japan, alongside international students from Mongolia and Malaysia. For many, it was their first visit to Singapore and Southeast Asia, making the experience an enriching blend of entrepreneurship, innovation, and cultural exchange.

Participants came from diverse backgrounds, including students from Mongolia, Malaysia, and various regions of Japan.


A key highlight was the collaboration with students from PARKS, an entrepreneurship initiative by Kyushu University and Kumamoto University. Participants engaged in interactive sessions to foster cross-border innovation, exchanging ideas and insights on global start-up trends.

Collaboration with the PARKS students from Kyushu University & Kumamoto University
Entrecamp was an excellent opportunity to collaborate with undergrad and postgrad students from Southern Japan.  Had a great time bonding with fellow students and showing them around some good eats!


Hands-On Start-up Training at Pollinate

The second day of the bootcamp occurred at Pollinate, a joint polytechnic start-up incubator in One-North, Singapore’s thriving start-up hub. The mock pitch session at Pollinate provided an immersive experience, allowing student teams to refine their start-up ideas and receive real-time feedback on their presentations.

Mock pitch session day at Pollinate, the joint polytechnic incubator workspace in One-North.
An eye-opening session at the Pollinate, the joint polytechnic incubator space, inspired us to understand how to pitch a group's ideas better. 

 

Drawing from the Master of Science in Technopreneurship and Innovation Programme (MSc TIP)’s curriculum, I guided teams in crafting compelling pitches aligned with market needs. By applying effective pitching techniques and market sizing methodologies, participants gained deeper insights into structuring start-up presentations for maximum impact.

Applying Technopreneurship & Innovation Skills in Real-World Scenarios

A critical component of Entrecamp was customer validation research, where students tested real-world assumptions about market demand, customer pain points, and product viability. Conducting street interviews at a Buona Vista mall, we engaged directly with consumers to gather feedback—an essential step in refining start-up ideas.

This hands-on experience reinforced the importance of validating concepts before scaling and aligning them with design thinking principles taught in MSc TIP’s Design and System Thinking module. By applying these frameworks, participants gained a practical understanding of the start-up validation process and the challenges of bringing an idea to market.

Expanding Networks and Exploring Emerging Technologies

Beyond workshops and pitch sessions, Entrecamp facilitated valuable networking opportunities beyond workshops and pitch sessions, enabling participants to exchange entrepreneurial strategies and insights into the Singaporean and Japanese start-up ecosystems.

One of the most exciting moments was exploring AI-driven innovations with fellow participants. The depth of technical expertise among students showcased the immense potential for cross-border collaboration in emerging technologies. These interactions provided a deeper appreciation of Japan’s innovation landscape and its opportunities for future partnerships.

Empowering Future Entrepreneurs

Entrecamp provided a transformative experience that combined practical start-up training, international networking, and cultural exchange. By linking classroom learning with real-world applications, the programme reinforced key principles of the MSc TIP while strengthening connections between the entrepreneurial communities of Singapore and Japan.

The boot camp offered an excellent blend of practical experience, education, and cultural exchange. I left feeling inspired, better prepared to tackle future entrepreneurial endeavours, and with a deeper appreciation for cross-border collaboration.

 

NTU Entrepreneurship Academy reserves the right in its sole discretion to make modification or cancellation to the above-mentioned.

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