From problem discovery to Demo Day in 2 months.
In 2025, AI reached the level of solving International Math Olympiad problems.
But no matter how smart AI gets, it's meaningless if you can't harness it. Those who can tackle hard problems themselves are the ones who can design what to have AI solve, combine its outputs, and create new value. The deeper your thinking ability, the more you can multiply AI's power.
The logical thinking and structuring skills you've built are your greatest weapons in the AI era. Things you couldn't build alone are now possible. Use that power to rally others, build a real product, and ship it to the world. That's what Edge offers.
Edge is an incubation program where selected participants build a real product and ship it — individually or in teams — over the course of two months. An incubation program supports aspiring entrepreneurs from the idea stage through product launch, providing mentoring, development environments, presentation opportunities, and networks.
You can fully leverage AI for product development. No programming experience required. What matters is the ability to think about "what to build" and the drive to rally others to make it happen. While the program centers on STEM, we welcome participants from any field who excel at something.
* This program is currently in the planning stage. Content, schedule, and conditions are subject to change.
Program Features
* Subject to change.
Selected peers
Meet others who share your drive to create and change things — selected not by exam scores, but by curiosity and ambition. A rare chance to connect with like-minded peers outside of school. Both individual and team participation are welcome.
Beyond the classroom
This isn't about listening to lectures and writing reports. You'll find your own problem, talk to real people, design a solution, and build it. Finding your own answer to a problem with no textbook solution — that's a kind of excitement exams can't offer. What matters is taking that first step with your own head and hands.
Skills for life, even if you never start a company
Starting from zero name recognition, persuading people, building trust step by step — this experience will serve you whether you become a doctor, researcher, or join a company. And if it doesn't work out, you won't go bankrupt. Small challenges, in a safe environment. We design with parents' peace of mind in mind.
AI as your weapon
You can fully leverage AI for product development. No programming experience required. Your ability to think about "what to build" and give AI precise instructions — your structural thinking — becomes your direct weapon.
* AI usage is encouraged but not mandatory. You can work in whatever way suits you best.
Designed to fit alongside exam prep
2 hours per session, biweekly Saturdays. Between sessions, AI helps you work efficiently, and staff provide individual support when needed. A workload designed for busy students preparing for exams.
Diverse backgrounds welcome
While STEM is our core, we welcome participants from humanities, arts, sports, and other backgrounds. We believe that when diverse talents intersect, more interesting products emerge.
What the World's Top
Universities Look For
Top universities like MIT and Stanford don't select students based on test scores and grades alone. What they value is whether you can take initiative, take risks, and build something with your own hands — essentially the same qualities demanded in the startup world.
Edge's curriculum is designed so that these qualities are naturally honed through practice.
Initiative — The drive to act on your own
MIT explicitly lists "seizing opportunities" as an evaluation criterion. Taking challenging courses, starting a company, contributing to your community — the drive to go after things that don't come to you on their own.
At Edge → Day 1 starts with finding your own problem and taking the first step yourself.
Risk-taking — The courage to fail and learn
MIT values "taking risks and the resilience to bounce back from failure." The most creative and successful people know that risk can lead to failure just as it can lead to success.
At Edge → On Day 3, you put an imperfect product in front of real people and learn from unexpected reactions.
Hands-on creativity — Building with your own hands
MIT's motto is "Mind and Hand." They seek people who don't just theorize but apply ideas to real-world problems and build solutions with their own hands.
At Edge → On Day 2, you build a working product with your own hands, leveraging AI.
Collaborative spirit — Working together
Collaboration and cooperation are at the core of MIT, where problem sets are designed for group work. The ability to tackle big challenges alongside people from different backgrounds.
At Edge → You divide roles with mentors and peers to drive your project forward.
Intellectual Vitality — Insatiable curiosity
One of the qualities Stanford values most. The drive to keep learning beyond the classroom, broaden your horizons, and seek out new opportunities. They look for students brimming with curiosity, openness, and imagination.
At Edge → You find a problem driven by your own intellectual curiosity and turn it into action, outside the classroom.
Sources: MIT Admissions "What We Look For", Stanford Undergraduate Admission
Curriculum
* Content and schedule subject to change.
Find your own question
Introductions and orientation. Starting from "what you lose track of time doing" and "what makes you angry," you search for a problem you genuinely want to tackle. Use AI as a sounding board to sharpen the problem, and articulate "whose problem, what problem, and why you're the one to solve it." Tentatively decide on a solution direction and product form.
Between sessions: 1-on-1 deep-dive with a mentor. Find and talk to someone actually struggling with the problem. Begin prototype development.
Build
After sharing each person's problem and proposed solution, develop prototypes using AI. Participants design and make decisions; AI executes under their direction. It doesn't have to be perfect — just make it work.
Between sessions: Continue prototype development. The most important period of the entire program. Confirm direction in 1-on-1s with your mentor.
Ship and validate
Put your prototype in front of real people. Ask them: "Would you actually use this?" and "What's missing?" Organize the unexpected reactions and decide whether a pivot is needed.
Between sessions: Improve the product based on feedback.
Polish + re-validate
Incorporate feedback to improve the product, then put it in front of people again. Compare how reactions changed from the first round. The second cycle of Build-Measure-Learn.
Between sessions: Final product adjustments. Prepare your demo for Demo Day.
Demo Day
Each participant pitches in front of external judges. Judging and awards. Reflect on "what changed between Day 1 me and today's me" and put it into words. Launch of the alumni network.
Who Should Apply
For those with exceptional ability
Those who've gone deep in their field
Whether it's math, physics, computer science, or another area — if you've achieved at a high level and are curious about creating something with your own hands beyond exams and research, that's enough. Science Olympiad experience is welcome, as is anyone who knows they're a cut above their peers. Interest in business and entrepreneurship is also welcome.
Those looking to expand their options
For those considering top overseas universities or domestic recommendation-based admissions, Edge provides powerful material. Qualities that MIT and Stanford officially value — Initiative, Risk-taking, and Hands-on creativity — are naturally honed through practice in Edge's curriculum. The experience of actually building a product and delivering it to people will naturally show in your application essays and materials.
Those who excel at something, regardless of field
Not limited to STEM. We welcome those with outstanding achievements or passion in humanities, arts, sports, and beyond. When diverse talents intersect, more interesting things emerge.
The Origin of Edge
Koji Yamada, Founding Partner of Roppongi Venture Capital, studied mechanical engineering at Tokyo Institute of Technology's graduate school and spent six and a half years as a development engineer for cryogenic refrigerators at Sumitomo Heavy Industries, working at the frontlines of Japanese manufacturing. He then worked at IBM and AWS in the manufacturing × AI space. Japan's STEM talent is world-class. Yet in the field, those supporting advanced technology often don't receive recognition commensurate with their contributions. As AI fundamentally transforms society, ensuring that STEM talent is properly valued and can fully exercise their abilities is essential — both for Japan's competitiveness and for solving global challenges in energy, healthcare, and food.
Through founding the healthcare NPO "Minato-ku Wellness Research Institute," and participating in accelerator programs including METI's "Shido Next Innovator" and UC Berkeley's "SkyDeck Bootcamp in Tokyo," a diverse community has grown. When the NPO was first launched, nobody paid attention. But by continuing to act despite constant rejection, trust gradually built and paths opened — the learning and growth from that process was greater than any classroom could provide.
We want to deliver these experiences to the top talent of the next generation. That is the origin of Edge.
Guided by an engineer at the frontlines of technology
Founder Yamada is a working engineer in the manufacturing × AI space. Not textbook knowledge, but real-world technical insight — directly advising participants on their projects.
Opportunities to meet people from diverse fields
Leveraging networks built through activities including participation in the World Economic Forum at Davos, we aim to create opportunities for participants to interact with entrepreneurs, engineers, researchers, and others they wouldn't normally meet in school life.
How to Apply
* Conditions and process subject to change.
Small cohort, selective admission
Cohort 1 will be a small group of 5–10. We prioritize participant quality above all. Admission is through invitation from the organizers or selection via the application form.
Requirements
- Middle school, high school, or university student
- Outstanding achievement or strong passion in your field
- Science Olympiad or competition results are not required
- No entrepreneurship experience needed
Application process
- Invitation from organizers, or submit the application form
- Interview (online, approx. 30 minutes)
- Admission notification
The interview covers your past activities and what you'd like to challenge next.
Application form coming soon.
Demo Day Awards
* Details under consideration and subject to change.
Grand Prize
Overseas conference delegation (under consideration)
Excellence Award / Special Judge's Award
Prize money (amount under consideration)
FAQ
* Answers subject to change.
Is programming experience required?
No. With AI, you can build products without writing code. What matters is the ability to think about "what to build" and give AI precise instructions. Of course, programming experience enables deeper development.
Can I balance this with exam preparation?
Yes. Sessions are 2 hours, biweekly Saturdays. Between sessions, AI and support staff help you work efficiently. The schedule is also designed to serve as extracurricular activity for overseas university applications.
Can I participate alone?
Yes. Individual participation is the default. We'll provide opportunities to form teams for those who want to.
Do I need a business idea?
Not at the time of application. Day 1 starts with finding a problem. If you can't find your own theme, you can join another participant's project.
Is it really free?
Yes. Cohort 1 has no participation fee whatsoever. This may change for future cohorts.
Can I use this for overseas or domestic recommendation-based admissions?
Yes. Genuine extracurricular experience naturally shows in application essays and materials. This applies not only to overseas top universities but also to domestic recommendation and AO admissions at universities like the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University. The program timing (May–July) is right before application preparation intensifies, making it a good opportunity to gain practical experience.