Introduction of QBS/QREC courses

Katsufumi MATSUI

Schumpeter (1912) assigned the role of innovation to newly founded independent firms (startups). Since then, startups have been considered as one of the sources of innovation that act as competitive pressure on existing firms and promote market efficiency. In reality, successful startups, such as Tesla, Uber, and Facebook, have not only grown into global companies but have also become leaders in their countries’ economies and industries.
On the other hand, in recent years, there has also been an increase in the establishment of corporate venture capital (CVC), which involves the management of venture capital (VC) firms that specialize in bringing “ventures” into the company (generally referred to as “corporate venturing”) or investing in startups. This is a way for companies to explore how they can change their corporate culture and achieve disruptive innovation from within.
This lecture aims to improve management skills in launching new businesses by discussing “how to launch a business with few management resources.”

Katsufumi MATSUI

This course is offered by the Robert T. Huang Entrepreneurship Center of Kyushu University (QREC), and the course title at QREC is “Entrepreneurship in Technology (Advanced).”
The aim of this lecture is to comprehensively explore tech startups that address social issues. In recent years, technology-based startups—especially those utilizing generative AI—have rapidly influenced society, and expanding their social impact has become increasingly important.
The course will begin with a discussion on the current landscape of tech startups. Then, students will experience the early-stage processes of startup development to acquire practical skills.
Furthermore, the course will explore ethical dilemmas that may arise in these processes and foster awareness of such issues. Finally, students will consider how to scale social impact through the use of technology.
Even for those who do not intend to start a business themselves, understanding startups is becoming increasingly important, as opportunities to engage with startups in various roles and contexts are expected to grow.

Megumi TAKATA

In recent years, there has been growing interest in university-based startups that aim to boldly tackle various social issues. In the creation of innovative businesses that go beyond conventional frameworks, the role of industry-academia collaboration in commercializing research outcomes from universities and public research institutions is extremely important.
At the same time, it is difficult to estimate the future value of early-stage technologies, and the path to commercialization is highly uncertain. Therefore, individuals involved in this process are required to possess strong entrepreneurial capabilities.
This course aims to help students acquire systematic knowledge and practical skills necessary to create innovative businesses based on research outcomes generated in universities and similar institutions.
To achieve this, the course emphasizes practical exercises such as evaluating actual technology seeds from universities and public research institutions, assessing business opportunities (idea evaluation), identifying target markets, clarifying value propositions, and developing go-to-market strategies.
This course is intended not only for entrepreneurs aspiring to launch university-based startups, but also for business leaders and new business developers aiming to create new ventures based on university technologies, as well as staff in university-industry collaboration offices, technology licensing organizations (TLOs), and government officials supporting regional collaboration.
(The course title at QREC is “Entrepreneurial Value Assessment (Advanced)”).

Masataka SUGIMOTO

Through case studies and group work, participants will acquire foundational knowledge on management policies, organizational design, and system design essential for successful new business development through intrapreneurship and open innovation. In addition, the course will cover practical key points for generating winning business ideas and turning them into tangible business results as part of a sustainable effort.

Masaki KUROKI

Participants will acquire foundational knowledge of management policies, organizational design, and system design necessary for successful new business development through intrapreneurship and open innovation. In addition, through case studies and group work, they will learn practical key points for generating winning business ideas and turning them into tangible business outcomes as part of a sustainable initiative.

Hironori KITAGAWA

This course covers both the theory and practice of finance throughout the growth stages of a venture—from startup to IPO. The instructor, who currently serves as CFO of a publicly listed venture company, will share firsthand experiences including IPO preparation, as well as real-world cases that are actively unfolding in society.
Participants will not only gain theoretical knowledge, but also acquire practical financial skills from the perspectives of entrepreneurs, investors, and securities firms, enabling them to effectively “use” finance.
Additionally, guest speakers with real-world experience will be invited to present actual case studies, providing further opportunities for practical learning.

Kosuke KANEKO / Yuka WATANABE / Nergui ENKHZAYA

This course uses a business simulation system developed at INSEAD in France to provide hands-on learning of marketing and business strategy through interactive exercises. Students will form multiple teams, each of which will develop and compete using their own marketing strategies. As such, communication within group work is a key component of the course.
The course follows the steps below to build competency:
Learn marketing theory through lectures (each session introduces a new topic).
Use the marketing knowledge from the lecture to develop a team-based marketing strategy.
Implement the strategy in the simulation system.
Reflect on the simulation results and revise the strategy based on the outcomes.