Fusion 2000 Business Plan Competition
J@pan Inc. Magazine Presents: FUSION 2000 - A Venture Business Forum
* The largest, most comprehensive business incubation event ever in Japan
* Foreign VCs, incubators, entrepreneurs, and business students participate
* E-Business Plans from all over the world welcome
* Fostering a healthy venture-business marketplace with professional
know-how
The Fusion 2000 Venture Business Forum is a unique Net venture incubation
program running from August 1 to December 4, 2000. Students and
entrepreneurs from around the world are invited to submit short summaries of
their business plans, the major requirement being that they focus on Japan
as their market. A screening committee of VCs and incubators will review the
summaries, offer the advice and practical know-how needed to put the plans
into action, and pick the best to be semi-finalists. The semi-finalists then
submit their full business plans, from which the panelists will choose the
finalists. The finalists will then present their ideas to the screening
committee and audience at the three evening seminars. Two winners will be
announced at the December 4 awards presentation dinner and granted prizes
equivalent to around JPY1 million, including incubation support, a special
award from the sponsors, and investment by VCs.
Participating sponsors include foreign VCs, business consulting firms, and
major IT firms. Among the participating VCs are Credit Suisse First Boston
Securities (Japan) Limited, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Private Equity
(Japan), and Whitney & Co. Also participating are Internet incubators, like
SunBridge's Venture Habitat, who will share with participants their
extensive knowledge, experience, and resources. Rounding out the event are
various tech heavyweights -- including Sun Microsystems and Microsoft -- and
consultants from some of world's leading firms, including Andersen
Consulting. The American Electronics Association (AEA) is also endorsing the
event.
Event Outline
Fusion 2000 consists of two parts, as follows:
Part I. The Business Plan Competition
Net business plans are submitted from Japan and overseas. Details follow:
** The plan must be for a Net business based in Japan
** The entry categories are (A) Startups and (B) Experienced
** Anyone can apply, including students and workers from all fields
** Japanese and/or English submissions are OK
** Applications are accepted through the Fusion 2000 Web site
(www.fusion-2000.net)
** The prize for the top plan is equivalent to around JPY1 million, and
includes incubation support, a special award from the sponsors, and
investment by VCs.
The Schedule of Part I:
Applicants register at the Fusion 2000 site (http://www.fusion-2000.net) and
submit an executive summary of their business plan, together with SWOT
analysis. Those who pass the first screening then submit their full business
plans. These are the semi-finalists. Reviewing and judging of the business
plans will be conducted by an incubation committee made up of sponsor VCs
and incubators. Semi-finalists will have the opportunity to make a
presentation at the Fusion 2000 seminar, where winners in each category will
be decided. They will later be awarded at a presentation ceremony.
August 1 - September 15
Registration at the Web site. Applicants submit a 2-page executive summary
of their business plan
September 18-29
Panelists screen the summaries. Semi-finalists asked to submit full business
plans
September 29
Closing date for submission of full business plans
October 31, November 1, 2
Finalists make presentations at seminar
December 4
Awards presentation ceremony
Part II. The Seminars
The Fusion 2000 seminars, to be held at Aoyama Diamond Hall, will help
nurture healthy venture businesses, partly by providing knowledge,
information, and interesting case studies. Sharing their wide-ranging and
ample experience will be business leaders, investors, incubators, and
consultants. The seminars will be organized into three days, with each day
representing a different theme of the Fusion concept.
Day One: October 31
Theme: Passion and Knowledge
Speakers: Tatsuyuki Saeki: President, Nasdaq Japan
Allen Miner: President, SunBridge
Day Two: November 1
Theme: The Cyber and the Real
Speakers: Masanao Matsumoto: President, P.I.M./TBA
Day Three: November 2
Theme: Business Concepts and Market Realities
Speakers: Chikatomo Hodo: Partner, Andersen Consulting
Merle Okawara: President, eBay Japan
CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS (AS OF JULY 27)
Sponsors:
Credit Suisse First Boston Securities (Japan) Limited, Dresdner Kleinwort
Benson Private Equity (Japan), Whitney & Co., SunBridge, Andersen
Consulting, Sun Microsystems, Microsoft
Endorser:
The American Electronics Association (AEA)
A FINAL MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER
After the initial-stage confusion in the Japanese venture business
environment, the infrastructure to grow ventures has been gradually
prepared. Assisting the creation of venture business will substantially
contribute to the future development of the Japanese economy. J@pan Inc.,
since its birth in 1999, has provided wide-ranging, up-to-date information
in order to link Japanese venture businesses and foreign businesses,
including VCs. Fusion 2000 provides Japanese startups with global business
experience and know-how.
-- Terrie Lloyd, publisher of J@pan Inc. magazine and president of LINC
Media.
FOR INQUIRIES
For media inquiries:
Kazuko Ebisutani (kazuko@japaninc.net), or
Cindy Mullins (cindy@japaninc.net)
LINC Media: Phone: 03-3499-2099; fax: 03-3499-3109
For general inquiries:
Phone: 03-3499-2399
Received on Fri Aug 4 05:30:23 2000