Stanford University

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<Spotlight Japanese Startup> Voice4u and Social Innovation: How Innovative Technology Enables A New World for People with Autism & Special Needs

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Voice4u is a revolutionary AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) system that helps individuals express their feelings, thoughts, actions, and needs. It is the equivalent of wheelchairs for people who cannot walk. Voice4u is the perfect solution for learning and communication for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the people around them. In the United States, CDC estimates that 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorders as of 2017. The application has been downloaded in 100+ countries and more than 150K units. The product has proven to be commercially viable and has been used by people suffering from other types of developmental disorders including Down syndrome and Asperger’s syndrome, people with other kinds of communication disorders caused by stroke or brain injuries and deafness, seniors who have difficulties with verbal communication, as well as Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) for medical professionals, teachers, or parents. This presentation will focus on how and why Yumi Kubo and Sei Higuchi founded Spectrum Visions, the development of Voice4u, and their future plans.

SPEAKERS:

Yumi Kubo, co-founder and CEO of Spectrum Visions Global, Inc. 

Sei Higuchi, Ph.D., co-founder and CTO of Spectrum Visions Global Inc. 

BIOS:

Yumi is the co-founder and CEO of Spectrum Visions and has a son with autism. Before founding the company, she was engaged in numerous activities in non-profit organizations such as Parents Helping Parents (PHP). She has given lectures in Japan and the U.S on special education, IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan), IEP (Individual Educational Program) and IET (Individual Educational Transition). Yumi also started several social groups to support children with development delays. Her story was featured in San Jose Mercury News, “Autism Mystery – Family Finds Hope Silicon Valley”. As a part-time instructor at Osaka University, she has been teaching young students entrepreneurship with her unique story

Sei is co-founder and CTO of Spectrum Visions and is leading product development. He received his Ph.D. in Aeronautics & Astronautics from Stanford University in 2009. At Stanford, he developed the adaptive model predictive control algorithm for microkelvin thermal control system. While he was a Ph.D. student, he also supported the autism community in the Bay Area. After completing his Ph.D., he started developing Voice4u. Sei received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Waseda University, Japan, MS in Aeronautics & Astronautics, and Ph.D. minor in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

AGENDA:

4:15pm: Doors open
4:30pm-5:30pm: Talk and Discussion
5:30pm-6:00pm: Networking

RSVP REQUIRED:

Register to attend at http://www.stanford-svnj.org/svnj-public-forum-13018/2018/1/10/voice4u

For more information about the Silicon Valley-New Japan Project please visit: http://www.stanford-svnj.org/

 

Seminars
Stanford Silicon Valley-New Japan Project

Harnessing Silicon Valley: Corporate and Government Funded Accelerator Programs in Silicon Valley -- Implications for Japan 

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GSVlabs is a startup and corporate innovation accelerator located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Redwood City. It houses more than 180 startups and supports corporate innovation programs for more than 25 corporations. During the past few years, GSVlabs has welcomed numerous startups from foreign countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, China, Korea, Germany, Austria just to name a few. In many cases, these foreign startup acceleration programs are funded by large corporations and governments that see long-term economic benefits of supporting such activities in Silicon Valley. In this public forum, Atsuko Jenks will discuss examples of such corporate and government funded accelerator programs and implications for the efforts by Japanese corporations and Japanese government organizations to accelerate corporate innovation and economic growth of Japan.

SPEAKER:

Atsuko Jenks, Managing Director, Japan, GSVlabs

BIO:

Atsuko oversees development and implementation of corporate innovation and new business development accelerator programs for Japanese corporations at GSVlabs in Redwood City. She is also an advisor for two Silicon Valley technology startups, Grabit and Viewpoint Systems. For nearly 20 years, Atsuko has advised and worked with both US and Japanese companies, assisting them with their cross-Pacific alliance and partnership strategies as well as technology licensing and various commercial agreements. Atsuko is also active in non-profit work as a Board Member of Stanford Business School Alumni Association, an Executive Committee Member of The Tech Museum of Innovation, the San Francisco Chapter President of Tsuda University Alumnae Association, and a member of Stanford Business School Alumni Consulting Team. She was previously Director of Japan Division with Williams-Sonoma in San Francisco, and Consultant at Bain in Tokyo Office.  Atsuko holds BA from Tsuda University in International Relations and Global Studies, and MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

AGENDA:

4:15pm: Doors open
4:30pm-5:30pm: Talk and Discussion
5:30pm-6:00pm: Networking

RSVP REQUIRED:

 

Atsuko Jenks Managing Director, Japan GSVlabs
Seminars
Stanford Silicon Valley-New Japan Project

Saumitra Jha

Graduate School of Business 655 Knight Way Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 721 1298
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Associate Professor of Political Economy, GSB
Associate Professor, by courtesy, of Economics and of Political Science
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Along with being a Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Saumitra Jha is an associate professor of political economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and convenes the Stanford Conflict and Polarization Lab. 

Jha’s research has been published in leading journals in economics and political science, including Econometrica, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the American Political Science Review and the Journal of Development Economics, and he serves on a number of editorial boards. His research on ethnic tolerance has been recognized with the Michael Wallerstein Award for best published article in Political Economy from the American Political Science Association in 2014 and his co-authored research on heroes with the Oliver Williamson Award for best paper by the Society for Institutional and Organizational Economics in 2020. Jha was honored to receive the Teacher of the Year Award, voted by the students of the Stanford MSx Program in 2020.

Saum holds a BA from Williams College, master’s degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD in economics from Stanford University. Prior to rejoining Stanford as a faculty member, he was an Academy Scholar at Harvard University. He has been a fellow of the Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance and the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics at Princeton University, and at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford. Jha has consulted on economic and political risk issues for the United Nations/WTO, the World Bank, government agencies, and for private firms.

 

Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Dan C. Chung Faculty Scholar at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research
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Patterns of Innovation in Asia: Large Companies Harnessing the Power of Small Firm Innovation

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We have reached venue capacity.  RSVPs are no longer being accepted.

In China, Japan, and Korea, large companies have historically played predominant roles in their economies. However, with startups often driving disruptive innovation in the current digital global era, the question is how incumbent large firms can adapt, adjust, and harness the power of small firms while making use of their existing resources. This panel brings together perspectives from China, Japan and Korea. 

In China, we have seen the explosive growth of information technology firms such as Alibaba and Tencent, who are now at the technological forefront of several areas such as using data and artificial intelligence for financial tech (Fintech) offerings. What are the key features of China's entrepreneurship ecosystem and how do large firms work with new firms?

In Japan, a major challenge is how to unleash potential innovations currently held by large companies who are unable to capitalize on them. World Innovation Lab (WiL) is a Palo Alto and Tokyo based company structured as an investment fund, designed to assist large Japanese companies carve out potential intellectual property into startups, and to harness Silicon Valley startups through investments and partnerships. ANA is a large Japanese airline company that has partnered with WiL to find new strategies for driving its next wave of innovations.

South Korea is home to some of the most competitive firms in the high tech areas, and the question is to how to remain at the forefront of high value added activities in rapidly commoditizing offerings. Samsung Research America is focused on harnessing Silicon Valley through development of software, user experience, and services for the next generation of products. 

Panelists:

Tao Li  Founder and Executive Director, APUS Group

Li is widely believed as an innovative visionary and highly strategic entrepreneur. Before founding APUS Group, Li served as senior Vice President of Qihoo 360 (QIHU NYSE), a major internet company player known for its antivirus software. Prior to that, Li has involved with several well-known companies like Datang Telcom, 3721. He is an internet expert with expert internet knowledge, distribution channels and marketing experience. Mr. Li is an active venture capitalist that has invested in dynamic startup companies from media and VR technology to video advertising companies, both domestically and abroad. Li received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Zhengzhou University in 1998. Currently Li is a Finance EMBA student in Tsinghua University.

 

Aki Koto, Partner,  World Innovation Lab (WiL)

Mr. Koto enjoys working with visionary entrepreneurs in frontier tech such as VR/AR, Bitcoin, IoT, and Autonomous Driving as the investment partner. He is also passionate about WiL’s corporate innovation efforts to bring WiL’s corporate partners’ organizational and corporate cultures more in line with Silicon Valley’s ethos. Through his facilitation of the Design Thinking Workshops and mentorship of the workshop facilitators, he has deepened his relationships with corporate executives which are influential in opening up business development opportunities between corporations and startup companies.

 

Hideaki Matsumoto, Manager, Digital Design Lab, All Nippon Airways (ANA)

Mr. Matsumoto is in charge of researching and creating new business, service, and process innovation models. Currently, he is investigating new business paradigms in the areas of education and sports that fully leverage ANA's brand, assets, and strengths. He is actively researching startups and cutting-edge technology related to these two fields both in Japan and around the world. Prior to ANA, he worked in the R&D Center at Canon and was responsible for developing new recognition technologies like OCR, form recognition and face recognition. He holds both a BS and MS from Kyushu University.

 

Pranav Mistry, Head of Think Tank Team and Senior Vice President, Samsung Research America

Pranav Mistry is a computer scientist and inventor. He is currently Head of Think Tank Team at Samsung Research America and is best known for his work on SixthSense, Samsung Galaxy Gear and Project Beyond. His research interests include Wearable Computing, Augmented reality, Ubiquitous computing, Gestural interaction, AI, Machine vision, Collective intelligence and Robotics. The World Economic Forum honored Mistry as one of the Young Global Leader in 2013. Prior to his current position, he has worked with Microsoft, Google, CMU, NASA, UNESCO and Japan Science & Technology, to name a few. Pranav was a PhD candidate at the MIT Media Lab and earned his MA in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT, MDES from IIT, Bombay and a BS in Computer Science and Engineering.

 

Portrait of Kenji Kushida
Kenji Kushida, Research Scholar, Japan Program, Shorenstein APARC, Stanford University (Moderator)

Kushida’s research interests are in the fields of comparative politics, political economy, and information technology. He has four streams of academic research and publication: political economy issues surrounding information technology such as Cloud Computing; institutional and governance structures of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster; political strategies of foreign multinational corporations in Japan; and Japan’s political economic transformation since the 1990s.

Oksenberg Conference Room

Encina Hall, 3rd Floor

Panel Discussions

William F. Miller, SPRIE Co-Director, dies at 91

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William F. Miller, a former provost at Stanford University, a founding member of the university's Computer Science Department, and former CEO of SRI, died at the age of 91 on Wednesday, September 27.

Miller held an array of other leadership, industry, and academic roles, but at Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC), Bill was better known as one of the leaders of the Stanford Program on Regions of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SPRIE), along with Henry S. Rowen and Marguerite Gong Hancock. SPRIE was established at Shorenstein APARC in 2001 after the publication of The Silicon Valley Edge by Stanford University Press, co-edited by Miller, Rowen, Hancock, and Chong-Moon Lee; the book, the program's research, and Miller and Rowen's vast experience were responsible for a steady stream of visitors to Encina Hall, all looking to understand the Valley's success and replicate it abroad.

Two more books were published by SPRIE, focusing on the rise of innovation in Asia: Making IT: The Rise of Asia in High Tech (2006), and Greater China's Quest for Innovation (2008). In 2011, the program moved to the Graduate School of Business.

Full details on Bill Miller's life, as a leader, an entrepreneur, a tireless advisor and advocate, and as a generous human being, can be found here.

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Dmytro Romanovych

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Visiting Scholar, Ukrainian Emerging Leaders Program 2017-18
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Dmytro Romanovych works at the Reform Delivery Office for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. With a team of project managers, they work directly with the prime minister by facilitating reforms, monitoring progress and coordinating across ministries. The Reform Delivery Office focuses on issues of public administration reform, business climate improvement, industrial policy and innovations, healthcare reform and privatization. Romanovych is also an advisor to the Minister of Economy, and is responsible for deregulation and improving the business climate in Ukraine. In addition, he is an economic expert in the largest NGO coalition in Ukraine, the Reanimation Package of Reforms, which is the most influential non-governmental reform advocate in the country.

Romanovych's key responsibility is to ensure the Cabinet of Ministers and Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s Parliament) both adopt Ukraine's deregulation agenda. This includes developing the concept of the deregulation documents, involvement and coordination of the stakeholders, passing documents through approval process, public promotion, etc. Due largely in part to its deregulation reform, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade was recognized as a leader in the reform process in comparison with other ministries Over the last year, Romanovych has organized several high-level meetings that have resulted in the adoption of 30 deregulation documents, the abolishment of 500 regulations and the passing of draft laws on state control system reform by the Verkhovna Rada. Prior to this he was among the creators of the Better Regulation Delivery Office institution, which is now is the key think-tank and task force for business climate improvement and restructuring of the government policy-making process. Romanovych graduated from Kharkiv State Economic University with a Master’s Degree in Economic Cybernetics.

Olexandr Starodubtsev

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Visiting Scholar, Ukrainian Emerging Leaders Program 2017-18
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Olexandr Starodubtsev is a Ukrainian reformer who is deeply involved in the creation of a new electronic public procurement system Prozorro, which is one of the most famous reforms in the country. Currently Starodubtsev is the Head of the Public Procurement Regulation Department in The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, and is an official policy maker in the spheres of public procurement and economic development in Ukraine.

The Prozorro system is famous for its different approaches to bottom-up reform based on the close collaboration between government, business and civil society. In 2016, the Prozorro system won several distinguished international awards, such as the Open Government Partnership Award, the Public Procurement Award, and was also recognized by the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and Open Contracting Partnership. Moreover, Prozorro and its principles became an inspirational example for other Ukrainian reforms.

Starodubtsev was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine in 1979. He graduated from Kharkiv National University in 2002. Previously he worked on the stock market where he made his career as a back-office specialist up to a managing partner of a Ukrainian branch of a multinational financial institution. He received an MBA degree from the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School and became Alumnus of the Year in its first competition in 2015. He is married and has a son and a daughter.

 

GROW: Using Artificial Intelligence to Screen Human Intelligence

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GROW is an automated solution to evaluate job candidates, developed by Tokyo-based people analytics startup, Institution for a Global Society (IGS). GROW was developed with the idea that the hiring process is often a missed opportunity to collect, utilize and exchange feedback that could change people’s behaviors for the better. The solution has developed into a tool that both helps students to understand their strengths and weaknesses, while at the same time assists HR in hiring based on competencies and personality traits. GROW uses artificial intelligence learning algorithms to analyze assessment data from both candidates and evaluators, looking for patterns to improve its ability to accurately screen candidates over time. In place of human intuition, GROW uses big data to develop a scientific, objective, and constantly-improving engine to recruit, screen, and develop human capital. In his presentation, Founder and CEO of IGS, Masahiro Fukuhara will speak about founding IGS, developing GROW, and the opportunities and challenges that its widespread interest has presented. 

Bio

Masahiro Fukuhara is founder and CEO of Tokyo-based people analytics startup Institution for a Global Society (IGS), which he started in 2010. Prior to founding IGS, Fukuhara was managing director at asset management firm Barclays Global Investors (BGI) where he made investment decisions based on computer-driven models. Fukuhara earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Keio University and MBA from INSEAD. He holds Master’s degree (with Honors) in International Finance from Grandes Ecoles HEC and Ph.D. from Tsukuba University Graduate School of Business Sciences (Ph.D. in Business Administration). He is currently a Visiting Professor at the center for FinTEK (Finance, Technology, and Economy) at Keio University as well as adjunct professor at Hitotsubashi University’s Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy.

Agenda

4:15pm: Doors open 
4:30pm-5:30pm: Talk and Discussion 
5:30pm-6:00pm: Networking

RSVP Required

 
For more information about the Silicon Valley-New Japan Project please visit: http://www.stanford-svnj.org/
 

NOTE: This event takes place during Stanford’s Homecoming Weekend. The parking slots in front of Encina Hall will not be available that day, and there may be higher demand than usual for parking on campus. Please take that into consideration when planning your travel.

Masahiro Fukuhara, Founder and CEO, Institution for a Global Society
Seminars
Stanford Silicon Valley-New Japan Project

Human Autonomy in the Age of Automation: Envisioning 2045

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The conference is brought to you by the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center Japan Program's Stanford Silicon Valley-New Japan Project and Mistletoe, Inc.

This event is at full capacity. Please contact Amanda Stoeckicht at amst@stanford.edu if you have any questions.

As we enter the coming age of universal automation, this conference seeks to spark a discussion among thought leaders, technologists, and social entrepreneurs about the replacement of human labor by artificial intelligence and robotics and what that might mean for the future of human welfare and labor opportunities. There is increasing debate regarding the possibility of a new underclass of 'zero economic citizens.' How shall we address these challenges? Does the answer lie in lowering the cost of living? Is it the Universal Basic Income? Or something else? What might be the role of technologies for geographic mobility, sustainability, and community platforms.

Along with keynote presentations and panel discussions, the conference will also feature a startup showcase and participatory world-building exercise.

*The below program is subject to change.

Conference Program

8:30-9:00                  Registration and Breakfast

9:00-9:05                  Welcome

9:05-10:45                Keynote Presentations

Taizo Son (Mistletoe)

Marina Gorbis (Institute for the future)

Sam Altman (Y Combinator)

10:45-11:00              Coffee Break

11:00-12:15                Startup Showcase

Afero

Alesca Life

AstroScale

Binded

Cocoa Motors

Homma

Leomo

ModuleQ

Vivita

Wota

12:15-12:30              Break

12:30-13:00              Mistletoe Fellows Program Announcement

13:00-14:00              Lunch

14:00-15:15              Panel & Debate Sessions: Technology and Social Change in 2045                          

Panel 1: 

Cities of the Future: Removing Barriers to New Ideas with Innovation Districts and Regulatory Sandboxes

Moderator: Ashkan Soltani

Panelists:   Neal Gorenflo (Sheareable)

Taizo Son (Mistletoe)

           Joe Quirk (Seasteading Institute)

           Kaidi Ruusalepp (Funderbeam)           

Panel 2:

The Autonomous Lifestyle: Can Tech-Enabled Mobility Improve Welfare and Opportunity?

Moderator: Kenji Kushida (Stanford University)

Panelists:   Frances Colon (Cenadores Puerto Rico)

Steve Cousins (Savioke)

            Toshi Hoo (IFTF)        

                                 

Panel 3:

Reimagining Social Entrepreneurship: Designing Collaboration and Community

                                       Moderator:     Ernestine Fu (Alsop Louie Partners)

Panelists:    Anh Bui (Benetech)

  Chuck Eesley (Stanford University)   

  Daniel Goldman (Ignition Angels)

             Luan Niu (Enviu)

 

15:15-15:30             Break

15:30-17:30             Zero Economic Citizen in 2045: A World Building Exercise                  

Joshua McVeigh-Schultz (University of Southern California)

Karl Baumann (Univeristy of Southern California)

Elena Marquez Segura (UC Santa Cruz)                         

17:30-17:35             Closing Remarks

17:35-18:35             Cocktail Reception

 

Conferences

Hongwei Yu

616 Serra StreetEncina Hall E301Stanford, CA94305-6055
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hongwei_yu
Ph.D.

Hongwei Yu joins the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center as a visiting scholar for the fall of 2017.  He is an assistant professor in Institute of Quality Development Strategy of Wuhan University. His research interests focus on economic growth quality and quality competition. From 2008 to 2015, he was the research assistant of two professors and an associated professor in related fields. He has worked on four different research projects and is now presiding over two projects on regional industry quality competitiveness.  He has so far had 13 papers published or forthcoming on journals and academic conference proceedings.

He is currently working on the issues of zombie firms and corporate restructuring in China.  He has joined the Employer-Employee Survey (CEES) of Chinese manufacturing in 2015, and gained plenty of research data on this topic. Based on this data, he is putting his effort into two working papers: the statistical analysis on zombie firms in China and the study on the relationships between political connection, entrepreneurship and zombies firms.

Visiting Scholar
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