On August 30, social entrepreneurs, students, and supporters came together at Aoba no Kaze Terrace in Sendai for the first Sendai Global Lounge Meetup. The event created a space for dialogue, inspiration, and networking among individuals passionate about tackling social issues through entrepreneurship.
Introduction and Sendai City Startup Support Overview
The session begins with an overview from Mr. Teruhisa Zaizen from Sendai City who presented the city’s startup initiatives, highlighting Sendai’s population of over 1 million people and its position as the 11th most populated city in Japan. He discusses the city’s entrepreneurship support programs established after the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake, including Sendai City Entrepreneurship Support Center (Assista) which handles over 1,000 start-up consultations annually.
Sendai Global Lounge
The event itself was framed as an activity under the Sendai Global Lounge, highlighting its mission to create an inclusive platform where people of diverse backgrounds can collaborate. Participants were encouraged to stay connected through the Lounge’s newly launched official LINE account, which will share regular updates about upcoming events, resources, and opportunities.
By situating the meetup within this larger initiative, organizers emphasized the city’s commitment to making Sendai not only a welcoming place for international residents but also a fertile ground for socially conscious entrepreneurship.
Inspiring Keynote: AI, Poverty, and Social Impact
The central lecture was delivered by Mr. Masahiro Kochi, AI Manager of ANOSUPO at Borderless Japan Corporation. Mr. Kochi shared his personal and professional journey, weaving together stories of sports, travel, and volunteer work that eventually led him to become a social entrepreneur.
His work focuses on bridging technology and human development. Mr. Kochi presented innovative examples of AI applications, including smartphone-based diagnostic tools for eye health and AI-driven monitoring systems for emergency medical responses. These technologies, he explained, have the potential to transform healthcare access in underserved regions.
Beyond technology, his talk explored the social mission underpinning his business: empowering marginalized families, particularly stateless refugees in Malaysia and the Philippines. By employing them in AI data annotation projects, his company creates stable income opportunities, enabling parents to support their children’s education and build a path toward long-term security.
Mr. Kochi emphasized that his motivation was not personal profit but rather solving systemic issues such as poverty and statelessness. His vision, he said, is to create businesses that are both technologically innovative and socially transformative.
The Complexities of Social Business
The Q&A session opened up space for critical reflection. Some participants raised concerns about the ethical implications of outsourcing labor, questioning whether such models risk perpetuating inequality by shifting jobs abroad and capitalizing on cheap labor markets. Others argued that the tangible benefits for families, such as access to schooling and stable livelihoods, should not be overlooked.
This dialogue revealed the multidimensional nature of poverty and entrepreneurship. As one participant noted, while such initiatives may seem small in the global economy, they can be life-changing for the individuals and families involved. The discussion reflected the value of the meetup itself, creating a forum where diverse perspectives could meet, challenge each other, and inspire deeper thought.
Looking Ahead
The first Sendai Global Lounge Meetup successfully brought together policy leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and international residents in a spirit of learning and cooperation. It highlighted Sendai’s emerging role as a city that not only supports startups but also upholds socially responsible innovation.
By combining insights from government initiatives, inspiring entrepreneurial journeys, and honest dialogue about challenges, the event set a powerful precedent for future gatherings. As Sendai continues its journey to becoming a hub for global social entrepreneurship, events like this will play a crucial role in fostering connection, innovation, and shared purpose.
This article was edited by Itsuki Tsuchida.