ABEJA welcome talented people from around the world.

ABEJA is leading the latest Industrial Revolution, bringing Industry 4.0 to the rest of the world from Japan.

Hello everyone!

My name is Sophia and I am a rising junior at Harvard studying History of Science with a focus in Computer Science. From my idyllic childhood outdoor adventures, I became passionate about environmental sustainability and fascinated by how science shapes individual choices. Therefore, through my academic studies, I am able to develop technical skills while combining them with a deeper understanding of science’s impact on society. In the future, I would like to apply my interdisciplinary background by working in the intersection of technology and business to improve people’s lives. With these interests, I was super excited to be paired with ABEJA as my NexGen intern host!

FINDING TECHNOPRENEURS OF THE WORLD

As a leading AI startup passionate about innovation and changing the world, ABEJA believes in the power of technopreneurs---people who are well-versed in cutting-edge technology and effectively lead revolutionary businesses to create productive change in society. For my NexGen project, I was challenged to bring ABEJA’s technopreneur philosophy to life by coming up with a way to find the hidden geniuses of the world and equip them with the skills to become the world’s next technopreneur.

Extensive brainstorming and ideation, along with provoking interviews and discussions with ABEJA’s passionate and welcoming team of engineers and businesspeople from all over the world, guided my project development. In a world where technological advancements abound, it was difficult to try to come up with a unique and impactful idea. However, I was inspired by the innovative culture of ABEJA, nurtured by CEO Yousuke Okada, to embrace uncertainty and expand my creativity to make a global impact. Hours of research and creation flew by, interspersed with delicious Japanese bento lunches. In the end, I was able to fully develop two strategic business plans for ABEJA to consider. At the official NexGen event, I presented the more disruptive and unconventional plan to 200+ attendees, including members of Forbes Japan and Japan’s leading startups.

THOUGHTS ON A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE

These past two weeks with ABEJA have been an absolutely amazing experience. Although I worked with ABEJA for just a short time period, I am grateful to have learned so much--not only about their progressive AI platforms that are transforming the retail industry with insightful data analytics solutions but also about the power of harnessing the technopreneur spirit. I now have a deeper understanding of innovation and hope to hold onto ABEJA’s philosophy and continue making disruptive change in the world for the future!

I am indebted to my supervisor and ABEJA’s HR Member, Yukako Shizumi, along with fellow ABEJA intern Hideyuki Komaki, for constantly supporting me and pushing me to go beyond my believed abilities. Thank you to ABEJA CEO Yousuke Okada for giving me the opportunity to explore the workings of ABEJA and befriend a bright and colorful team of wonderful people. And finally, thank you to Active Learning for creating such an engaging and hands-on extension of the internship experience!