Empower students with alliz: Interning at a Startup - A Summer Networking Event ~ スタートアップで働くってどんな感じ？インターン体験×リアル交流会 で語り合おう！つながろう！ ~

Curious about what it’s like to intern at a startup in Japan? Wondering how to find the right opportunity, what to expect, or how others have made the most of their internship experience?

Join us for an evening of shared stories and meaningful conversations with students, from Japan and overseas, currently interning at Tech startups in Japan. You’ll hear firsthand stories from interns —what they worked on, changes they faced, and how the experience has shaped their future plans.

This event offers a unique opportunity to connect not only with peers who share your interests but also with startup founders and teams who are open to hosting interns, whether paid or unpaid. You’ll get a better sense of how internships at startups differ from those at larger companies, offering more hands-on experience, greater flexibility, and closer exposure to real-world business decisions.

Whether you're already interning or just beginning to explore the possibilities, this event will help you understand what makes startup internships both exciting and valuable—and how to make the most of yours.

We look forward to welcoming you into this growing community of students and professionals shaping the future of work in Japan’s startup scene.

Speaker 1: Deniza Robinson, AI Engineer Intern, Kisui Tech

Deniza Robinson, a Statistics and Mathematics student from Yoko University in Canada, is an intern at Kisui Tech, a startup company that develops AI-powered solutions for smart agriculture and optimized irrigation systems. At Kisui Tech, she serves as an AI Engineer, leveraging advanced machine learning models to drive innovation in smart agriculture technologies. During her internship, Deniza gained firsthand experience leading an AI project for a client, focusing on enhancing the autonomous capabilities of the agricultural robot ADAM at Kisui Tech.

Topic 1: Leading Real-World AI Projects as an Intern

For years, Deniza struggled to find the right internship, unsure of her direction—until discovering ChatGPT sparked a fascination with AI. Inspired, she founded the AI and Data Society at her university to empower students through workshops and events. This bold move opened global opportunities, leading her to an AI Engineering internship at Kisui Tech. In this project, Deniza led the development of AI models to enable the robot ADAM to perform autonomous night patrols, including training object detection algorithms.

Speaker 2: Koyu Fuke, Full Stack Engineer Intern, Emobi

Koyu Fuke, a Mechanical Engineering student at Kyoto University of Advanced Science in Japan, is a current intern at Emobi, a startup that develops a reservation and payment platform for electric tuk-tuk mobility services. At Emobi, he contributes to the core engineering team, working on both the frontend and backend to support a seamless rental experience for users.

During his internship, Koyu learned how to design and build systems that are not only functional but also easy for people to use. He worked on improving the overall user experience, handled real-world challenges like ensuring vehicle availability and smooth payment processing, and experienced firsthand how to balance speed and quality in a fast-moving startup environment.

Topic 2: How AI Shifted My Focus from Job Hunting to Startups

Inspired by the rapid progress of AI and its potential to reshape industries, Koyu shifted his mindset from traditional job hunting to building impactful solutions through startups. In this session, he will share how this transition happened and the key lessons he's learned so far. He will particularly delve into how he approached problem-solving within a rapidly growing mobility service, and his insights on building products that effectively serve both users and businesses.

Speaker 3: Ethan Wu, Web Developer Intern, alliz

Ethan Wu, a Computer Science student at the University of California, Irvine in the US, is an intern at alliz, a career mentorship community dedicated to connecting aspiring professionals with experienced individuals in the Japanese IT industry. At alliz, he works as a Web Developer, enhancing user experience and developing new features. This internship marks Ethan’s first experience in a professional tech environment, where he has successfully navigated the unique challenges of working in a rapidly growing startup.

Topic 3: Code with Greater Purpose: Ethan’s Journey through Tech

Ethan’s journey through tech has developed since he started his computer science career at UCI with no prior background. Now he is interning at alliz as a web developer, overcoming different challenges every day. From resolving bugs in the website to developing new features to enhance user experience, he has come a long way since first learning how to code in his freshman year of college.

Speaker 4: Zack Salihy, Web Developer Intern, alliz

Zack Salihy, an Aerospace Engineering student at the University of Michigan in the US, is an intern at alliz, a community that helps students receive career advice and mentoring. At alliz, he works as a web developer, contributing to the platform's features and planning the implementation of a new chatbot to improve user experience. During his internship, he has explored collaborative problem-solving with his tech lead and adapted to the needs of a growing startup. At this event, he will share his journey from non-STEM interests in high school to finding his passion in tech.

Topic 4: From Non-STEM Interests to Building a Student Chatbot

In this talk, Zack will share how he went from having no plans for STEM in high school to discovering a genuine interest in tech and engineering during his senior year. Now, interning at alliz, he is working on designing and implementing a chatbot to help students navigate career advice resources. He’ll also discuss how collaboration with a mentor figure can help bring a new technical idea to life in a supportive environment.

Application: The event is free to attend and will accommodate up to 50 participants. Participation is subject to approval. A short survey will follow your registration, and confirmed attendees will receive a calendar invite. Please register by Friday, August 1st, 2025, to secure your spot.

Language: The event will primarily be conducted in English. During networking time, conversations in both English and Japanese are welcome.

Refreshments: Light refreshments will be provided; please manage any allergies accordingly. You are welcome to bring your own snacks and soft drinks.

Photography: Photos and videos may be taken during the event and could be used for promotional purposes on alliz’s website and social media. By signing up for this event, you permit us to use these photos and videos. If you do not want to be photographed but still wish to attend, please contact alliz.

Schedule: The event schedule is subject to change on the day.

Contact: For any event-related inquiries, please contact alliz via email at event@alliz.jp.

Host: alliz

alliz is a member-led career mentorship community dedicated to helping students and early-career professionals with career design and development in Japan. Through events, mentorship, and shared learning, we foster connections that inspire personal growth, skill development, and long-term success in the tech industry.

Food & Drinks Sponsor: Council on International Educational Exchange

Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a non-profit founded in 1947, promotes global education through exchange programs. Since 1998, our Tokyo Center at Sophia University has hosted American students. Around 800 U.S. students join CIEE programs in Japan annually. Our Internship Program provides hands-on business experience while offering companies fresh global insights. We support students and hosts, fostering cross-cultural understanding and aiding companies in sustainable international growth.

Event Space Sponsor: Google for Startups

Google believes in the power of startups to solve societal challenges and shape the future through technology and innovation. Driven by this conviction, Google for Startups Japan was established in 2019 to leverage Google's resources and global network for startup growth. We also opened a Campus in Shibuya, Tokyo, creating a space where startups can gather and grow together.

Our mission is to "support the growth of startups that forge the future for a better world," acting as a bridge connecting startups with Google when they seek to engage and grow with us.

Photography Sponsor: E’s Eye - Estelle Etourneau

Estelle Etourneau is originally from Bordeaux, France, and has been living in Japan for over 12 years. While drawing required a kind of discipline that didn’t resonate with her, photography offered a more immediate and intuitive way to create. What began as a way to preserve cherished moments with family and friends has grown into an important form of expression.

Today, through the lens, E’s Eye, the creative lens of Estelle, captures the world as she sees it. Though not a professional photographer, E’s Eye is honored to be part of Alliz’s journey and grateful for the trust she placed in immortalizing these events.