Programmes Silicon Valley, USA
HydroBeetle completes JETRO J-StarX in Silicon Valley
HydroBeetle spent late summer on a JETRO course for student founders. It teaches one habit: build around the person who will use the thing.
HydroBeetle has completed JETRO J-StarX, a training course for student founders held in Silicon Valley in August and September 2026.
What J-StarX is
J-StarX is Japan’s programme for sending founders abroad to learn. It belongs to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and is run by JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization.
HydroBeetle took the Student Entrepreneur Course (pre-startup), for students who have not started a company yet. It asks for a prototype or a beta version, and every session is in English.
“Develop design-thinking skills to build customer-centred products and services that fit real market needs.”
What the course covers
JETRO’s outline lists three parts: lectures and workshops in Tokyo in June, a stay near Palo Alto from 24 August to 11 September, and mentoring afterwards.
In Silicon Valley the course brings lectures and group work with a local accelerator, a design-thinking workshop by the Stanford d.school, time with people from the local startup scene, and a final project.
Why it matters to HydroBeetle
Building a device and building something people want to carry are two different problems. The course is about the second one: begin with the person who will use it, then design for them. HydroBeetle takes that way of working into the full pack.
Timeline
- 5–7 June 2026Lectures and workshops at JETRO in Tokyo.
- 24 August – 11 SeptemberThe course in Silicon Valley.
- From November 2026Follow-up mentoring, online.
