Checklist & FAQ

🔲  ASAP | Start booking your hotel & Flights

• While you can commute using the local subway (the "Red Line"), it can be slow and unreliable at times, so please consider a hotel within walking distance from CIC Cambridge (MAP).

• We highly recommend arriving at least 2 days before programming starts in order to give your body some time to adjust to the new time zone.

• Check if your passport is up-to-date and will not expire within 6 months of your trip.

• Make sure to complete ESTA registration at least 3 days prior to your travel. This is a required process by the US government:
  → What's ESTA? : https://jp.usembassy.gov/ja/visas-ja/esta-information-ja/
  → ESTA Application:  https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
  → Feel free to use Sayumi as a US contact -- NAME: Sayumi Suzuki, ADDRESS: CIC, One Broadway, Floor 14, Cambridge (←"City"), MA (←"State") 02142 (←"Zip code"), USA, PHONE: +1-617-335-9510

🔲 8/23 | Complete the Pre-Program Survey

🔲 8/23 | Accept our invitation to Slack.

• • Please download Slack onto your desktop and mobile devices.

  • Please check your inbox for an invitation to join the CIC Japan Desk GSAP Slack workspace. You will see a link. Please click on this link to open your Slack workspace.

  • Slack will be the primary method of communication between the startups and CIC in this program. Please check Slack on a daily basis.

🔲 9/1 | Complete Prework Survey for "Global Business Mindset - Understanding US Culture"

• Please complete this survey as preparation for "Global Business Mindset - Understanding US Culture" on 9/6, presented by Aperian Global. 

🔲 9/1 | Complete Aperian Global's GlobeSmart Profile for "Global Business Mindset - Understanding US Culture"

• Once you click on the below link and create your GlobeSmart account to log in, you will be automatically redirected to the profile page and will have 3-months of access to the platform. You will not need to pay for access.

• GlobeSmart Link

🔲 9/4 | Sign up for Social Gathering (Optional) on 9/8, from 6-8pm

If you you would like to participate in this optional social gathering with the GSAP startups and CIC staff, please sign up in this form.

🔲 9/5 | Check Email for “Building admission appointment number” or "入館予約番号"

• You will receive an email about how to get in to CIC Tokyo. Look for “Building admission appointment number / 入館予約番号" (e.g. A12345) to get in to the Toranomon Business Tower on 9/6. You will need this appointment number to access CIC Tokyo. 

• If you have not received this email, please contact GSAPJapanDesk@CIC.com

🔲 9/5 | Prepare a Pitch deck & Pitch (2 minute version)

• Startups will need to prepare a 2 minute pitch deck and pitch presentation for "Effective Pitching and Presentation: Emotional Credibility" session on September 6. 

• Startups do not need to submit their deck ahead of time but please be ready to present your 2 minute pitch during the breakout sessions.

🔲 9/6 | Pre-register for Thursday Gathering

• Attending Thursday Gathering is optional; if you do attend, 1) register user profile here, then 2) pre-register here.

🔲 9/8 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and read your mentor/coach's bio here to maximize the impact!)

• Industry Mentoring Session 1/2 [between 9/11 - 9/15]

• English Communication Session 1/2 [between 9/11 - 10/6]

• Pitch Coaching Session 1/2 [between 9/11 - 10/13] 

  • See details on prep work below in the Week 2 checklist.

• MassGlobal Prep Session 1/2 [between 9/21 - 10/6]

• Individual Check in with CIC 1/1 [9/13 or 10/4 or 10/5] 

• Business Matching Meeting with Jesse Hwang from Johnson & Johnson 1/1 [between 10/1 - 11/30]

 Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲  9/15 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and be prepared to maximize the impact!)

• Industry Mentoring Session 2 [between 9/18 - 9/22]

🔲  9/15 | Complete GSAP Post Kickoff Satisfaction Survey

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Pitch Coaching Session 1

• Bring your 2-minute deck

• Complete your superhero origin story to discuss with your pitch coach, using the two worksheets here:

  • First read the - Origin Story Breakdown

  • Then fill out your - Your Super Hero Origin Story

🔲  MassGlobal Prep Session 1

• Bring your 5-minute deck

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲  9/22 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and be prepared to maximize the impact!)

• Industry Mentoring Session 3/7 [between 9/25 - 29]

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Pitch Coaching Session 1

• Bring your 2-minute deck

• Complete your superhero origin story to discuss with your pitch coach, using the two worksheets here:

  • First read the - Origin Story Breakdown

  • Then fill out your - Your Super Hero Origin Story

🔲  MassGlobal Prep Session 1

• Bring your 5-minute deck

Please remember to use the Slack channel ##startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Pitch Coaching Session 1

• Bring your 2-minute deck

• Complete your superhero origin story to discuss with your pitch coach, using the two worksheets here:

  • First read the - Origin Story Breakdown

  • Then fill out your - Your Super Hero Origin Story

🔲  MassGlobal Prep Session 1

• Bring your 5-minute deck

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲  10/4 [8:30am JST]| Attend Online Seminar "Regulatory Pathways for Early Phase Clinical Studies in the US"

🔲  10/6 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and be prepared to maximize the impact!)

• English Communication Session 2/2 [between 10/9 - 11/3]

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Individual Check-In with CIC

JETRO staff are joining to enhance your GSAP experience! Be prepared to:

• Present your pre-program goals and the progress made so far (e.g. whether you are on track and if you perceive any gaps, as well as if there have been changes to the goals).

• Provide feedback to JETRO and/or CIC and discuss how we could help you reach your goals.

🔲  Pitch Coaching Session 1

• Bring your 2-minute deck

• Complete your superhero origin story to discuss with your pitch coach, using the two worksheets here:

  • First read the - Origin Story Breakdown

  • Then fill out your - Your Super Hero Origin Story

🔲  MassGlobal Prep Session 1

• Bring your 5-minute deck

🔲  Matching Meeting with Jesse Hwang (Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS)

• Keep your 2-minute deck handy, in case they'll ask for it

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲  10/10 [8:30-9:00am JST], Optional | Feel free to join our Office Hour to chat with CIC staff and ask questions. 

🔲  10/13 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and be prepared to maximize the impact!)

• Industry Mentoring Session 4/7 [between 10/16 - 20]

• MassGlobal Prep Session 2/2 [10/16 - 11/17]

• Business Matching Meeting 1/2 [10/16 to 12/1] 

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Pitch Coaching Session 2

• Bring your revised 2-minute deck

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲  10/18 | Attend Online Seminar: "Deck Format and Design Best Practices"

• 8:30 - 9:15 JST | Lecture

• 9:15 - 10:00 JST |Coaching in breakout rooms...Keep your most up-to-date 2-minute deck easily accessible for you to reference during the session.

🔲  10/20 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and be prepared to maximize the impact!)

• Industry Mentoring Session 5/7 [between 10/23 - 10/27]

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Matching Meeting with Jesse Hwang (Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS)

• Keep your 2-minute deck handy, in case they'll ask for it

🔲  MassGlobal Prep Session 2

• Send your revised 5-minute deck on Slack private channel ([startup name]-cic) one week before your session

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲  10/25

• 8:00 - 8:30 JST| Attend Online Meeting: "Q&A for Cambridge In-Person Programming"

• 8:30 - 9:00 JST, Optional | Feel free to join our Office Hour to chat with CIC staff and ask questions. 

🔲  10/27 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and be prepared to maximize the impact!)

• Industry Mentoring Session 6/7 [between 10/30 - 11/3]

• Pitch Coaching Session 2/2 [between 10/30 - 11/17] 

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Matching Meeting with Jesse Hwang (Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS)

• Keep your 2-minute deck handy, in case they'll ask for it

🔲  MassGlobal Prep Session 2

• Send your revised 5-minute deck on Slack private channel ([startup name]-cic) one week before your session

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲 10/31 | Send in Boston Phase Hotel/Flight Information to CIC Japan Desk

• Book your flight and hotel, and send the information to us via this form.

🔲  11/1 [8:30-9:30am JST]| Attend Online Seminar "US Networking Strategies"

🔲  11/3 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and be prepared to maximize the impact!)

• Industry Mentoring Session [Only for those who needs a make-up session; between 11/6 - 11/10]

• Pitch Coaching Session 2/2 [between 10/30 - 11/17] 

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Matching Meeting with Jesse Hwang (Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS)

• Keep your 2-minute deck handy, in case they'll ask for it

🔲  MassGlobal Prep Session 2

• Send your revised 5-minute deck on Slack private channel ([startup name]-cic) one week before your session

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions.

Please note that the Daylight Saving Time (US) ends on 11/5/23!

🔲  11/8, 9:30 - 10:00 JST, Optional | Feel free to join our Office Hour to chat with CIC/JETRO staff and ask questions! 

🔲  11/10 | Sign-up for the following individual sessions... (see here for details of each session and be prepared to maximize the impact!)

• Industry Mentoring Session [Only for those who needs a make-up session; between 11/13 - 11/17] *11/17 is the last day for your 6th Industry Mentoring Session. You need to schedule all 6 sessions by this day. The last session (7th) will be in-person in Boston. 

• Pitch Coaching Session 2/2 [between 10/30 - 11/17] 

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Matching Meeting with Jesse Hwang (Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS)

• Keep your 2-minute deck handy, in case they'll ask for it

🔲  MassGlobal Prep Session 2

• Send your revised 5-minute deck on Slack private channel ([startup name]-cic) one week before your session

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲  11/13 | Respond about the Follow-On Program of GSAP (please read the details here) on Slack individual channel ( #startupname-cic)

If you have scheduled the following sessions for this week...

🔲  Matching Meeting with Jesse Hwang (Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS)

• Keep your 2-minute deck handy, in case they'll ask for it

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

Please note that the 11/20 - 11/24 is a Vacation Week (Thanksgiving Week) and there will be no GSAP activities. 

🔲 11/27 | Register for the Japan Innovation Night

• User Registration (everyone)

  • Go to the website → click on the human-shaped icon in the upper right corner → register as a user (create a profile)

• Speaker Registration (speakers only)

  • Go to this page → put your information!

Examples from another event is here: In each session’s page (right bottom), people will see your headshot, name, and the title. When they click your headshot, they’ll be directed to your bio.

• Session registration (everyone):

  1. • Go to the website → click “Thursday Gathering” in the upper right corner

     • → click “Japan Innovation Night” page

     • → click "pre-register" for the session you are most interested in at the bottom of the page

     • → register your email address

*Sessions that you did not "pre-register" for on this page can be attended without any problem (but helps us gauge interest!)

🔲 12/1 (JST)| Send in your most up-to-date version of 5-min. Deck

• Send via Slack private channel ([startup name]-cic)

• This will be used at the Small Group Industry Discussion on 12/4 or 12/6.

🔲 12/1 (JST)| Send in your most up-to-date version of 2-min. Deck

• Send via Slack private channel ([startup name]-cic)

• This will be used at the Networking with Local Medical Professionals on 12/5.

• You will deliver a brief pitch at the beginning of the event, allowing medical professionals to learn about who you are and what you do. As this event is dedicated to networking, please consider adjusting your 'ask' slide accordingly for this specific occasion/audience.

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲 12/6, Time TBD| Send in your most up-to-date version of 2-min. Deck

• Send via Slack private channel ([startup name]-cic)

• This will be used at the Private Demo Day with Judge and Public Demo Day (Japan Innovation Night)  on 12/7.

🔲 12/7| Prepare for the BlueRock Therapeutics Tour

• We will be visiting a local biotech startup called BlueRock Therapeutics. Learn about who they are, and prepare questions to ensure you are ready for the tour on 12/8.

Please remember to use the Slack channel #startupname-cic if you have any specific questions

🔲 Money | Exchange Currency & Foreign Credit Card Transactions

• • Remember to exchange currency before coming to the US (if cash is necessary) and check to see if your credit card will accept foreign transactions. 

🔲 Attire | Business Casual

•  The average maximum daytime temperature in Boston in December lies at 6.2°C (43.16°F). The average minimum temperature goes down to around -2.8°C (26.96°F) (often the minimum temperature is noted at night). 

• Please bring appropriate footwear as we will be walking outside during your time in Boston.