HumanCentered: AI Agents for Tomorrow’s Societies course

building ethics & empathy into innovation

AI Agents for Tomorrow’s Societies

"Build in Japan", an experiential learning program

This course prepares students for leadership in AI-driven global entrepreneurship and provides real-world startup experience in an international setting via a partnership between Nagoya University & University of Colorado (NUCU).

curriculum adapted by
Matthew John Brady, Entrepreneur & Educator
offered to students currently enrolled at the
University of Colorado – Leeds School of Business

Collaborative Design Sprint

CU & Nagoya University students form teams, identify a societal challenge, and develop an initial tech startup concept using design thinking methodology.

Problem Statement

Strategy & Priorities

Technology Capabilities

Product Ideation

Global Test Market

Students travel to Japan to test their startup ideas in real-world conditions, conduct user research, and refine their solutions based on market insights.

Strengths & Opportunities

Weaknesses & Threats

Iterative Refinement

Lean Startup Pitch

Teams present their AI-driven startup solutions to a panel of professors, industry professionals, media, and program mentors at Nagoya University.

Business Model

Go-to-Market Plan

Profit & Sustainability

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Course Synopsis

This experiential program combines global entrepreneurship, AI-driven automation, and cross-cultural collaboration to tackle the challenges of shrinking societies and population collapse. Through a design sprint, test market research in Japan, and an international pitch competition, students will gain hands-on experience in tech-driven innovation and startup development in an intercultural environment.

The NUCU Build In Japan Program is an innovation and social-impact entrepreneurship program in which students form international teams to develop AI—and automation-driven solutions to the challenges associated with shrinking societies.

Through design thinking, cross-cultural collaboration, and startup development, students will identify and address key societal challenges, including:

Labor shortages and workforce automation

Mental health and social instability

Aging populations and elder care technology

Cultural preservation and digital solutions

Urban-rural disparities and infrastructure adaptation