KUMIHIMO Tech Camp in Bulgaria

Empowering Innovation with Murata’s Hardware

WHY MURATA?

Murata Manufacturing is a global leader that designs, manufactures, and supplies a wide range of advanced electronic materials, components, and multi-functional, high-density modules. Murata products find application in communications equipment, mobility, automotive, enterprise systems, industrial automation, healthcare and biotech, and consumer electronics. The company is headquartered in Japan, but operates globally across 6 continents.

WHAT IS KUMIHIMO TECH CAMP?

Kumihimo Tech Camp is a collaborative project initiated by Murata Manufacturing, to foster innovation and utilize their hardware in new ways by collaborating with promising entrepreneurs and organizations at all stages. The project, which started in 2022 in Japan, is now expanding to Bulgaria and is looking for startups, scale-ups and research teams and labs from universities that use or can use Murata’s hardware in the development of new products and solutions.

Applications are open to your entire tech team, so anyone with a cutting-edge idea in mind can apply and represent the given company. To create working demo based on your idea, Murata is happy to provide off the shelf components to applicants.

Kumihimo Tech Camp can be broken down into 3 distinct phases. The first phase is the selection process, where companies can submit applications and be evaluated. This initial stage lasts 3 months, providing enough time for the interested teams to develop a project.

In September, several companies and ideas will be selected to take part in Kumihimo Tech Camp. The selected teams will receive support from Endeavor and Murata, ahead of the culmination of the project – Demo Day, where the teams will present in front of Murata Executives and leading ecosystem players. The final stage will mark the beginning of collaboration between the winning companies and Murata.

Apply Now

For the first time, Murata is looking outside Japan for ideas and leaders to co-create new possibilities together.

Who can apply?

Participants

Kumihimo is suitable for companies of all sizes – from idea-stage and university labs to scale-up companies with revenue exceeding 5 million EUR

Start-ups
Scale-ups
Research institutions
University teams
Companies must be located in Bulgaria

A company can be represented by the founder or anyone from the R&D or tech team.

Industries

Agriculture
Aerospace
Automotive
Consumer Electronics
Energy, renewables, storage, batteries and smart grid
Healthcare and biotech
Маnufacturing and Industrial Automation
IoT and Smart City solutions

Any business that is working on innovative hardware that can be accelerated with access to Murata’s products can apply!

Application Process and Guidelines

Application period: 1st June –31st August

Application period opens on June 1st and companies have 3 months to develop & submit a project to take part in Kumihimo.

Applications can be related to the utilization of Murata’s hardware in cases of:

developing an entirely new product or solution
enhancing an existing product/ process
or demonstrate an innovative usage of Murata’s products

The application form consists of 2 sections. The first of which is a general company and product overview, which should take you approximately 10 to 15 minutes to fill out. The second is a project presentation which should be prepared beforehand.

Please prepare your project presentation in advance. The presentation should be a minimum of 5 slides and should include, but is not limited to, the following information:

Background: Outline which Murata products will you be using (see detailed list below)
Project Scope: Provide an overview of your idea and what problem will it solve
Methodology: Describe the approach or methodology that will be used to achieve the project objectives. This may include outlining the steps, processes, techniques, or tools that will be employed
Execution: Outline Execution strategy and anticipated challenges
Resources: What kind of support would you need from Murata in order to successfully execute the above-described project?
Evaluation: Define criteria for evaluating the success of the project. This may include qualitative and quantitative measures, as well as indicators of progress

If you have any additional materials relevant to your application, such as a company presentation, case studies or pitch deck, please feel free to include them as well.

Selection Criteria

The application process for Kumihimo Tech Camp involves submitting ideas (in a presentation format) that showcase how Murata’s products can create new applications or alter existing processes in an innovative way.

Universities, Institutions, Start-ups

The program accepts applications regardless of the presence of a Proof of Concept (PoC), allowing submissions based solely on ideas. The selection process involves evaluating the innovative potential of the proposed ideas and their alignment with Murata’s vision for future technologies and applications, as well as their technological feasibility.

Companies

Already established companies can apply showcasing how they can use Murata’s products:

for an already established innovative technology/product or
for an idea on how to leverage them for the creation of a new product/solution

Selection and Support

Selected companies will have the opportunity to receive support for the presentation and formulation of their ideas ahead of their formal presentation at Demo Day.

1:1 session with Murata’s team to validate their ideas and delve deeper into the execution; opportunity for Q&A
Pitch and Deck counseling and mentorship opportunities by Endeavor
Networking and peer-to-peer connections

Demo Day and Partnership Opportunity

Opportunity for continued collaboration with Murata.
Off the shelf products.
Know-how and experience sharing.
Business development opportunities for established companies.
Tailored support to address the unique needs of each company, provided on a case-by-case basis.

Endeavor will also support the winning companies with exclusive access to its network and events.

Murata components to be used for your application

A detailed presentation of the products available for your application can be found below. Participants in Kumihimo will receive sample products, including sensors, communication modules, microblowers, and more, to use for validation and idea testing.
- Download here

Timeline

Application Period

1st June –31st August

Application period opens in June and companies have 3 months to develop a project and apply to take part in Kumihimo.

Apply here.

Selection

September

Companies and ideas will be selected in September by Murata Leadership, after a 2-stage selection process.

Support

October – November

Individual sessions with Murata representatives will be held and tailored support will be provided by Endeavor Bulgaria related to any specifics challenges or preparation for Demo Day.

Demo Day

19 November

Present your groundbreaking ideas in front of Murata Executives, business leaders and investors at Demo Day!

Kumihimo Tech Camp

KUMIHIMO: Innovation in the African Sky

Kumihimo Tech Camp

Kumihimo Tech Camp from the source: Hiroshi Iwatsubo, Senior Executive Vice President of Murata, shares more about the initiative.

Kumihimo Tech Camp

What is Kumihimo Tech Camp and why join the initiative?

Kumihimo Tech Camp

Startups, Scale-Ups, and Research Teams Are Invited To The Launch of A New Initiative for Innovators in the Hardware Space

FAQ

Can I apply as an individual?

Are there any conditions for application?

There are no specific criteria for applying to Kumihimo. Companies from all industries and stages are encouraged to present their ideas. In case you have any questions or doubts, feel free to contact our team and schedule a meeting with them at bulgaria@endeavor.org

Are applications limited to new ideas?

Please give us a concrete idea of what you should submit when applying.

What is the process following selection?

Following August 31st, Murata’s executive team will carefully select the companies and ideas to participate in Kumihimo. Subsequently, the Endeavor Bulgaria team will contact the selected participants and guide them through the next steps. This involves identifying any challenges that Endeavor and Murata can assist with, ensuring participants can present their comprehensive ideas effectively at Demo Day.

I have an idea, but I don't know what Murata products to use or how to use them.

Please tell me about the selection process.

The selection process involves a thorough review of all applications by Murata’s Leadership team. They assess factors such as the uniqueness and viability of the idea, Murata’s ability to provide further expertise, and the potential for growth and impact. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited for further discussions with the Endeavor Bulgaria team in order to delve deeper into their proposal.

If you have any further questions or would like to reach out to the team please feel free to do so at bulgaria@endeavor.org.

Apply Now

Empowering Innovation with Murata’s Hardware

WHY MURATA?

WHAT IS KUMIHIMO TECH CAMP?

For the first time, Murata is looking outside Japan for ideas and leaders to co-create new possibilities together.

Timeline

Application Period

Selection

Support

Demo Day

KUMIHIMO: Innovation in the African Sky

Kumihimo Tech Camp from the source: Hiroshi Iwatsubo, Senior Executive Vice President of Murata, shares more about the initiative.

What is Kumihimo Tech Camp and why join the initiative?

Startups, Scale-Ups, and Research Teams Are Invited To The Launch of A New Initiative for Innovators in the Hardware Space

FAQ

If you have any further questions or would like to reach out to the team please feel free to do so at bulgaria@endeavor.org.

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