Freeman Fellows Report From Japan About a High-Tech Laundry Robot

Freeman fellows pictured with their laundry robot

During their four-week stay in Japan, the Freeman Fellows have been working closely with an innovative technology company to expand their recently developed robotic product to the U.S. market. Through analysis of potential customer segments and stakeholders, the team is working to provide the company with an in-depth identification of U.S. channels to consider. The fast-paced Tokyo lifestyle and enriching Japanese culture has been an unforgettable experience for the team. They are grateful to the Freeman Foundation for providing an amazing opportunity to work on a real-word project abroad.

The Freeman Foundation Asian Fellowship program provides MBA students with an opportunity to conduct independent, entrepreneurial projects in an Asian country. It is designed with a win-win approach—foreign startups benefit from pro bono, business consultation services, while students gain hands-on, real-world, educational experiences. A team of four Shidler MBA students were selected to participate in the summer fellowship which runs between May and July 2017 with four weeks immersed in-country.

Thanks to the Freeman Foundation, Shidler's Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) is able to offer a competitive fellowship to subsidize travel and living expenses abroad.

Projects vary and is based on the company that is selected for the consultation project. Such projects may include assisting a startup with due diligence; market analysis; market strategy development; financial projections; and business plan development. The team is supervised by PACE staff through in-person and video conference meetings. Upon completion of the project, the team presents its findings and recommendations to the client.