Second Annula Silicon Valley Tanabata 2011 Festival of Hope

Date:
Aug 5th, 2011 1:00PM-10:00PM
Jannovation Jam 2:00PM-5:00PM
(Doors open at 1:00PM)
Tanabata Party 5:30PM-10:00PM
Place:
Plug and Play Tech Center
440 N Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale CA

2011 Theme: Festival of Hope

SunBridge’sTanabata, inspired by Sendai’s Tanabata, is a premier event connecting Japanese to Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial community, and fundraising for the disaster- affected areas including Sendai, Tohoku. We plan to donate $10 per 1 attendee to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief efforts directly through Japanese organizations providing assistance in the Tohoku region.

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Please join us for the Second Annual Silicon Valley Tanabata 2011 – Festival of Hope, an exciting blend of Japanese cultural festival, international business networking event and fund raiser for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief.
Presented by SunBridge (founders of salesforce.com Japan and Oracle Japan) this is the premier event connecting entrepreneurial Japanese individuals and companies with Silicon Valley influencers, including start-ups, venture capitalists, universities, government and business leaders; and connecting US entrepreneurs seeking to expand to Japan to Japanese corporations, investors, institutions and individuals who can help.
In 2010, the first Silicon Valley Tanabata Festival was attended by over 300 people.

More Information: Please visit us at http://www.tanabata.us to find more information and register to attend the Second Annual Silicon Valley Tanabata 2011 – Festival of Hope.
Fee: Early Registration $40* (includes a Complimentary Sushi Ticket**)
*We will donate $10 (out of $40) through The Miner Foundation to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief efforts! **Many more festival foods and drinks are available throughout the party.

When: Aug 5th, 2011
Jannovation Jam (Pitch Competition): 2:00pm-5:00pm (Doors open at 1pm)
· Secrets of Successfully Entering the Japanese and US Markets
· Pitch Competition of 25 Japanese and 10 US Startups
· Panel discussion on how to generate media exposure in the Valley
· Expo of Presenting Companies
Tanabata Festival Party: 5:00pm-10:00pm (Families Welcome!)
· Fund Raiser for Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief
· Opening Sake Ceremony
· Japan Consul General Remarks
· Live broadcast with Tanabata Festival in Tohoku Japan
· Presentations from startup pitch competition winners
· Sushi Carving
· Traditional Japanese Festival Foods
· Taiko Drumming

Where: Plug and Play Tech Center
440 N Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale CA 94085

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Kamran Elahian, global entrepreneur on Rebuilding Japan

“Turning Crisis into Opportunity – What Silicon Valley can do to help Rebuild Japan”

Event: Wednesday, June 29, 2011
5:30-9:30pm PARC, Palo Alto
Sponsored by Keizai Society, Silicon Valley Wireless and TiE Silicon Valley

Kamron Elahian, a successful global entrepreneur, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and keynote speaker at the recent Keizai fundraising event, roused the audience with his honest and frank statements about supporting Japan after the tragedies of March 11, 2011. Not realizing that there were hundreds of orphaned youths left stranded after the tsunami and earthquake, he didn’t think that such a rich country as Japan needed his organization’s support. After all, Kamran’s nonprofit organization has helped thousands of needy children around the world in under developed countries. After learning about the Ashinaga organization’s effort to help the orphans Kamran committed his organization to help and encouraged others in the audience to do the same. With an impromptu “ask”, Kamran inspired others to take action and within a few minutes, raised over $10,000 for the Ashinaga organization. A powerful demonstration of what Silicon Valley can do to help rebuild Japan.

“Think of what a modern-day Robin Hood would do”, Kamran says. “Today, we don’t have to snatch wealth from the rich and give it to the poor. We have the means to level the playing field – provide everybody with the beat tools to learn and grow, and create new opportunities for economic and social progress and equality.”

Arts NPO Aid

ARTS NPO AID is a structure that i would really like to recommend. They are less immediate than humanitarian organizations but their work have been appreciated by people in north east of Japan. Some people told me that they were glad that I told them about the non profit organization . When we look at the website and read the content, we may have the impressions that they only help artists and art NPO. But their point is to help local art structures and artists so they can help the others to regain expression through art. Their work is financing and providing the actual needs of the people and assisting to rebuild a stronger local communities.  When people apply to get help from ARTS NPO AID, the first step is that they arrange a visit .Once they arrive to the applicants homes or work space,  they discuss with the people to find a way to assist them concretely . But even before the actual help, people appreciate their visit because they feel considered and cared for. Sometimes this is already a big help. They interview some people to bridge their voices to out side world.  They are working in  longer term actions as they know that reconstruction needs communication. Because outside help is essential, they are attempting to share the feelings, thoughts and actions of people from Tohoku. Please check their website. http://anpoap.org/en/

“East Earthquake Relief, ~ From Yokohama with love”

The people of Japan unite to raise hope and monies for the relief effort. April 9 (Saturday) from 11:00 at the Yamashita Park in Yokohama, Naka-ku, Yokohama, and co-sponsored by the Executive Committee.