BooQs Inc. (Headquarters: Iruma City, Saitama; CEO: Shinji Aikawa) announced on February 9th that it has been selected for and has joined Microsoft Japan's "Generative AI Business Incubation Program" for partners.
Through participation in this program, the company plans to further promote the use of Generative AI in the field of language learning. They aim to accelerate the delivery of products and solutions that allow learners, educational institutions, and corporate clients to utilize Generative AI safely and securely.
While the social implementation of Generative AI is progressing rapidly, the education and training sectors require systems designed for practical operation. This includes "learner comprehension support," "improvement of retention rates," and "safety" measures such as governance and personal information protection.
BooQs, primarily through its AI dictionary and vocabulary app "DiQt," has implemented features such as automated review and optimization based on learning data to tackle the challenge of "forgetting" in vocabulary acquisition. Furthermore, by leveraging Generative AI, they have built dictionaries covering 83 languages, providing support for understanding meanings, examples, and grammar. With this selection, BooQs will strengthen its framework for the commercialization of Generative AI and AI Agents by utilizing Microsoft Japan's expertise and technical support.
Moving forward, the company aims to advance the use of Generative AI within "DiQt." Specifically, they plan to improve the explanatory experience—covering word meanings, examples, synonyms, etymology, and grammar—to deepen learner understanding. They also intend to optimize reviews and material suggestions based on learning history and improve the quality of multilingual support, including minority languages.
Additionally, BooQs will strengthen implementation support for educational institutions and corporations. This includes enhancing data utilization and learning analysis functions for the "Classroom Plan" for schools, establishing operational know-how for the safe and secure introduction of Generative AI, and accelerating the process from PoC (Proof of Concept) to implementation and operational improvement in research support and contract development.
"Generative AI holds immense potential to deepen a learner's 'understanding' and create an environment where they can sustain their studies. Conversely, in the education and training sectors, it is essential to design systems that account for safety and operational aspects. Taking this selection as an opportunity, we will collaborate with Microsoft Japan to refine a Generative AI experience that is truly effective in the field of language DX, contributing to the success of even more learners and educational institutions."
■ ICT Startup League
This support program was launched in FY2023, triggered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Project for Supporting Seed-stage R&D for Startup Creation."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four main pillars:
① R&D Funding / Hands-on Support
R&D expenses of up to 20 million yen are provided in the form of subsidies. In terms of hands-on support, the selection committee members who were involved in choosing the league members continue to stay close to the companies after selection to promote growth. For companies that committee members evaluated as "must-select," a support system is established where the evaluators themselves provide ongoing advice on business plans and growth opportunities—a truly "enthusiast-led" (Oshikatsu) support framework.
② Discovery & Cultivation
The league provides opportunities for learning and networking to promote the business growth of its members. It also seeks to discover individuals aiming to start businesses in the future, aiming to expand the entrepreneurial base.
③ Competition & Co-creation
Functioning like a positive sports league, this is a venue for competition where startups learn together and strive to win the necessary funding (up to 20 million yen) through friendly rivalry. It also provides a space for "co-creation," where league members can collaborate and expand their businesses through various opportunities, such as sessions with selection committee members.
④ Communication
The league collaborates with media to broadcast the initiatives of its members. By making these businesses known to a wider audience, the program aims to expand opportunities for new matching and business prospects.
■ Related Websites
ICT Startup League
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BooQs Inc. (Official Site)
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BooQs Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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DiQt (Web Version)
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Original Press Release (Japanese)
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