Language barriers at events and meetings involving domestic and international participants pose a significant challenge in startup support. Today, we speak with Ms. Chie Naito, Innovation Officer, and Ms. Yuiko Kitano from Kobe City Economic and Tourism Bureau’s New Industry Development Division, who utilize VoicePing in their global startup support initiatives.
Global Startup Support Led by Kobe City
Could you please introduce yourselves and tell us about your roles in the department?
Ms. Naito： I work primarily on startup support at Kobe City’s New Industry Development Division. I serve as an Innovation Officer on a fixed-term position. My name is Chie Naito. Thank you for having me.
Ms. Kitano：I’m also with Kobe City’s New Industry Development Division. My name is Yuiko Kitano. I work alongside Ms. Naito on similar duties, though I am a permanent staff member. Thank you for having me.
Could you tell us specifically about your work responsibilities?
Ms. Naito：Within startup support, we are responsible for the global expansion aspect. We support Japanese startups looking to expand overseas, and conversely, we assist international startups seeking to enter Japan or specifically Kobe. We utilize VoicePing’s translation tool while running programs and organizing events.
Ms. Naito, did you previously work in the private sector?
Ms. Naito：Yes, I previously worked in the private sector and later worked overseas. I’m leveraging those diverse experiences in my current three-year fixed-term position at Kobe City Hall.
Background of VoicePing Implementation: Recognition for "Smooth and Natural Japanese"
As you advance your startup support initiatives, could you share why you chose VoicePing and the background of its implementation?
Ms. Naito： When international startups visit Kobe, we organize events for local companies, and when Japanese startups expand overseas, we also hold events. We conduct multilingual events, and this year in particular, we planned large-scale events with up to 300 participants, so we considered bringing in interpreters for simultaneous interpretation. However, given the high frequency of events throughout the year, we explored alternative tools and identified VoicePing as a candidate.
Last year, when I attended an event where VoicePing was being used, I observed that the translation accuracy produced relatively smooth Japanese, which led us to consider implementing it this year.
Do you recall what type of event you attended?
Ms. Naito： Last year, there was an event where Japanese startups seeking overseas expansion pitched in English, with the audience consisting of Japanese companies. I observed it being used there. Watching the English-to-Japanese translation, the smooth and natural Japanese translation left a lasting impression.
Post-Implementation Results: High-Precision Translation with Contextual Understanding
Now that you’ve implemented it and are using it at events, what are your impressions? Has it adequately addressed your challenges?
Ms. Naito： Yes, we find the translation accuracy and quality to be exceptionally high. We have used other translation functions, but compared to those, the satisfaction level with the Japanese-to-English or English-to-Japanese translation that properly grasps context is very high. Both Japanese and English speakers among participants have responded favorably, and we are highly satisfied with our current usage.
Ms. Kitano, do you have anything to add?
Ms. Kitano：There are times when we cannot display the screen to all participants at an event, so in such cases, the ability to view via QR code on personal mobile devices is extremely user-friendly.
In situations where we cannot install an additional monitor for translation display, we can display materials on one screen while participants check on their own devices, making it very convenient even for large-scale events.
Accommodating Diverse Accents: Proven Performance at Global Events
Ms. Kitano： In terms of accuracy, not only when capturing microphone audio directly, but also when we place a computer near speakers for translation, the system picks up the audio very clearly. Many speakers use English even when it’s not their native language, and the system picks up such accents very clearly, which we find most appreciative. English is the common language, but participants are not necessarily native speakers.
Feedback from other customers confirms that it works with Italian accents, Indian accents, and others.
Ms. Naito： The people we connect with come from various countries—Italy, Latvia, Austria, India, and others. Various people, including Japanese, participate in events, and we communicate within that context.
Accommodating Diverse Accents: Proven Performance at Global Events
So the ability to check on personal devices via QR code when an additional monitor cannot be prepared while displaying PowerPoint presentations is beneficial.
Ms. Kitano： Yes, exactly. At pitch events, we often display explanatory materials as slides, so while speakers present their products, continuously displaying translations on another screen is challenging and requires two monitors.
However, even when that’s difficult, as long as we issue a QR code, participants can check on their own devices. Additionally, those who understand English can choose not to view it, and they can select their preferred language, which we find very advantageous.
Were these features not available with previously used translation tools?
Ms. Naito： I didn’t personally use the previous tool, but from what I’ve heard, while it could display on monitors, there were time limitations. Events rarely end in one hour and often continue for about two hours, but the connection would drop midway, requiring reconnection, which presented usability challenges.
QR Code Feature Resolves Venue Constraints
Have you received any feedback from other members of your division or event participants?
Ms. Naito：Yes, as mentioned earlier, in addition to the high quality of producing natural Japanese and natural English with proper contextual understanding rather than literal translation, we greatly appreciate that AI summarizes the overall event or meeting minutes. The ability to review when creating event reports or meeting minutes is an appreciable feature.
So you view the meeting logs after events as well.
Ms. Naito： Yes, we use them as reference materials when posting event reports on our website.
QR Code Feature Resolves Venue Constraints
Are there any improvement points or feature requests you have while using it at events or small meetings?
Ms. Naito： We are generally highly satisfied with our current usage, but for example, when using one monitor to display subtitles at events, the subtitle scrolling speed is fast, and the next sentence appears before we finish reading, so slightly slower display would be more readable.
Also, while various features such as the virtual office screen are implemented, we have little need for them, so a simpler interface would suffice for our purposes.
Ms. Kitano, do you have any requests?
Ms. Kitano： When returning from virtual mode to the translation function screen, we sometimes get lost and don’t know how to navigate back. Ms. Naito and I once spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out how to return.
We find the concepts of workspace, groups, and teams rather complex. Also about the virtual mode, if other members press the “Workspace” button in the upper right, a “Create New Workspace” option appears, raising concerns that anyone could create a new workspace potentially associated with Kobe City’s contract. If there were a way to restrict this, it would prevent unexpected charges.
How about maintenance timing?
Ms. Kitano： Also, while you accommodated us previously, when we held a 300-person event, maintenance was scheduled on the same day. We had announced in advance that we planned to hold a pitch event, but ending around 5:30 PM was challenging.
Since many participants join after work hours, we often run events until 7:00 PM. If maintenance could be scheduled for evening hours or weekends, it would be more helpful for us.
We typically send notifications the day before, but occasionally it’s same-day when development doesn’t complete in time. We will improve the maintenance timing on our end. Thank you.
Post-Event Review Efficiency Through Meeting Log Features
This is our final question. What goals or vision does your division have? This can relate to VoicePing or not.
Ms. Naito：Our mission is for people with startups and new technologies, whether Japanese or international, to connect with Kobe companies, thereby promoting innovation and contributing to the city’s economic revitalization.
In that context, we recognize that language barriers present significant hurdles for Japanese people. We hope that AI-powered translation tools like this will help us overcome those hurdles and achieve our goals.
By using such tools to communicate at events with people from various countries, we hope to create an environment where exchanges go beyond just technology to various elements, making it easier for new startups to emerge.
Future Vision: Creating Innovation Beyond Language Barriers
VoicePing provides rapid, accurate real-time translation to eliminate language barriers, creating an environment for smooth multinational startup events and meetings. Do you face any of these challenges?
✅ Arranging interpreters for numerous multilingual events throughout the year incurs enormous costs and effort
✅ Existing translation tools disconnect during long events
✅ Venue constraints prevent installation of multiple monitors
✅ Need translation tools that accommodate accents from diverse nationalities
📱 Just scan a QR code
Participants can easily check translation content on smartphones. Supports smooth communication at pitch events and networking sessions.
Benefits of implementing VoicePing:
🌍 Multinational participants understand content in their native language
Provides an environment where participants at any session can deeply understand without feeling language barriers.
⚡ Simple operation and high-precision translation reduce burden
Intuitive operation and rapid translation significantly reduce organizers’ workload.
📝 Meeting log features streamline post-event reviews
AI automatically records and summarizes meeting content. Can be utilized as reference materials for report creation.
💡 Enhance participant satisfaction and event ratings
Utilizing translation support improves overall event quality and earns positive feedback from participants.
If you want to evolve your next event into an international knowledge-sharing venue, please utilize VoicePing.
For details, please apply for an individual consultation.
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