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Japan, Tokyo
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The Innovation Fellowship (TIF) was founded in 2023 by Scott Smoler, founder and head of project coaching; Kai Childs, co founder and head of student experience; and Jason Cody Douglass, PhD, co founder and head of academics, with the first 9th-grade founding cohort beginning on August 24, 2023. The school opened a purpose-built campus in 2024 in Shibuya near Shibuya Station and Yoyogi Park. It is fully accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) as of December 1, 2025. The Innovation Fellowship operates as The Innovation Fellowship K.K., with its Spark Shibuya campus address. Founding faculty include Scott Smoler, Jason Cody Douglass, and Kai Childs.
Student life at TIF is designed to center the learner and foster a close-knit community. The campus opened in 2024 and is co-located with partner companies, enabling mentorship and industry exposure for students. Monthly student-led excursions and off-campus exchanges are part of the routine, and school trips such as the 2023 Hakuba trip deepen engagement with local contexts. There is an annual Demo Day when students present the culmination of their project work to a public audience.
A traditional PTA page or listing is not published on the official site. Parental involvement is represented on the Governing Board, with Yinuo Li listed as a TIF Parent and Governing Board Member. Li is described as an author, entrepreneur, and educator, and is noted as a former McKinsey partner. A parent testimonial from Li appears on the site, illustrating parental perspectives on student progress. Overall, parental engagement at TIF occurs through governance and parent voices rather than a formal PTA program.
The Innovation Fellowship (TIF) is an independent international high school in Shibuya, Tokyo for students in grades 9–12. Its campus opened in 2024 and is located at Spark Shibuya, a short walk from Shibuya Station and Yoyogi Park. Academics are built on three pillars: project-based, problem-based and inquiry-based learning. Students spend half the school day designing and executing real-world projects, supported by coaches and industry mentors. Math and Science are delivered through Khan Academy and aligned with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. TIF culminates in an American high school diploma, and students are described as preparing for SAT and AP exams. A signature annual event is Demo Day, where students present their projects to a public audience.
