Business plan contest for graduate students who are entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs press release

The Kinki University Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship Innovation Degree Program (Osaka, Japan) will hold a business plan contest on February 27, 2025 in collaboration with Incubate Fund Inc. February 27, 2025 in cooperation with Incubate Fund.

Kinki University and Incubate Fund concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement in March 2022 to foster entrepreneurial talent.
As part of this competition, incubate fund capitalists will provide one-on-one guidance to graduate students from a professional perspective to brush up their business plans before conducting the competition.

1. Key Points of the Case

Business plan contest for entrepreneurs and graduate students who want to start their own businesses

One-on-one coaching by incubate fund capitalists to brush up your business plan

Gain insights from leading experts and apply them to your future activities.

2. Contents of this case

In April 2023, Kinki University will launch a graduate program called "Innovation in Business and Entrepreneurship" to foster entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. The program will culminate in a business idea pitch contest in which graduate students will present their business ideas. The 6 students who have won the 30-person preliminary round will receive one-on-one coaching from an incubate fund capitalist from a very specific and expert point of view before competing in the finals. Four second-year students who have developed their business plans over the past two years through repeated hypothesis setting and testing will also compete in the final pitch contest, where they will give a passionate presentation in two parts. The judges will include Masahiko Honma, Managing Partner of Incubate Fund, and a total of 8 students. 100,000 yen will be given to the winner of the first round, 50,000 yen to the runner-up, 200,000 yen to the winner of the second round, and 100,000 yen to the runner-up, as financial support from the university.

3. Outline of the event

Date: February 27, 2025 (Tue) 13:30-17:00
*One-on-one instruction from 9:00 to 13:00 is also available.
Venue: Jigaku Hall, TUAT Kinki Osaka Campus
(3-4-1 Chobowakae, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, about a 10-minute walk from Nagase Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line)
Target: Kinki University students, faculty and staff, and the general public (capacity of 200 people, free of charge, no advance registration required)
Judges: Masahiko Homma, Representative Partner, Incubate Fund K.K., and 8 others
Inquiries: Resident Center for TUAT Common Education, Kinki University TEL: +81-6-4307-3036

4. Schedule

9:00-13:00 One-on-one instruction and brushing up on pitch content
13:30-13:35 Opening Remarks/ Introduction of Judges
13:35-14:45 Part 1: Presentations by 6 contestants of the Business Idea Pitch Contest
14:45-15:00 Screening and break
15:00-16:00 Part 2: Presentations by 4 Final Pitch Contestants
16:00-16:20 Screening and break
16:20-17:00 Awards Ceremony / General Comments

5. Contestants for Part 1

Reiru HATSUMOTO (1st year of the degree program in Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Practice)
From Negative to Wealthy."

Naoteru Kanematsu (1st year, Innovation Degree Program for Social Entrepreneurship in Practice)
Project:never - a new form of experiential IP that starts with board games.

(3) Lee, Yutaro (1st year, Innovation in Social Entrepreneurship Degree Program in Practical Sciences)
A cleaning-specific version of Timee "Stork."

Kazuki Shimizu (1st-year student, Innovation in Entrepreneurship Degree Program)
Circular Businesses Co-Created with Wasps."

5) Huijian Liang (1st-year student, Innovation in Practical Social Entrepreneurship Degree Program)
The Potential of Yunnan Coffee in Japan.

Natsuki ⑥ Natsuki ⻄ (2nd year of the degree program in Social Entrepreneurship Innovation in Practice)
Vibes Internship" eliminates mismatches in the hiring of new graduates through internship programs.

6. Contestants for Part 2

(2-year student in the degree program for innovation in practical social entrepreneurship)
"Let Elephant's Footprints take care of the business of welfare facilities, and we will improve work efficiency to achieve zero turnover of pro-competent and professional staff.

(2) Sohei Awaji (2nd year of the Innovation in Entrepreneurship Degree Program for Practical Social Entrepreneurship)
"A coworking space that serves as a base for students' community activities."

(2 years in the degree program for innovation in business and social entrepreneurship)
A business approach to the shrinking traditional handicraft industry. Japanese traditions to the world - Master craftsmen.

Tokumaru Higashi (2nd year of Innovation in Business and Society degree program)
Fishing tackle business evolving with 3D printer technology and environmental considerations.

7. Graduate School "Innovation in Practical Social Entrepreneurship Degree Program" (Master's Program)

The university was established in April 2023 with the aim of training students to solve social problems through entrepreneurship and innovation. The curriculum is designed to enable students who are studying to start their own businesses during their four years at university to deepen their knowledge and experience through their studies at the university and to further develop their businesses. The program is open to a wide range of students, both students and adults, and aims to provide an entrepreneurship education unique to Kinki University, one of the largest private comprehensive universities in Japan, with 15 faculties and 49 departments covering all academic fields from medicine to the arts.

Name: Innovation in Practical Social Entrepreneurship Degree Program
Course: Master's Program
Opened: April 2023
Capacity: 30 (maximum capacity of 60)
Degree: Master of Science
Home Page:https://www.kindai.ac.jp/graduate/department/entrepreneurship/

8. Incubate Fund Co.

Since its establishment in 2010, the firm has managed a total of over 150 billion yen in funds and has invested in over 800 startups through its flagship fund and related funds. The company has the largest track record in Japan as a venture capital firm specializing in pre- and post-stage venture capital. The areas of investment range from space, medicine, entertainment, AI, robotics, etc. Under the motto of "Zero to Impact," we work with entrepreneurs to create next-generation industries from Day Zero. We also operate a seed acceleration program, "Incubate Camp," as a point of contact with entrepreneurs closer to the startup stage. The program is used as a place for startups to establish and grow their businesses and as a core community for venture capitalists.

Location: Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B 5F, 5-9-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative Partners: Toru Akaura, Masahiko Homma, Keisuke Wada, Yusuke Murata, Paul McNerney
Established: 2010 (Heisei 22)
Business: Investment and nurturing of venture companies
Number of employees: 50

Home Page: https://incubatefund.com

9. Where to distribute this material

MEXT Press Club, Science Press Club, Osaka Press Club for Commerce and Industry, Osaka Science and University Press Club, Higashi-Osaka City Government Press Club

For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact
Public Relations Office, Corporate Strategy Division, Kinki University Educational Corporation Attn: SAKAMOTO, KOBAYASHI
TEL：06-4307-3007 FAX：06-6727-5288
E-mail: koho@kindai.ac.jp

Incubate Fund K.K. Attn: Kataoka
E-mail: kataoka@incubatefund.com