2024
3rd Makinohara City Challenge Business Contest
149 companies from 8 countries participated. As Japan's largest regional open innovation event, 13 finalists competed in the final open pitch.
149+
Participating Companies
109 domestic + 40 international
8 countries
Countries
13 companies
Finalists
¥1,000,000
Grand Prize
— Schedule
Schedule
June 17 – July 31, 2024
Entry Period
109 domestic + 40 international companies
Early September 2024
First Round (Document Screening)
September 18, 2024
34 Semi-Finalists Announced
September – October 2024
Second Round
October 10, 2024
13 Finalists Announced
October 17, 2024
Final Judging (Open Pitch Session)
November 7, 2024
Award Winners & Ceremony
Venue: Sagara Community Center 'Iira', Makinohara City
— Awards
Awards
MakiChalle Grand Prix
¥1,000,000
Midwest Composites Sdn Bhd
Woven and non-woven product commercialization using various plant fibers
MakiChalle Runner-Up
¥300,000
4kiz Inc.
Safe SNS platform for children under 15
Mayor's Special Award
¥100,000
PLUXITY Co.Ltd / Morgenrot Inc.
PLUXITY: Remote building management and energy optimization via AI digital twin / Morgenrot: Ultra-efficient data center construction through AI server visualization and distributed processing
【Financial Institution Special Award】
Shizuoka Bank Award
¥100,000
MIH LLC
Regional revitalization through vacant house renovation and rental model
【Sponsor Special Award】
Daiwa House Award
¥100,000
fabula Inc.
Business model utilizing tea waste from Makinohara City
【Sponsor Special Award】
ITO EN Award
¥50,000
Genuv Inc.
AI-powered medical food for next-generation anti-aging
【Sponsor Special Award】
M-Square Lab Award
¥50,000
Glaiven LLC
Advancing cutting-edge agriculture using AI drones
【Sponsor Special Award】
Shizuoka Venture Startup Association Award
¥50,000
Neuropilot
VR mental therapy that directly stimulates the brain through electrical signals from the eyes
【Sponsor Special Award】
Makinohara Incubation Center Award
¥50,000
Zenkou Research Institute, Inc.
Nursing care DX platform transforming the care industry through operational reform and digitalization
【Audience Award】
Audience Award
¥50,000
Dorami Company Inc.
Digital healthcare business to make all Japanese people happier
— Sponsors
Sponsors
Supported by 27 companies and organizations.
Special Partners — Special Partners
Partners — Partners
Supporters — Supporters
— Judges
Judges
7 judges conducted rigorous evaluation.
Kohei Takachi
EXPACT Inc.CEO / Representative Director, Venture Investment & Incubation Research Association
— Finalists
Finalists
13 companies were selected as finalists.
MIH LLC
ShizuokaRegional revitalization through vacant house renovation and rental model
Representative: Nanami
Glaiven LLC
ShizuokaAdvancing cutting-edge agriculture using AI drones
Representative: Daisuke Shimizu
Genuv Inc.
South KoreaAI-powered medical food for next-generation anti-aging
Representative: HAN, Sungho Ph.D.
Zenkou Research Institute, Inc.
TokyoNursing care DX platform transforming the care industry through operational reform and digitalization with Care Tech Startup
Representative: Takashi Miyamoto
Dorami Company Inc.
ShizuokaDigital healthcare business to make all Japanese people happier
Representative: Yukihiro Hasegawa
Neuropilot
GeorgiaVR mental therapy that directly stimulates the brain through electrical signals from the eyes
Representative: Maia Tskitishvili
Nexretail Co., LTD.
United StatesIn-store merchandising through AI behavioral analysis of individual retail customers
Representative: Wu James
fabula Inc.
TokyoBusiness model utilizing tea waste from Makinohara City
Representative: Kota Machida
4kiz Inc.
TokyoSafe SNS platform for children under 15
Representative: Katsuhiro Motoyama
PLUXITY Co.Ltd
South KoreaRemote building management and energy optimization via AI digital twin
Representative: Yoon Jae Min
Macnica, Inc.
KanagawaProposal for environment-controlled agriculture 'wasabi growing container' using advanced technology
Representative: Kazumasa Hara
Midwest Composites Sdn Bhd
MalaysiaWoven and non-woven product commercialization using various plant fibers
Representative: Sethu Raaj Munusamy
Morgenrot Inc.
TokyoUltra-efficient data center construction through AI server visualization and distributed processing
Representative: Akihide Morimoto
— Semi-Finalists
Semi-Finalists
21 companies were selected as semi-finalists.
— Collaboration
Winners & Regional Co-Creation
MakiChalle 2022 Grand Prix
S.Lab
A Ukrainian company that manufactures sustainable packaging materials as an alternative to polystyrene by combining Makinohara's tea trees with mushroom mycelium. Currently restarting factory operations, preparing to establish a Japanese entity to operate a factory in Makinohara.
MakiChalle 2023 Grand Prix
ParaLux Inc.
A wedding business offering original ceremonies utilizing regional resources such as Makinohara's tourism and food. Established a new company 'M-Weddings Co., Ltd.' in Makinohara in July 2024.
MakiChalle 2023 Mayor's Special Award
spread with Inc.
Provides 'Guruwan', a web service for finding pet-friendly shops and accommodations. Established 'Guruwan Co., Ltd.' in Makinohara in August, developing pet tourism business.
MakiChalle 2023 M-Square Lab Award
Shincom Agritech Inc.
Revitalizing abandoned tea gardens by converting them into lemon orchards. Uprooted tea trees are processed into biochar for carbon credit generation and soil improvement. The lemons are branded as 'Naminori Lemon', aiming to become a signature local crop of Makinohara.
— Previous Year
Introducing Last Year's (MakiChalle 2023) Finalists & Their Businesses
| Company | Region | Award |
|---|---|---|
| ParaLux Inc. | Fukuoka | Grand Prix |
| Contract Manufacturing Professionals | Australia | Runner-Up |
| spread with Inc. | Tokyo | Mayor's Special Award |
| LX DESIGN Inc. | Tokyo | Mayor's Special Award |
| MUU | Thailand | Shizuoka Bank Award |
| LivNSense Technologies | India | SUZUKI Award |
| Regional Fish Inc. | Kyoto | Enotec Award |
| Shincom Agritech Inc. | Ibaraki | M2Lab Award |
| viAct | Hong Kong | Audience Award |
| Biambi Inc. | Hyogo | — |
| EXx Inc. | Tokyo | — |
| Online Doctor.com Inc. | Tokyo | — |
| staple | Singapore | — |