Kyoto International Entrepreneurship Contest for University Students
2025
December 12(FRI),13(SAT),14(SUN), 2025,
Kyoto, Japan
The Executive Committee of International Entrepreneurship Contest for University Students
1.Main Purpose
The Kyoto International Entrepreneurship Contest is a business plan competition for multinational university students. It will be held on December 12(FRI),13(SAT),14(SUN) 2025, Kyoto, Japan. It will be the 10th competition and the 1st was held in Kyoto in May, 2018. We will invite overseas university students and hold a contest here in Kyoto with Japanese university students. We believe that the spirit of innovation is vital to the development of young minds. This contest will not only provide a platform for cutting-edge business ideas, but also bring great opportunities of investment with the support of excellent business partners.
Kyoto is a world-renowned city for its cultural heritage sites, traditional arts, and delicious cuisine. At the same time, Kyoto is also one of the key economic and academic centers in Japan. It is home to the headquarters of leading Japanese multinational corporations and manufacturers including Nintendo, Omron and Kyocera, as well as top ranking universities including Kyoto University, Doshisha University, and Ritsumeikan University. All of these factors contribute signicantly to the city’s economy, making it the perfect place for flourishing exciting ideas and new capital ventures.
Kyoto is also facing various challenges nowadays, such as aging society, low birthrate, conflicts with globalization, and cultural heritage issues. However, reversely such challenges provide huge opportunities for the long term development of Kyoto. We hope this contest will inspire energetic and creative young minds to bring new innovative ideas to the development of Kyoto, and contribute to the solutions to social problems.
In the era of change and challenge, especially with respect to human society and technological developement,we encourage the young generation to use the International Entrepreneurship Contest 2025 as a platform for their voices, and show this world a better future with the spirits of collaboration, unity, innovation and integrity.
2. Institutional Framework(2024 results)
Host
Education Development Allians
Organizer
KANU NIPPON
Global Education Service Co., Ltd
IKUTA Global Co., Ltd.
Co-organizer
Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City
Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO)
Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Kinki Japan
Kyoto Chiesangyo Sozonomori
Kyoto Research Park
Kyoto University Original Co., Ltd
Supporter
Kyoto Industrial Support Organization 21
Kyoto Association of Corporate Executives
Kyoto Shisaku Net
KISEIREN
Global Consolidated Research Institute for Science Wisdom, Waseda University
Sponsors
The Bank of Kyoto, Ltd.
The Kyoto Shinkin Bank
Murata Machinery, Ltd.
IKUTA Manufacturing Equipment Corporation
Rentong Corporation
Zhejiang Gabriel Biotechnology co .,Ltd
3. Entry Requirements
The projects shall be creative and present relatively mature product prototypes or service modes. The content of the business plan must be closely related to the future development of society in the real world. The entries shall include one or more of the following topics:
①Technology, media, telecommunication
②Health, biomedicine
③Environmental improvement, new energy
④Traditional culture, cultural creativity
There is no limitation to the type of business model or industry. However, any plans that are contrary to public policy or deemed morally unacceptable will not permitted.
4. Qualification of Participants
Students must participate as a team. Participating team members must be college, university, or graduate students, or vocational school students in their fourth or fifth year. Each team must have no less than 4 members, and up to a maximum of 8 members.
5. Rules of the Contest
Entries will first be selected based on the initial profile submission. Qualifying teams will be invited to compete in the preliminary and final contest in Kyoto.
Language
Initial profile submission: English
Presentation: English (including question and answer session)
Presentation
Time Limits
10 minutes for the presentation
10 minutes for the question and answer (Q&A) session
Prepare your presentation by PowerPoint.
The presentation shall be delivered by every team member or a representative. During the Q&A session, you may consult with your team members before answering each question. PowerPoint and all the details about this contest should be sent by email on December 5 , 2025.
6. Schedule
Registration Deadline: October 10, 2025
Qualifying teams based on the initial profile selection will be notified by email on October 15, 2025
The schedule for the contest on December 12(FRI),13(SAT), 14(SUN).
★December 12th Pre-event information session
★December 13th Presentation Guidance from Experts
★December 14th Presentation and awards ceremony
※Accommodation in Kyoto will be provided by the organizing committee for those who passed the document screening. (Only for those living outside the Kinki region)
※Please bear the transportation costs individually
7.Awarding Criteria
8. Registration Guidelines
Complete the Specified Form (link below) in English, convert it to PDF format (file size must be less than 3Mb), and
email the PDF file to: info@kyoto.academy
The subject of the email and name of the PDF file shall follow the examples below.
Subject: [IECO2025] University Name
PDF file name: [IECO2025] University Name_Title of Business Plan
※Reference material: Within 5 pages.
Provisional RegistrationDeadline : October 10, 2025
9. Awards
Grand Prize 300,000yen
Sponsored Award 200,000yen
Sponsored Award 100,000yen
The award-winning projects will receive an award certificate. Excellent business plans have the opportunity to receive angel investment.
10. Disclaimers
The proposed business plan is the intellectual property right of the proposing team.
The proposed business plan must be the original work of the proposing team. Any consequences arising from intellectual property rights infringement shall be the responsibility of the relevant individual or team. If the work of an individual or a team is considered to have violated other’s intellectual property rights, the team will be disqualified, and all awards will be rescinded.
Summaries of business plans will be featured on the internet. Therefore, in order to protect personal intellectual property, a formal patent application can be made in advance if necessary. In addition, if the business plan is based on new technology or commodity, please confirm whether there are any similar products or technologies in the market in advance to avoid any possible intellectual property rights infringement issues.
Please note that organizers have the right to publish business plans of each team participating in the competition.
The submitted business plan and related materials will not be returned. Please prepare your backup in advance.
Only those who have passed the document screening will be contacted by the registered e-mail address or by phone.
In principle, if you have to be absent due to unavoidable reasons, please contact us.
※This event will be held under the requirements for holding the event according to the national and local governments.