Event Report: Youth Co:Lab Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2025 Alumni Grand Prix – Demo Day

2025年12月16日

Group photo of professionals indoors, many in suits, posing with a banner. — Photo: UNDP

Japanese

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation advance youth-led social entrepreneurship and innovation and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Youth Co:Lab initiative across the Asia-Pacific region.

In Japan, the Social Innovation Challenge has been held annually since 2019 to support young social entrepreneurs. In its seventh year running the Challenge, Youth Co:Lab hosted a special edition this year, the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2025 Alumni Grand Prix, which featured past award winners. The event was co-hosted and supported by the University of Tokyo, CVC Foundation/CVC Capital Partners, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd., and the UNHCR Representation in Japan, under auspice of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Demo Day – Alumni Pitch Social Impact Solutions

Seven teams, selected from 32 past award-winning teams took part in the Demo Day, hosted at Amazon Web Services Japan (AWS) in Tokyo to showcase the evolution of their businesses and share their visions for the future. The event attracted a diverse audience from the public and private sectors as well as academia, with over 100 participants joining onsite and online to experience the dynamic and inspiring pitches.

Two people pose with a certificate in front of a blue backdrop with logos.

The Grand Prize, the CVC Award, the Audience Award

Shunta Igarashi, With The World Inc.

“Connecting Global Classrooms to Build a Peaceful, Inclusive World Free from War”

Award Presenter: Tomoko Takazawa, Head of Communications, Citigroup Japan

The Excellence Award, the Yachiyo Future Impact Award

Reiji Kobayashi, HAKKI GROUP Inc.

“Redefining Credit for a New Era”

Award Presenter: Lui Yoshida, Ph.D, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering The University of Tokyo

The Challenge Award

Ryosuke Himeno, WAKU Inc.

“Achieving Food Security through the Plant Stress-Response Molecule 'Glutathione'”

Award Presenter: Hideko Hadzialic, Director, UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo

The Yachiyo Future Impact Award

Mio Tsunoda, Darajapan Inc.

"AI x IT Human Resource Development and Employment Support for Emerging Countries IMANI Hacking"

Award Presenter: Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Executive Vice President, Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd.

Two women in business attire hold a certificate against a blue backdrop with logos.

The CVC Award

Riko Yasuda, YOMY Inc.

“Next-generation EdTech: ‘YOMY!’ an online school empowering children to express themselves through picture books and dialogue”

Award Presenter: Mizuki Isogai, Investment Director, CVC Asia Pacific Japan

Two women stand before a blue backdrop; red-clad woman hands a certificate to the woman in black.

The UNHCR Award, the Yachiyo Future Impact Award

Rie Tonomura, Dots for Inc.

“Digital hub for digitally divided rural communities in Africa”

Award Presenter: Fumiko Kashiwa, Representative, UNHCR Japan

Person with long hair on a video call, shown on a classroom projector screen.

The AWS Award for Women Social Entrepreneurs

Mariko McTier, Social Innovation Japan

"Refill for the Future: Building a Better World, One Action at a Time"

Man in a suit speaks into a microphone at an indoor event, with seated attendees.

The AWS Award for Women Social Entrepreneurs

Award Presenter: Koichi Fujinami
Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon Web Services Japan (AWS)

In her opening remarks, Ms. Tomoko Takazawa, Head of Communications at Citigroup, stressed the importance of supporting young social entrepreneurs and reflected on Youth Co:Lab Japan’s seven-year journey in driving youth-led innovation. Mr. Hitoshi Aoyagi, Member of the House of Representatives, delivered a congratulatory address, referencing the Japanese government’s support for startups and emphasizing the significance of social innovation and entrepreneurship in achieving the SDGs, as well as the vital role of youth.

During the event, a dialogue session was held between the seven awardees and guests, including online participants, where comments and questions were raised by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the MEXT, and GLIN Impact Capital. At the venue, representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), as well as Mizuho Financial Group and Deloitte Tohmatsu, attended as guests and kindly offered their warm support and encouragement.

Panel discussion in a modern conference room; speakers on stage, audience watching a video screen. — A dialogue session

Photograph of a man in a suit speaking into a microphone at a crowded indoor event. — Mr. Keita Takahashi, Director, Global Issues Cooperation Division, MOFA

Man in dark suit speaks into a microphone on a startup event stage. — Mr. Hitoshi Aoyagi, Member of the House of Representatives

Man in a suit speaks into a microphone at a conference, illuminated sign in the background. — Mr. Naoki Osakaki, Assistant Director, Office of University-Industry Collaboration and University Venture Support, MEXT

Following each pitch, experts from diverse fields—including AWS, CVC, UNHCR, Yachiyo Engineering, and the University of Tokyo—offered constructive feedback. Based on a comprehensive evaluation of contributions to the SDGs, level of challenge, business impact, and innovation, the Grand-prix award winners were determined.

The winners received the following prizes:

Opportunities to participate in training and workshops through the Youth Co:Lab Asia-Pacific regional network
Mentoring support from Citi, CVC, UNHCR, and Yachiyo Engineering
Grants (CVC Award, AWS Award, Yachiyo Future Impact Award)

Closing the event, Ms.Hideko Hadzialic, Director of the UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo, expressed her sincere appreciation for the efforts of young people in advancing the SDGs. She emphasized the importance of continuing to nurture social entrepreneurs through robust collaboration among the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society, in alignment with Japan’s Five-Year Startup Development Plan.

Male presenter in blazer with microphone, standing beside a projector slide with flowers.

Female presenter at a podium giving a talk, slide titled "YOMI Crew" projected behind.

Man in a suit speaks into a handheld microphone at an indoor event.

Four people in a panel setting, with a projected portrait of a woman on the screen behind them.

Two panelists at a conference; one speaks into a microphone, with a water bottle on the table.

Man in suit hands an orange item to a staff member at a reception desk, 'HAPPY' sign in background.

Presenter at a podium in a modern open-plan conference space, audience seated at tables.

Group of people in a conference room holding a banner; portrait is on screen behind them.

Prior to the Demo Day, an intensive training session was conducted for past award winners, aimed at building a foundation for the sustainable growth of social entrepreneurs. With the support of Yachiyo Engineering and GLIN Impact Capital, participants learned the concepts of impact measurement and management (IMM), international standards for Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Application Readiness Level (ARL), as well as key points for business evaluation from the perspective of impact investors. Eight teams of past awardees deepened their understanding of IMM and acquired skills to apply it to their business strategies.

Hideaki Takahashi, the winner of the Youth Vision Award in 2023, shared his thoughts: “Through the three axes of TRL, ARL, and MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification), I learned the importance of establishing a common language among entrepreneurs, investors, and beneficiaries, and the significance of articulating social and environmental impacts in impact investing”.