WE AT CHALLENGE 2024 Finalists Announced for One of Asia’s Largest Well-Being Pitch Contest
WE AT, a general incorporated association committed to building a new startup ecosystem to drive social innovation, is proud to announce the finalists and judging panel for WE AT CHALLENGE 2024, a pitch contest aiming to be one of Asia’s largest Well-Being festivals .
In addition to pitches from the 16 finalists—comprising diverse teams of startups, students, and working entrepreneurs who have passed the selection process from 32 countries*, including Japan—the event will also feature speeches and special sessions with key figures from various fields.
As part of this initiative, “WE AT CHALLENGE 2024″ is a pitch contest aimed to be one of largest well-being festivals in Asia, in collaboration with Singapore’s TEMASEK Foundation and VERTEX Group. In its inaugural event, we have established three tracks—”Global Liveability,” “Healthy Life,” and “Living & City”—to contribute to the realization of multifaceted well-being. We have widely invited entries from startups, students, and working entrepreneurs from various backgrounds, both domestically and internationally, receiving applications from diverse teams across 32 countries*, including Japan.
On the day of the event, a total of 16 finalist companies and teams will take the stage for the final selection. Each track’s winning finalist will be awarded a prize of 10 million yen, along with additional support such as PoC collaboration with local governments and large corporations, management resource support, and overseas expansion assistance based on the applicants’ preferences.
Additionally, the event will feature a well-being session with speakers including Hiroki Fujimoto, Managing Executive Officer, General Manager Next Business Planning Dept. of Sumitomo Life Insurance Co., Co-Chairs of WE AT ; Toshiya Watanabe, Professor and Vice President at The University of Tokyo and Institute of Science Tokyo（Cross-appointment system）; Miyo Yajima, Executive Officer of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Ltd.; Mitsuru Izumo, Founder and President CEO of Euglena Co., Ltd.; and Tomotaka Kuwahara, Director of Innovation and Startup Promotion Division at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). The session will discuss the construction of a well-being ecosystem, incorporating perspectives and insights from academia, investors, startups, and government.
Furthermore, the event will feature speeches by Teruo Fujii, President of the Universty of Tokyo; Manabu Miyasaka, Vice Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Ng Boon Heong, CEO of TEMASEK Foundation; as well as speeches on international trends in well-being and industry by OECD and JETRO.
*Count based on the applicants’ place of residence
About WE AT CHALLENGE 2024
Aligned with the OECD’s Well-Being Framework, WE AT supports startups and projects that contribute to economic capital, natural capital, human capital, and social capital, building a foundation for a sustainable and inclusive future. This comprehensive approach spans physical and mental health, diversity, and environmental sustainability.
The inaugural WE AT CHALLENGE 2024, together with TEMASEK Foundation and VERTEX Group, features three thematic tracks:
- Global Liveability
- Healthy Life
- Living & City
Out of applications from 32 countries, 16 finalists will present their innovative projects. Each track offers:
- Grand Prize: ¥10 million JPY (approx. $67,000 USD)
- Additional Support: Proof-of-Concept (PoC) collaborations with municipalities and corporations, business resources, and global expansion support tailored to the winners’ needs.
WE AT CHALLENGE 2024 Finalists
Track1：Global Liveability
Track2：Healthy Life
Track3：Living & City
Judges
Track1：Global Liveability
Track2：Healthy Life
Track3：Living & City
Event Details
Date: November 27, 2024
Venue: Tokyo Innovation Base (1-minute walk from JR Yurakucho Station)
Format: In-person with online streaming
Language: Sessions conducted entirely in English
Admission: Free
Website: https://we-at.tokyo/challenge/
Register Here: Peatix Registration
Media Registration: Google Form
About WE AT
WE AT is a general incorporated association established in 2024 by academic institutions and leading corporations, including The University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, with a mission to support social entrepreneurs and cultivate sustainable Well-Being ecosystems.
Key Facts:
Established: May 16, 2024
Founders: The University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Science, Kyoto University, UTokyo Innovation Platform, Hakuhodo, Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, Canon Marketing Japan
Member Companies: Kyoto University Innovation Capital, Nissan Motor, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic Holdings, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Location: Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Representatives:(Co-Chairs) Hiroki Fujimoto, Itaru Yoshizawa (Vice Chair) Daisuke Kanama
Website: https://www.we-at.tokyo/
Contact: https://we-at.tokyo/contact/