Registration for "WE AT CHALLENGE 2024" has finally begun! Aiming to be Asia's largest Well-Being festival, we will open our doors to the world.
Winner prize: 10 million yen for each Track
※NonEquity
Connecting with "WE AT" ecosystem players
To Japan / To Overseas expansion support
Introduction on "WE AT" website
Student awards and other prizes
※Please see FAQ for details
We are seeking business plans in three areas.
While basing it on a general business perspective, we also place importance
on which category of well-being the plan contributes
to.
In the business plan file submitted at the time of application, please indicate which of the following
categories you will contribute to.
Category 1
How much physical health do you feel that leads to happiness?
Category 2
How much positive emotions(fun, happiness, etc.) can you spend your daily life with?
Category 3
How positive can you live your life?
Category 4
To what extent can you form a high-quality community and spend time as a member of it?
Category 5
How much can we protect the rich natural environment and how much can we build a sustainable society?
| Who can apply? |
Aiming to expand business globally. The business has unique technologies, services, business models that solve social issues and contribute to people's Well-being. Applicants must fall under any of 1 to 4 below.
※The applicant does not violate the employment regulations or confidentiality agreement of the organization to which the applicant belongs. |
|---|---|
| Application deadline |
23:59 on September 10th, 2024 [JST] |
| submitted materials |
Business plan Fulfill the items listed on the application form Language: English or Japanese in Final pitch you can use only english File format: PowerPoint or PDF |
Will the winner be determined by each Track?
Yes. We will decide the winning team for each Track and give each team a winning prize.
What is the nature of the winning prize?
It is a non-equity fund that does not require exchange of shares in exchange for funding. The same applies to other prizes, etc.
What is the connection to players of WE AT ecosystem?
WE AT is consists of a variety of organizations from industry, academia, and government, so we can provide support with a variety of assets.
What is the support for expansion into Japan / go abroad ?
We provide support from a variety of angles when Japanese teams expand overseas or overseas teams expand into Japan.
What is the introduction on the WE AT website?
We would like to conduct individual interviews with teams that have advanced to a certain level and introduce them on the WE AT website.
What are student awards and other luxurious supplementary awards?
In addition to the winning prize, we would like to offer several other prizes as well.
Can I apply multiple Tracks?
No, please select one Track on the application website.
Can I edit the contents and submitted materials after submitting an application?
Please make a new application. You can apply as many times as you like until the deadline.
I'm not sure which Track to choose.
Please read the explanation of each Track and select the one that is most compatible with you.
It says that the final pitch is in English only, but can I apply in Japanese?
Yes, you can apply in Japanese. Your application will be translated into English during the process up to the final pitch.
We are applying from an area other than Tokyo. If we advance to the final selection, would you support transportation expenses?
For application that advance to the final selection, we plan to provide support for travel expenses to the selection venue.
We are applying from a country other than Japan. If we advance to the final selection, would you support transportation expenses?
For overseas application that advance to the final selection, we plan to provide support including travel expenses to Japan.
Co-hosted By
UTokyo
Institute for Future Initiatives
Office of Institutional Advancement and Communications,
Kyoto University
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Institute of Research Innovation Open Innovation
Center
JETRO
Japan External Trade Organization
Partner
Supporter
Track 1
Global Liveability
Severe global warming and rapid biodiversity loss are threatening the very foundations of human existence. In addition to energy issues, agriculture and food are also components of these threats. WE AT pursues business plans of low-carbon solutions and other greenhouse gas solutions based on advanced technologies, including carbon capture, utilization, and storage, clean energy processes, biofuel, food, agriculture, and advanced materials, to create a livable environment on the Earth.
The following teams welcome applications
The applicant must be a startup that commercializes technology and ideas, or a team that is planning to commercialize it, with the fight against global warming in mind.
The business stage is assumed to be mainly seed and early.
The team must have technology capabilities and have an eye on expanding into the Asian market.
Track 2
Healthy Life
The basis of human Well-being is good health throughout life. A wide range of wellness including improvement of quality of life, diversity, values, place of belonging, and connection. In addition, recent remarkable advances in life science have brought about deep tech that treats aging and achieves healthy longevity. Through these efforts, we recommend proposals for healthcare projects that widely contribute to "physical health", "mental health", and "social health".
The following teams welcome applications
Be a startup that commercializes technology or ideas in the wellness field, or a team that is planning to commercialize it.
The business stage is assumed to be mainly middle and later.
Regarding the middle
stage, it must be more than PMF (Product Market Fit) level which the stage where it can
be
advanced to POC (Proof of Concept) aiming for social implementation.
The team must have outstanding technology, innovative business ideas, a global market, and high effectiveness.
Track 3
Living & City
Cities and local communities are the foundations on which people form their lives by forming families, meeting people, learning, and working. We recommend smart city technologies aimed at well-being and proposals to realize an inclusive society.
The following teams welcome applications
Be a startup that commercializes technologies and ideas that widely contribute to urban development itself and a better life in local communities, or a team that is planning to commercialize it.
The business stage is assumed to be mainly seed and early.
The team must have social significance that contributes to well-being, technology, outstandingness and novelty of business ideas, business expandability, high effectiveness, and a global expansion in mind.
