Okinawa Startup Festa
The Largest Startup Festival in the Prefecture. We have been organizing the 'Okinawa Startup Festa' since 2019 with the aim of promoting startups and fostering ecosystem development.
OKINAWA Startup Program
An innovative and competitive startup creation and nurturing program from Okinawa Prefecture. Every year, startups attempting to enter the Japanese market from Taiwan also participate. The program is organized by eight financial institutions and major corporations in Okinawa. Leveraging the resources and networks of the organizers, it provides support such as funding opportunities and business collaboration with major corporations.
X-Tech Innovation
"X-Tech Innovation" is a business contest that invites a wide range of new services utilizing digital technology across various industries and sectors. By providing opportunities for matching between local and large-scale companies and startup enterprises, we seek to support the commercialization of business ideas and explore possibilities for their utilization in existing businesses, thereby contributing to the revitalization of the regional economy. The contest is jointly organized by Hokkaido Bank, Iwate Bank, Shichijuushichi Bank, Fukuoka Financial Group, and Okinawa Bank, aiming to create a new network beyond existing frameworks and achieve open innovation as a regional collaborative event spanning across Japan.
https://www.ibank.co.jp/xtech2022/
LEAP DAY
Until 2016, LEAP DAY served as the platform for presenting the outcomes of the Okinawa-based talent development program called 'Ryukyu Frogs.' Ryukyu Frogs is a training program that fosters entrepreneurial skills and non-cognitive abilities such as perseverance in the face of challenges, problem-solving skills involving others, and the ability to make autonomous decisions about one's life. It involves middle and high school students as well as university students within the prefecture who devise business ideas to solve the problems they want to address. In 2017, the decision to expand the scale of LEAP DAY was made based on the realization that although it is a program aimed at developing students, the true beneficiaries are the local community. Regardless of age or status, LEAP DAY provides a platform for individuals who are genuinely committed to taking action for a better future. Participants witness the presence of speakers who are actively working towards a better future and engage in collective thinking, stimulating transformative change. They also witness the power of connection among like-minded individuals, leading to the emergence of new movements. In the era of a 100-year life, continuous learning is essential not only for students but also for adults. LEAP DAY serves as a space for children and adults to collectively contemplate the future they want to create through talent development programs.
STA★RT PITCH
The 'Next Generation Uchina Innovator Program - STA★RT Pitch Japan Okinawa Special Tournament' is a pitch event aimed at supporting the sustainable growth of promising startup and Atsugi venture companies with potential for leapfrog development. It recognizes that startups and Atsugi ventures hold the key to the future of the Japanese economy. The event aims to provide opportunities for both entities to gain broader recognition in society and serve as a catalyst for their breakthrough success, ultimately contributing to the revitalization of the Japanese economy. Moreover, the winner of this event will earn the right to participate in the final competition of the '3rd STA★RT Pitch Japan' organized by The Nikkei newspaper. This offers a chance for business leaders in Okinawa to gain nationwide visibility and foster deeper connections with others.
