Youth Co.Lab Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024 Demo Day

5 December 2025

2024年11月15日

Event Details

日付

05 12月 2024

時間

19:00～21:00

場所

Online (Zoom webinar)

Japanese

The demo day of the Youth Co:Lab Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024, will be held on 5 December, in partnership with the University of Tokyo.

Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024 is a business competition focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) solutions for young people aged 15 to 35. On the demo day, the youth social entrepreneurs, who have been selected through the screening processes, will present their well-developed business plans and ideas in front of a panel of experts and participants!

Now in its sixth year, this year's competition feature business models that offer innovative solutions and actionable strategies towards the achievement of the SDGs. We invite you to join us online and listen to the transformative ideas of the award winners!

Date and Time: 19:00 – 21:00 Thursday 5 December 2024
Programme：

19:00: Opening remarks

19:15: Presentation of the winning business projects
- This year’s awardees will present their winning business solutions.
- Each presentation will be followed by Q&A with the expert panel.

20:30: Voting for the Audience Award

20:40: Award ceremony

20:55: Closing remarks

Fees: Free
Language: English (Simultaneous interpretation available), Japanese and Japanese sign language

Registration: Please register from here

Riko Yasuda, YOMY Inc
“Next-generation EdTech: ‘YOMY!’ an online interactive service to nurture diverse values in children”

An online school offering "Dialogic Reading," an interactive picture book experience from the United States, designed for children aged 3-8.
This next-generation EdTech service fosters children's imagination through picture books while also supporting busy parents in their parenting journey.

Nur Adlin Binti Abu Bakar, AQVANA
“Water sustainability for all”

"High water demand is becoming an increasingly alarming issue worldwide, especially in the face of growing population and rapid climate change. Through utilization of IoT and biotechnology, we aimed to provide sustainable access to high quality water and nutritious food to all regardless of geographic location or economic status."

a group of people standing in front of a laptop

Mio Tsunoda
“IT human resource development for women and young people in emerging countries “IMANI Hacking”

IMANI Hacking Bootcamp" focuses on developing IT and soft skills for youth and women in emerging countries, while providing employment support. The program is designed based on the cultural and living environments of each country and offers a practical development experience. Through reskilling and creating employment opportunities, it aims to support poverty alleviation.

Eri Shimakura
“Illuminate Hope in a Shifting World: The Resilience of Refugees Meets Creative Expression”

Today, every two seconds, someone is forced to displace from their home. HOPY is a creative label that collaborates with designers and artists with refugee backgrounds. We connect the resilience shaped by the injustices experienced as refugees to society, unlocking its potential through creativity.

Reiji Kobayashi, Hakki Africa Inc
“Credit revolution in emerging economies”

Through the development of a unique credit scoring system, we provide microfinance for used commercial vehicles to people who previously had no access to finance.

Caitlin Puzzar
kimino micata® - a child communication support system

kimino micata® is a communication support system, used as a tool for children to express their concerns. Through online surveys, it catches early signs of abuse or bullying at school, and childrens' SOS alerts are passed on to designated teams within the school, the school nurse, or a pre-registered external consulting organization, to ensure timely intervention. Designed to be easier for children to voice things they may not be comfortable saying in person.

Kotaro Yoneta, Wildlife Ventures Ltd.
“Beekeeping business to resolve conflicts between elephants and human”

This initiative aims to address the human-elephant conflict in Kenya by leveraging elephants' instinctive fear of bees, using beekeeping as a sustainable solution.

This year's theme “Innovation through the power of youth and co-creation”, highlights 'co-creation' as a key driver of innovation and the power of young people at the forefront of this co-creation.

Co-organized with the University of Tokyo, Social Innovation Challenge 2024 has cooperated with the CVC Foundation/CVC Capital Partners, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office in Japan, and Amazon Web Services, to expand opportunities for “co-creation”. With generous cooperation from our supporters, we will provide the following awards this year:

The Excellence Award- The Scalability Award - The Youth Innovator Award
The CVC Award - The UNHCR Award - The AWS Award for Women IT Social Entrepreneurs
The Audience Award will be decided by a vote of the Demo Day attendees!

The prize will be announced after each teams’ pitch on the Demo Day. Please stay tuned!

Expert Panel

Daisuke Takatsuki

Director, Principal, CVC Asia Pacific Japan

Daisuke has over 20 years of experience in private equity investment (The Carlyle Group and CVC Capital Partners) with a track record of 12 investments totalling over 1 trillion yen.
At CVC, he leads value creation initiatives at portfolio companies at various positions including CEO and outside director of the board. He has served at the board of 13 companies. He started his career at the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund and provided financial assistance to developing countries. Subsequently, he was seconded to the Ministry of Finance’s International Bureau.
In 2012, he founded Social Investment Partners and led its growth to become the largest venture philanthropy fund in Japan at 1 billion yen while serving at a number of boards of socially oriented initiatives.
Adjunct professor at Shizenkan University Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation. Fellow of the U.S.-Japan Leadership Program and member of the China-Japan Leadership Program. Daisuke holds an M.B.A. from Stanford University and an LL.B. from the University of Tokyo.

Mizuki Isogai

Investment Director, CVC Asia Pacific Japan (CVC):

Mizuki has been engaged in investment activities and business support for portfolio companies at CVC, one of the world's largest private equity investment firms. She also promotes diversity as a member of CVC's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Subcommittee in Asia.
Her prior experience includes cross-border investment and post-merger integration (PMI) in infrastructure such as overseas power plants and water treatment plants.
Mizuki holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge and an LLB from Hitotsubashi University.

a man wearing a suit and tie smiling and looking at the camera

Shigeo Kagami

Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Deputy Director General - Division of University Corporate Relations, The University of Tokyo/ President, The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs

Dr. Kagami has been responsible for the development of the university startup ecosystem for the University of Tokyo since 2004 as a professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Before joining the University of Tokyo, he worked with three professional firms: Boston Consulting Group, Corporate Directions (a founding partner), and Hedrick and Struggles (partner). Dr. Kagami graduated from Hitotsubashi University (Tokyo), earned his MBA from IMEDE (currently IMD Lausanne, Switzerland) and completed his doctoral work at Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University (USA).
His publications include “Clusters of Innovation in the Age of Disruption”, Shigeo Kagami, Jerome S. Engel et al., 2022, Edward Elgar Publishing.

Lui Yoshida

Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo/Principal Researcher, Tokyo Foundation Policy Research Institute.

PhD (Science). Specializes in educational technology, generative AI, active learning, online learning, and faculty development. After working as a special assistant professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, and a special lecturer at the Center for Research in University Education, University of Tokyo, he became an associate professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 2020. His translations and books include "Learning Assessment Handbook: 50 Techniques to Promote Active Learning" (supervised translation) and "A Book for Teachers to Become the Teachers They Want to Be" (co-authored). He developed the online opinion exchange platform "LearnWiz One," which won the world championship in the research and development category of the world's largest EdTech competition, GESAwards 2021, and started a company with the students involved in the development. He is a director and co-founder of LearnWiz Inc.

a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera

Ayaki Ito

Representative, UNHCR Japan

After completing graduate school, he was deployed as a UN Volunteer to Bosnia and Herzegovina and later to Myanmar through the Japanese government’s JPO program. He began his career with UNHCR in 1992, working in refugee protection in Bosnia, Myanmar, Sudan, Armenia, Lebanon, Somalia, and other locations. At UNHCR Headquarters, he served as a Protection Officer in the Division of International Protection and as Deputy Director of the Asia-Pacific Bureau, before being seconded to the World Food Programme (WFP) Japan Office. He then served as UNHCR Representative in Syria and Lebanon, and since January 2023, he has been the UNHCR Representative in Japan.

Yusuke Tsuji

Executive Officer, ICMG / Part-time teacher, The University of Tokyo

Yusuke Tsuji started his career at J.P. Morgan before he joined ICMG. He has led numerous co-creation innovation projects, programs, and platforms based on” Purposeful & Impactful Innovation - the challenge to create innovations for Purpose and Impact”. In addition to joint execution with clients from ideation to implementation of new innovation projects, he has extensive experience in leading the grand design to implementation of corporate strategy, organisational design, and various institutional designs. He has also launched ICMG global business in Singapore which is corporate innovation accelerator to co-create innovations between corporates and startups globally and has led the strategic alliance and creation of joint initiatives with UNDP GCTISD in the area of SDGs. Lastly, he is also currently teaching a class on” Innovation for Well-being - the challenge to create a world beyond GDP -” at the University of Tokyo and is vice-chairman of the Asia Committee of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.

Hiroaki Aoki

ESG/Sustainability Champion, Investment Banking Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc.

Hiroaki Aoki joined Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc. in November 2021. He is responsible for ESG advisory services in Japan.
Prior to joining Citi, he worked at Vigeo Eiris (Moody’s ESG Solutions). Hiroaki served as Head of the Japanese Market for Vigeo Eiris and supported asset owners, institutional investors, and financial institutions in developing their ESG and climate change-related research and data implementation proposals as well as supporting ESG dialogues. He also provided second-party opinion (SPO) services to issuers of ESG bonds such as green/social/sustainability bonds, and was involved in all the SPO transactions that Vigeo Eiris provided in Japan.
Hiroaki holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in commerce from Hitotsubashi University. He is a CFA Charterholder and also a Certified Member Analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan.

Yuko Motoki

ETIC. Senior Coordinator

Coordinating resources or programs for social ventures and non-profit organizations at ETIC which aims to develop and produce entrepreneur-minded leaders who resolve social issues and create new value through their own intentions and actions. Previously worked in P&G, Non-profit organization for international cooperation in Japan and Japanese firm in India.

Yongshik Choi

Senior Manager of Public Policy, Amazon Web Services Korea

Yongshik joined AWS Korea in 2020. Currently, he plays a key role in engaging with Korea’s Science & ICT Ministry to address critical local regulations. He launched the AWS Excellence Awards for DEI diversity, equity and inclusion) Social Enterprises in 2021 and has expended the awards scheme to include an industry-wide forum on digital inclusiveness and sustainability of the social economy sector this year. Previously as a director of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in Korea, Yongshik scaled ODA projects in Vietnam and Lao PDR. Yongshik once worked for Expedia Group and Otsuka Pharmaceutical in Seoul.

Ruoxiao Song

Youth Empowerment Alliance and Innovative Financing Coordinator, Youth Unit, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub

Passionate about youth empowerment through youth-led social entrepreneurship, Ruoxiao builds partnerships to create an enabling environment for young social entrepreneurs to achieve the SDGs. She manages the Youth Empowerment Alliance to actively engage with over 200 ecosystem players who are contributing to youth empowerment across Asia-Pacific. She also runs a youth entrepreneurship ecosystem capacity programme for 70+ incubators and accelerators across the region, with a focus on inclusive entrepreneurship.

Before joining UNDP, Ruoxiao consulted for development projects in the UK and Peru and co-founded a crowdfunding platform. Ruoxiao holds a BA in Philosophy with a minor in Business Administration from Wuhan University and MSc in Urban Economic Development from University College London. Ruoxiao is also an AVPN Philanthropy Fellow.