From greater than 100 corporations that utilized, ten finalists took the stage at Kumamoto Citadel Corridor to current their cutting-edge enterprise concepts, all vying for the coveted slot within the Grand Finale this October in San Francisco, United States.
Along with Toy Medical’s pitch, the opposite finalists’ concepts had been likewise fascinating and modern. Amongst them had been a telepresence system that blends life-size video with low-latency audio for pure distant conversations, and a plug-and-play AR platform that enables customers to print images blended with digital characters or environments with no coding required.
Opening the occasion, Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Ōnishi voiced his help for native innovation. “We want to foster a startup ecosystem from Kumamoto and help all of you as you unfold your wings to the world”, he informed the viewers.
“Bringing worth into the world that didn’t exist earlier than. The perfect time is in your teenagers or twenties”
The occasion additionally featured an onstage dialog between Mayor Ōnishi and Takafumi Horie, an entrepreneur and former ambassador for the primary Startup World Cup. “I’ve all the time beloved creating issues from zero, bringing worth into the world that didn’t exist earlier than,” Horie mentioned. “If you wish to begin an organization, one of the best time is in your teenagers or twenties. If I might return, I might.”
U.S. Consulate Fukuoka’s political and financial officer, Rob Pressure, additionally inspired the viewers by emphasizing that the entrepreneurial journey includes extra than simply overcoming obstacles. He highlighted it as a chance to create significant change, the place setbacks function invaluable studying experiences and successes are the results of imaginative and prescient and perseverance.
A good friend on dialysis saying, “I want I might eat ramen once more” sparked the concept
Toy Medical’s successful thought was impressed by a private story. Firm president Hidenori Takeshita started creating the expertise after a good friend present process dialysis informed him, “I simply wish to eat ramen once more.” That heartfelt remark sparked a mission to make flavorful, low-sodium meals accessible to all.
Based in 2013, Toy’s Medical’s title was impressed by its imaginative and prescient to “create merchandise that convey smiles, identical to toys.” In the present day, the corporate goals to advertise its sodium-reduction expertise in Japan however has ambitions past. “The worldwide marketplace for reduced-sodium meals is big,” Takeshita mentioned. “We’re seeking to broaden into Europe and the U.S. subsequent.”
He added, “Meals is key to human life. I would like folks to get pleasure from it with out guilt. That’s the enjoyment this expertise can convey and why we’re so wanting to current it on the world stage.”
Aiming to win the $1 million grand prize, advancing to the world championship
Decide Hirano praised the extent of expertise at this yr’s Kyushu spherical, the second held in Kumamoto. “The standard has risen. Ultimately, we targeted on the query: ‘Does this concept supply worth to the world?’”
In closing, Mayor Ōnishi remarked, “I hope right this moment’s pitches impressed a few of our younger folks to dream of launching their very own ventures. The world can change when folks take that first step. Let’s maintain making the long run brighter by way of occasions like this.”
Translated by Anita De Michele | JStories
Edited by Desiderio Luna | JStories
High photograph: Picture courtesy of the Startup World Cup Secretariat
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