Entrepreneurs accurately grasp societal issues and needs from their unique perspectives and create various businesses with a strong sense of mission to "solve them with their own hands."

The "Business Plan Contest Dream DASH!" (hereinafter referred to as "Dream DASH!"), organized by the Osaka Entrepreneur Growing Up Project, is a platform to discover business plans that offer unprecedented new value to the market and are expected to generate stable, sustainable revenue and revitalize the economy. Since its launch in 2013, this will be the 24th iteration.

According to a survey by the Japan Finance Corporation Research Institute (Note 1), the most common difficulty at the time of opening a business was "cash flow and fundraising" (56.9%), followed by "customer and sales channel development" (49.9%). Even after opening, "customer and sales channel development" (48.8%) and "cash flow and fundraising" (36.2%) ranked highest among post-opening difficulties, highlighting that securing funds and acquiring customers are major hurdles for entrepreneurs both before and after opening.

Against this backdrop, participating in Dream DASH! offers a powerful solution. Selected participants can refine their business plans, receive prize money from sponsoring companies, and gain matching opportunities. Winners will also receive subsidies and three months of hands-on support to foster business growth.

This support system is the strength of this contest. To date, the first prize winner, i-plug Inc. (now on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market), the seventh prize winner, BABY JOB Inc. (TOKYO PRO Market), and the fourteenth prize winner, Futsper Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market), have all been listed after winning. This contest has achieved tangible results leading to the steady survival and high growth rates of its winning companies (Note 2).

(Note 1) Source: Japan Finance Corporation Research Institute "2025 New Business Start-up Survey"

https://www.jfc.go.jp/n/findings/pdf/kaigyo_251205_1.pdf

(Note 2) Past winners and implementation reports can be found here:

https://allosakakigyo.jp/winners/

▼What is the Osaka Entrepreneur Growing Up Project?

The Osaka Entrepreneur Growing Up Project (Organizer: Osaka Industrial Bureau, Co-organizer: Osaka Prefecture) holds an annual business plan contest as a platform to discover entrepreneurs' business plans.

By networking with 109 start-up support organizations within Osaka Prefecture as recommending bodies (Note 3) and adopting a recommendation-based application system, it provides opportunities to refine business plans from the application document creation stage. The secretariat provides support for those seeking connections with support organizations.

We hope that challenging this business plan contest will serve as a catalyst for business growth, leading to the revitalization of the Osaka economy and expansion nationwide.

(Note 3) Recommending organizations

https://allosakakigyo.jp/supporters/

▼24th Business Plan Contest Dream DASH! Application Overview

There are no restrictions on the business theme. We are seeking business plans that, driven by entrepreneurs' strong sense of mission to solve social issues or create new value, offer customers value exceeding existing products and services, and are expected to generate stable, sustainable revenue and create positive economic cycles and ripple effects.

【Applicant Eligibility】

Individuals or corporations who meet both conditions (1) and (2) below and can obtain a recommendation from a recommending organization.

(1) Individuals or corporations planning to start a business within one year or who have been in business for approximately 5 years or less within Osaka Prefecture.

(2) Individuals who can participate according to the implementation schedule.

For details on application qualifications and selection process, please check the website.

Details here

【Implementation Schedule】

○Application Period: July 2, 2026 (Thu) - September 25, 2026 (Fri) 13:00 arrival deadline

○Document Screening: Early October 2026

○Interview Screening: October 20, 2026 (Tue), October 21, 2026 (Wed)

○Participant Presentation Training: October 29, 2026 (Thu)

○Dream DASH! Date and Time/Venue: December 3, 2026 (Thu) 13:00 - 17:30

Osaka Business Creation Pavilion 4F Event Hall (1-4-5 Honmachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka)

*It is a condition that the representative participates in each screening, presentation training, and the business plan contest in accordance with the implementation schedule.

【Selection Method】

Recommendation-based application system from 109 recommending organizations within the prefecture.

From these, a maximum of 10 applicants will be selected who pass the document screening and interview screening and will present at the final presentation.

【Awardee Benefits】 (Within 3 winners)

・Grand Prize (1 winner) Subsidy of 1 million yen (up to 1 million yen/year, subsidy rate 1/2) will be provided.

・Runner-up (Up to 2 winners) Subsidy of 500,000 yen (up to 500,000 yen/year, subsidy rate 1/2) will be provided.

・In addition to the above, 3 months of hands-on support and matching presentation opportunities will be provided.

【Special Sponsorship】 *All participants have a chance to win

Kansai Mirai Bank, Ltd.

Special Award: 300,000 yen x up to 3 businesses

Nakanishi Metal Works Co., Ltd.

Special Award: 200,000 yen x up to 2 businesses

Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

Special Award: Total of 300,000 yen

*Scenes from the previous event

▼Contact Information

Osaka Entrepreneur Growing Up Secretariat (Osaka Industrial Bureau)

TEL: 06-6271-1366

MAIL: gu-info@obda.or.jp

Reception Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00 (Excluding holidays)

*This project is organized and operated by the Osaka Industrial Bureau with the co-sponsorship of Osaka Prefecture.

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Event