[Sponsor Call] Tohoku University Business Idea Contest 2026 to be Held on Saturday, December 12!

Tohoku University will host the 'Tohoku University Business Idea Contest 2026,' a pitch competition aimed at commercializing student business ideas, on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at Aobayama Commons on the Tohoku University Aobayama Campus.

Since its inaugural event in 2018, this contest is celebrating its milestone 10th anniversary.

The competition aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students and broadly invites unique and innovative business ideas that help solve social issues. Finalists will be provided with over 1.5 million yen in total business commercialization support funds to back student entrepreneurship and challenges toward the social implementation of research results.

Additionally, the event will provide opportunities to build supportive networks for future commercialization and co-creation through networking and collaboration with government agencies, corporations, and universities. Starting with the students' challenges, the initiative aims to promote efforts to solve social problems, generate new value, and create positive social impact.

We are currently seeking corporate sponsors who support the purpose of the contest and wish to join us in encouraging next-generation students.

Event Overview

Event Name: Tohoku University Business Idea Contest 2026 Date & Time: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 13:00 - 17:00 Venue: Tohoku University New Aobayama Campus, Aobayama Commons 2F Large Lecture Hall Host: Tohoku University Startup Support Center Operation: Tohoku University Knowledge Cast Co., Ltd. Admission Fee: Free (Advance registration required; registration is scheduled to open around November) Event Website: https://startup.tohoku.ac.jp/bizcon/

Keynote Special Guest

Yohei Sadoshima, Representative Director & President/CEO of Cork Inc., will be invited as a special keynote guest. He will deliver a lecture on hypothesis building, observation, problem solving, and other topics.

< Yohei Sadoshima Biography > In the Weekly Morning editorial department of Kodansha, he edited popular works such as 'Dragon Zakura' (Norifusa Mita), 'Hataraki Man' (Moyoco Anno), and 'Space Brothers' (Chuya Koyama). After leaving the company in 2012, he founded Cork Inc., an agency representing creators. He signs agency contracts with writers, and is actively working in work editing, copyright management, and fan community formation/operation.

Last Year's Event

Last year's event featured a passionate pitch contest with 10 finalist teams and a special keynote speech by Ryohei Kobayashi, a Tohoku University alumnus and Representative Director & CEO of ElevationSpace Inc.

▼ Last Year's Event Website https://startup.tohoku.ac.jp/bizcon/2025/

Corporate Sponsor Call

This competition is centered on Tohoku University students competing with business ideas aimed at solving social issues and generating new value. Every year, students from various fields and backgrounds participate, creating numerous original proposals with an eye toward social implementation.

Many students have gone on to start businesses triggered by this contest. Furthermore, with Tohoku University's selection for the International Outstanding Research University initiative, the momentum for startup creation within the university is rising further.

Currently, we are recruiting corporate sponsors who agree with the purpose of this event for this year's edition. Interested corporate representatives are encouraged to contact us below. Please note that participation in the event for recruiting or solicitation purposes is prohibited.

Inquiries

Inquiries regarding the contest and sponsorship: Tohoku University Knowledge Cast Co., Ltd. Attn: Onuma / Sato (tusg@tohoku-kc.co.jp)