Global Entrepreneurship Program 'Waffle Empower Next Program' for Female and Non-binary University and High School Students Begins Accepting Applications

The non-profit organization Waffle (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Sayaka Tanaka; hereinafter 'Waffle') is launching the 'Waffle Empower Next Program,' an entrepreneurship development program for female and non-binary university and high school students who aim to develop AI-powered applications and services and start their own businesses. Starting with a three-day camp from Friday, August 7th to Sunday, August 9th, 2026, the program will support participants for five months until the final presentation (Demo Day) in December. We are now widely recruiting participants for this program. **Program Background** As of 2024, it is estimated that women account for less than 10% of all startup founders in Japan, a significant gap compared to the 20% range in the US and Europe (*). The ratio of female students in university engineering departments is approximately 15%, which is among the lowest in the OECD (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 2023). These figures indicate that opportunities for women to start businesses in the technology field are structurally inaccessible. In the age of AI, where it has become easier for anyone to give shape to their ideas, we planned this program to provide a practical platform for students to experience entrepreneurship using technology in their fields of interest as a viable career option. **Program Content** With the rapid evolution of AI, it is now possible to turn ideas into reality without specialized programming knowledge. This program will provide comprehensive support for participants to build a working product from scratch using AI, release it to the world, and ultimately aim for entrepreneurship. We aim to remove the barrier of 'I can't do it because I don't have the technical skills' and provide the mindset and environment to take the first step as an entrepreneur. Even those who have never considered entrepreneurship before can cultivate the experience of building their own careers. Additionally, the program will include seminars with female entrepreneurs from overseas to foster a mindset for global business expansion. (*) Kaori Iwasaki, 'Why are there so few female startup entrepreneurs?', Japan Research Institute, JRI Review, 2025, Vol. 9, No. 127 **Program Overview** - **Target Audience:** Female and non-binary university and high school students aiming to develop AI-powered apps/services and start a business. - **Duration:** August to December 2026 (Camp: August 7-9 / Demo Day: Scheduled for December) - **Format:** 3-day intensive camp (in Tokyo) + 5 months of continuous support. - **Fee:** Free (Some out-of-pocket expenses such as lunch may apply.) - **Application:** https://college.waffle-waffle.org/empower-next *This program is conducted as part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's 'TOKYO SUTEAM' project to support startups by diverse entities. **** - **Camp (August 7-9, 2026, in Tokyo)** In this 3-day intensive camp, participants will develop and actually release AI-powered apps/services. They will experience the cycle of getting user feedback and making improvements within the camp. On the final day, a formal pitch event will be held with judges from companies and investment firms in Tokyo. - **Post-Camp Support (September - November 2026)** Through monthly mentoring and an online community, we will provide ongoing support for acquiring first users and improving the product. - **Demo Day (December 2026)** A results presentation event in Tokyo. Participants will present the progress they have made since the camp in front of investors, Tokyo government officials, and mentors. **Media Inquiries** For media outlets interested in covering this event, please contact us through the inquiry form (https://waffle-waffle.org/contact/). **[NPO Waffle]** https://waffle-waffle.org Waffle is an NPO that aims to close the gender gap in the technology field, working to empower women and non-binary individuals and reform social structures. It offers various educational programs, including 'Waffle Club,' a monthly session for learning about careers and product development from a beginner's level; support for participation in the international app development contest 'Technovation Girls' in Japan; and various events in collaboration with companies. Waffle is also actively involved in correcting social structures through policy recommendations, such as to the 'Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform' (commonly known as the 'Honebuto no Hoshin'). The organization received the 'SDGs Partnership Award' at the 4th Japan SDGs Awards in 2020. Its major publication is 'Watashi x IT = Saikyo Setsu' (I x IT = The Strongest Theory), published by Little More.