A volunteer team including Govtech Strategist Suzuki received an Honourable Mention in the "G7 GovAI Grand Challenge" hosted by the Government of Canada

Graffer, Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Daichi Ishii; hereinafter "Graffer") is pleased to announce that a volunteer team including our Govtech Strategist, Hirokazu Suzuki, has received an "Honourable Mention" (special recognition by the organizers) in the "G7 GovAI Grand Challenge" hosted by the Government of Canada. This hackathon is an international project launched based on the agreement reached at the G7 Kananaskis Summit in June 2025. It aims to accelerate the use of AI in the public sector and realize efficient, highly transparent administrative services. Graffer will continue to support the challenges of highly specialized professionals who work across the boundaries of the public and private sectors. At the same time, we will accumulate expertise regarding world-class AI utilization to contribute to the improvement of administrative service convenience and the development of a digital society.

Overview of the Award-Winning Solution "Civic Reach"

"Civic Reach" is a product designed to resolve communication friction between governments and citizens (administrative sludge) using generative AI, addressing the "last mile problem" in public administration. Based on the concept of "delivering clarity and kindness through technology, rather than making life more complex," the system is designed with safety and reliability in mind, operating on a "Human-in-the-loop" (final confirmation by humans) premise.

Details: https://note.com/hrkzz/n/n3251bfbadd18?from=notice

Event Overview

Period: Monday, November 17, 2025 – Monday, December 1, 2025

Target Participants: Private companies, educational and research institutions (such as universities), national and local government agencies, etc.

Comment from Hirokazu Suzuki, Graffer, Inc.

"Through my experience as a former government official and my activities in NPOs, I have been acutely aware of the 'last mile' challenge where administrative notifications fail to reach residents as something that personally concerns them. I am delighted that the potential to reduce this psychological friction by combining the OECD framework with the latest generative AI has been recognized on an international stage. As this solution is shared with public sector decision-makers worldwide, I hope to contribute to the realization of administrative services that truly reach more citizens."

About Graffer Inc.

Graffer is a startup company with the mission "We Remove Steps," specializing in the digital transformation of operations for corporations and government agencies. The company provides "Graffer AI Solution," which facilitates operational reform powered by generative AI, as well as a digital government platform focused on enhancing convenience for both citizens and government officials. This platform has been adopted by more than 250 municipalities nationwide, including 70% of Japan's ordinance-designated cities. In October 2021, Graffer was selected for "J-Startup 2021," a startup support program led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Company Information

Location: 1-5-8 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Daichi Ishii

Established: July 18, 2017

Capital: 1,544,977,927 yen (including capital reserve)

URL: https://graffer.jp

Inquiries regarding press: https://form.run/@graffer-contact