Call for Applicants: Business Plan Competition for Women, "SAITAMA Smile Women Pitch 2026" (Saitama Prefecture)

We are hosting a business plan competition titled "SAITAMA Smile Women Pitch 2026," aimed at supporting the growth of women entrepreneurs and fostering role models who will thrive not only in Saitama Prefecture but also nationally and internationally. We welcome applications from many interested individuals!

1 Eligibility

Women who have been in business for generally less than five years (including those who have launched a new business or entered a new field within the past five years) and are currently operating a business in Saitama Prefecture

Women who have been in business for generally less than five years (including those who have launched a new business or entered a new field within the past five years) and plan to operate a business in Saitama Prefecture

Women who are pre-entrepreneurial but plan to operate a business in Saitama Prefecture

*Individuals who have previously been finalists and received an award in this competition are not eligible

2 Application Deadline

July 29, 2026 (Wed), by 5:00 PM (must be received by this time)

3 How to Apply

Please complete the application form with the required information and submit it via the application form link below. The application form can be downloaded from the URL provided.

Application Form URL: https://smile-women-pitch.com/requirements/

4 Pre-Event

We will host an event to explain the competition overview and application tips, including a panel discussion by past awardees. We encourage anyone considering applying or who is interested to attend.

Date and Time: July 13 (Mon), 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (tentative)

Venue: M's SQUARE, 2nd Floor, Musashino Bank Head Office Building

5-minute walk via pedestrian deck from Omiya Station West Exit (1-10-8 Sakuragicho, Omiya-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture)

Registration: Please register via the following URL.

URL: https://smile-women-pitch.com/requirements/#event/

5 Schedule

Date

Details

Early to mid-August

First screening (document review)

August 26 (Wed)

Brush-up workshop for first-screening qualifiers*

September 16 (Wed)

Second screening (presentation review)

September 25 (Fri)

Brush-up workshop for second-screening qualifiers*

November 7 (Sat)

Final screening (public presentation) and award ceremony

After November

Individual support for awardees, networking events, etc.

*The brush-up workshops will focus on refining business plans and improving presentation skills.

*Schedule is subject to change.

6 Benefits and Awards

Grand Prize (1 winner): Business support fund (worth 200,000 yen)

Excellence Award (1 winner): Business support fund (worth 100,000 yen)

Business Idea Award (1 winner): Either one year of access to the women entrepreneurs support space "COCO Office*" or a business support fund (worth 50,000 yen)

Additional awards may be offered as needed.

*"COCO Office" Women Entrepreneurs Support Space

A membership-based coworking space for women entrepreneurs operated by the Saitama Prefecture Startup Support Center (Saitama Prefectural Foundation for Industrial Development). For details, visit the URL below. URL: https://www.saitama-j.or.jp/sogyo/woman/coco-office/

7 Additional Information

For further details and past competition results, please visit the "SAITAMA Smile Women Pitch Official Website" at: URL: https://smile-women-pitch.com/

8 Contact

SAITAMA Smile Women Pitch 2026 Secretariat (c/o Dream Project, a nonprofit incorporated association)

Phone: 048-606-6015 Email: 2026sswp@dream-pro.jp