Challengers Including High School Girls Give Passionate Presentations at the 2nd C×E×O Business Contest! Rena Nakamura Wins with "Leaving Memories in Tangible Form"
Startup Factory held the "2nd C×E×O Business Contest". Young entrepreneurs from high school age to their 30s presented. The winner was Rena Nakamura, who proposed a product that leaves memories in a tangible form.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 02:01
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Startup Factory (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo / Representative: Osamu Suzuki) held the "2nd C×E×O Business Contest" at TOKYO FM Hall on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Challengers from their teens to 30s, including high school and university students, took the stage to present business ideas and products based on their own original experiences and awareness of issues. In this second edition, presentations with even higher passion and perfection than last year were showcased, bringing great excitement to the venue.
Winner Rena Nakamura
Participants of the "2nd C×E×O Business Contest"
Kazuma Kumazawa, 34, SkyBear Inc.
Daisuke Takahashi, 29, TTM Inc.
Yudai Suzuki, 24, Rakuten Group, Inc.
Harami (Mirai Kasahara), 25, CGO.com LLC
Shinri Akahoshi, 25, RADI Inc.
Yujin Yamaguchi, 21, Emunitas Inc.
Tatsuya Nakao, 24, Bulk Technologies Inc.
Shibuya Girls International School Team: Rinoa 17, Haruka, Misaki, Juna 16, Shibuya Girls International School
Rena Nakamura, 25, yomiyomi Inc.
The participants delivered a succession of presentations on a wide range of themes discovered from their own experiences and roots, including indoor drone shows, neo-gymnastics classes & ninja acrobatics performances, a platform system evaluating behavior and human skills, regional revitalization starting from 'Gyaru' culture, barbershop updates via succession x SNS & overseas expansion, overseas expansion support utilizing foreign talent networks, a tech business launched with the University of Tokyo Bodybuilding Club to help people continue fitness, and a Shibuya high school girl culture experience business.
What was common to all presentations was that they were not just mere ideas, but clearly incorporated the presenters' own stories of "why they are doing this." The judges also expressed surprise at the action-oriented nature and enthusiasm unique to the younger generation.
The winner was Rena Nakamura.
Focusing on "leaving a tangible form" of memories one doesn't want to forget, Ms. Nakamura presented a business that creates products and experiences specialized in memory.
Even if many photos and videos are taken, they get buried without being looked back on. In response to this modern challenge, Ms. Nakamura proposed a sticker-type product that evokes memories. In addition to sales to individuals, the business is expanding into collaborations with companies and various IPs, as well as producing event experiences. Not only the appeal of the product but also the high level of perfection of the entire brand was highly evaluated.
At the age of 17, Ms. Nakamura participated in an idea contest at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation but did not win the grand prize. Keeping the words "thinking of ideas becomes a great weapon" spoken by Osamu Suzuki, who was a judge at that time, in her heart, she repeated trial and error, and this time she brilliantly won the championship.
"I couldn't win the contest 9 years ago, so I'm happy to be able to win the business contest held by Osamu-san this time," she said.
The winner, Ms. Nakamura. The high school girl team of 4 passed the mic to present. Jin-san acting as MC.
Ninja acrobatics performance. Suzuki-san making new evaluation rules. Judges agonizing over the business contest.
Judges' Comments
Kei Tanaka
"First impressions often decide things, but in this contest, it was interesting that there were multiple chances because the judging was repeated. Among them, it was wonderful that Ms. Nakamura continued to accumulate points in every round of judging."
Takanori Kataishi (yutori Inc.)
"I think 'flower' (charisma/presence) is extremely important for entrepreneurs. This time, there were many people with 'flower'. How the story you have matches the market is important, and looking at the 'flower', story, and completeness, Ms. Nakamura won."
Ayumi Chikamoto (ICHIGO Inc.)
"In the end, I decided on someone I personally wanted to support, who wants to do their best for global reach and the future of children. Realizing there are young, excellent people to a degree unimaginable in my era made me look forward to the future."
Naomi Trauden
"There were many products I actually wanted to try using. I think it was difficult to have multiple presentations..."
Challengers from their teens to 30s, including high school and university students, took the stage to present business ideas and products based on their own original experiences and awareness of issues. In this second edition, presentations with even higher passion and perfection than last year were showcased, bringing great excitement to the venue.
Winner Rena Nakamura
Participants of the "2nd C×E×O Business Contest"
Kazuma Kumazawa, 34, SkyBear Inc.
Daisuke Takahashi, 29, TTM Inc.
Yudai Suzuki, 24, Rakuten Group, Inc.
Harami (Mirai Kasahara), 25, CGO.com LLC
Shinri Akahoshi, 25, RADI Inc.
Yujin Yamaguchi, 21, Emunitas Inc.
Tatsuya Nakao, 24, Bulk Technologies Inc.
Shibuya Girls International School Team: Rinoa 17, Haruka, Misaki, Juna 16, Shibuya Girls International School
Rena Nakamura, 25, yomiyomi Inc.
The participants delivered a succession of presentations on a wide range of themes discovered from their own experiences and roots, including indoor drone shows, neo-gymnastics classes & ninja acrobatics performances, a platform system evaluating behavior and human skills, regional revitalization starting from 'Gyaru' culture, barbershop updates via succession x SNS & overseas expansion, overseas expansion support utilizing foreign talent networks, a tech business launched with the University of Tokyo Bodybuilding Club to help people continue fitness, and a Shibuya high school girl culture experience business.
What was common to all presentations was that they were not just mere ideas, but clearly incorporated the presenters' own stories of "why they are doing this." The judges also expressed surprise at the action-oriented nature and enthusiasm unique to the younger generation.
The winner was Rena Nakamura.
Focusing on "leaving a tangible form" of memories one doesn't want to forget, Ms. Nakamura presented a business that creates products and experiences specialized in memory.
Even if many photos and videos are taken, they get buried without being looked back on. In response to this modern challenge, Ms. Nakamura proposed a sticker-type product that evokes memories. In addition to sales to individuals, the business is expanding into collaborations with companies and various IPs, as well as producing event experiences. Not only the appeal of the product but also the high level of perfection of the entire brand was highly evaluated.
At the age of 17, Ms. Nakamura participated in an idea contest at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation but did not win the grand prize. Keeping the words "thinking of ideas becomes a great weapon" spoken by Osamu Suzuki, who was a judge at that time, in her heart, she repeated trial and error, and this time she brilliantly won the championship.
"I couldn't win the contest 9 years ago, so I'm happy to be able to win the business contest held by Osamu-san this time," she said.
The winner, Ms. Nakamura. The high school girl team of 4 passed the mic to present. Jin-san acting as MC.
Ninja acrobatics performance. Suzuki-san making new evaluation rules. Judges agonizing over the business contest.
Judges' Comments
Kei Tanaka
"First impressions often decide things, but in this contest, it was interesting that there were multiple chances because the judging was repeated. Among them, it was wonderful that Ms. Nakamura continued to accumulate points in every round of judging."
Takanori Kataishi (yutori Inc.)
"I think 'flower' (charisma/presence) is extremely important for entrepreneurs. This time, there were many people with 'flower'. How the story you have matches the market is important, and looking at the 'flower', story, and completeness, Ms. Nakamura won."
Ayumi Chikamoto (ICHIGO Inc.)
"In the end, I decided on someone I personally wanted to support, who wants to do their best for global reach and the future of children. Realizing there are young, excellent people to a degree unimaginable in my era made me look forward to the future."
Naomi Trauden
"There were many products I actually wanted to try using. I think it was difficult to have multiple presentations..."