“Enjoyment is Most Essential for New Business Leaders”: What Z-Generation and Companies Proved in 15 Weeks of Co-creation.
Momoyama Gakuin University and welzo Inc. held a talk session on April 2, 2026, at Venture Café Fukuoka, revealing the full scope of their 15-week industry-academia PBL "PBL Application I" conducted in the fall semester of 2025. In this project, Z-generation students and welzo employees co-created new business ideas. The top proposal, "Sodateru Boken Box" (a children's gardening subscription service), is now in the product commercialization review phase within welzo. The session emphasized the importance of "enjoyment" and a "humble attitude" for successful new business development.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 18:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 10:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 14, 2026 at 10:20 (18 min after Collected)
On April 2, 2026, Momoyama Gakuin University (President: Mizuhiko Nakano) and welzo Inc. (CEO: Yoshifumi Kanao) hosted a talk session titled "How can companies and students collaborate to create attractive new business ideas?" at Venture Café Fukuoka. The session unveiled the full scope of their 15-week industry-academia PBL "PBL Application I," conducted in the fall semester of 2025. Speakers candidly discussed what emerged from the co-creation between Z-generation students and companies, fostering active discussions among entrepreneurs, local businesses, and students.
welzo designed this PBL not merely as a class collaboration but as an experimental ground for new business development, incorporating five key elements:
* Treating students as "external venture entrepreneur teams" with an equal mindset.
* Seven employees from multiple internal business divisions participated as mentors, providing feedback from a practical perspective.
* Direct presentation to the CEO by the team that won the Grand Prize among 42 teams.
* Establishment of the "welzo Prize" for the best proposal, clearly indicating business evaluation criteria.
* Initiation of product commercialization review for the award-winning proposal "Sodateru Boken Box" (a children's gardening subscription service).
This session aimed to publicly share the full details of this initiative with the entrepreneurial community at Venture Café Fukuoka, positioning it as a platform to disseminate a new business development model through co-creation with the Z-generation.
The session, moderated by Keisuke Sone (CEO/Founder of i-NNO Inc.), covered the PBL's design philosophy, student changes, ripple effects on the company, and the mindset for creating new businesses. Professor Katsutoshi Fujita explained that Momoyama Gakuin University's unique PBL structure, supported by the LA (Learning Assistant) system—where senior students mentor juniors—underpins the program's quality. Professor Fujita stated, "The operational capabilities of the LAs are extremely high, and their presence brings a sense of tension and a challenging attitude to the students' learning." From the company's perspective, Mr. Motofumi Goto frankly expressed welzo's "serious commitment" to this PBL. He noted that the students' perspectives brought unexpected stimulation within the company. Mr. Goto commented, "Because they are not specialists, innovative ideas emerged, which positively stimulated the company." Regarding student changes over the 15 weeks, both challenges and breakthroughs were discussed. The difficulties of setting objectives amidst information overload and narrowing down targets were overcome not at desks but through on-site experiences. A student shared an insight into when an idea emerged: "It suddenly came to me during a walk. Only when I touched the field and primary information did I see possibilities." This statement resonated widely with the audience. Professor Fujita reflected that the difference between teams that prioritized on-site work and those that did not was clearly reflected in the precision of their proposals. Professor Fujita concluded, "The teams that were able to enjoy the process grew. That was the most impressive thing over the 15 weeks." Towards the end of the session, when asked about the conditions for successful co-creation, Mr. Goto emphasized the importance of a common stance for both companies and students. Mr. Goto stated, "Successful collaboration requires a humble attitude. And only teams that can enjoy it can truly create new things." The session concluded by revealing that the award-winning proposal "Sodateru Boken Box" is currently in the product commercialization review phase within welzo. This demonstrated that new businesses originating from Z-generation ideas can indeed materialize into actual business.
welzo plans to continue and expand this model, positioning collaboration with universities and students as a pillar of its new business development. The "Sodateru Boken Box," born from this PBL, is a proposal challenging a new category in Japan—a children's gardening subscription service—and concrete steps are underway for its commercialization.
**welzo Inc. Overview**
An innovation company specializing in highly specialized B2B solutions across a wide range of fields including agriculture, livestock, fisheries, food, horticulture, floriculture, and living environments. Operates 24 domestic bases. Leverages over 100 years of history (founded 1921) to consistently demonstrate "cultivating power" and "delivery power" from upstream to downstream.
* Headquarters: 1-14-3 Hakataekihigashi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
* Representative: Yoshifumi Kanao
* Established: August 1952 (Founded: August 1921)
* Capital: 470 million JPY
* Sales: 48,805 million JPY (December 2025 fiscal year)
* HP: https://www.welzo.co.jp/
**Momoyama Gakuin University Overview**
Founded in 1959, with roots in an English school established in 1884 by the Church of England. Celebrated its 140th anniversary of the academy and 65th anniversary of the university in 2024. Will open its first science and engineering faculty, the Faculty of Engineering, in April 2026. Features a Business Design Faculty with pioneering problem-solving-oriented classes, offering practical learning and international experience programs.
* University Name: Momoyama Gakuin University
* Locations: Izumi Campus (1-1 Manabino, Izumi-shi, Osaka), Osaka Abeno Campus (3-1-57 Showacho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka)
* Representative: President Mizuhiko Nakano
* Web: https://www.andrew.ac.jp/
**Event Details**
* Date: April 2, 2026 (Thursday) 17:00-17:50
* Venue: Venture Café Fukuoka (ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. 6F, 1-11-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi)
* Format: Talk session + Networking (in-person event)
* Speakers: Professor Katsutoshi Fujita (Specially Appointed Professor, Business Design Faculty, Momoyama Gakuin University, PBL Application Course Leader), Mr. Motofumi Goto (Director, Biz Promotion Division, welzo Inc., Project Leader)
* MC: Mr. Keisuke Sone (CEO/Founder, i-NNO Inc.)
welzo designed this PBL not merely as a class collaboration but as an experimental ground for new business development, incorporating five key elements:
* Treating students as "external venture entrepreneur teams" with an equal mindset.
* Seven employees from multiple internal business divisions participated as mentors, providing feedback from a practical perspective.
* Direct presentation to the CEO by the team that won the Grand Prize among 42 teams.
* Establishment of the "welzo Prize" for the best proposal, clearly indicating business evaluation criteria.
* Initiation of product commercialization review for the award-winning proposal "Sodateru Boken Box" (a children's gardening subscription service).
This session aimed to publicly share the full details of this initiative with the entrepreneurial community at Venture Café Fukuoka, positioning it as a platform to disseminate a new business development model through co-creation with the Z-generation.
The session, moderated by Keisuke Sone (CEO/Founder of i-NNO Inc.), covered the PBL's design philosophy, student changes, ripple effects on the company, and the mindset for creating new businesses. Professor Katsutoshi Fujita explained that Momoyama Gakuin University's unique PBL structure, supported by the LA (Learning Assistant) system—where senior students mentor juniors—underpins the program's quality. Professor Fujita stated, "The operational capabilities of the LAs are extremely high, and their presence brings a sense of tension and a challenging attitude to the students' learning." From the company's perspective, Mr. Motofumi Goto frankly expressed welzo's "serious commitment" to this PBL. He noted that the students' perspectives brought unexpected stimulation within the company. Mr. Goto commented, "Because they are not specialists, innovative ideas emerged, which positively stimulated the company." Regarding student changes over the 15 weeks, both challenges and breakthroughs were discussed. The difficulties of setting objectives amidst information overload and narrowing down targets were overcome not at desks but through on-site experiences. A student shared an insight into when an idea emerged: "It suddenly came to me during a walk. Only when I touched the field and primary information did I see possibilities." This statement resonated widely with the audience. Professor Fujita reflected that the difference between teams that prioritized on-site work and those that did not was clearly reflected in the precision of their proposals. Professor Fujita concluded, "The teams that were able to enjoy the process grew. That was the most impressive thing over the 15 weeks." Towards the end of the session, when asked about the conditions for successful co-creation, Mr. Goto emphasized the importance of a common stance for both companies and students. Mr. Goto stated, "Successful collaboration requires a humble attitude. And only teams that can enjoy it can truly create new things." The session concluded by revealing that the award-winning proposal "Sodateru Boken Box" is currently in the product commercialization review phase within welzo. This demonstrated that new businesses originating from Z-generation ideas can indeed materialize into actual business.
welzo plans to continue and expand this model, positioning collaboration with universities and students as a pillar of its new business development. The "Sodateru Boken Box," born from this PBL, is a proposal challenging a new category in Japan—a children's gardening subscription service—and concrete steps are underway for its commercialization.
**welzo Inc. Overview**
An innovation company specializing in highly specialized B2B solutions across a wide range of fields including agriculture, livestock, fisheries, food, horticulture, floriculture, and living environments. Operates 24 domestic bases. Leverages over 100 years of history (founded 1921) to consistently demonstrate "cultivating power" and "delivery power" from upstream to downstream.
* Headquarters: 1-14-3 Hakataekihigashi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
* Representative: Yoshifumi Kanao
* Established: August 1952 (Founded: August 1921)
* Capital: 470 million JPY
* Sales: 48,805 million JPY (December 2025 fiscal year)
* HP: https://www.welzo.co.jp/
**Momoyama Gakuin University Overview**
Founded in 1959, with roots in an English school established in 1884 by the Church of England. Celebrated its 140th anniversary of the academy and 65th anniversary of the university in 2024. Will open its first science and engineering faculty, the Faculty of Engineering, in April 2026. Features a Business Design Faculty with pioneering problem-solving-oriented classes, offering practical learning and international experience programs.
* University Name: Momoyama Gakuin University
* Locations: Izumi Campus (1-1 Manabino, Izumi-shi, Osaka), Osaka Abeno Campus (3-1-57 Showacho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka)
* Representative: President Mizuhiko Nakano
* Web: https://www.andrew.ac.jp/
**Event Details**
* Date: April 2, 2026 (Thursday) 17:00-17:50
* Venue: Venture Café Fukuoka (ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. 6F, 1-11-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi)
* Format: Talk session + Networking (in-person event)
* Speakers: Professor Katsutoshi Fujita (Specially Appointed Professor, Business Design Faculty, Momoyama Gakuin University, PBL Application Course Leader), Mr. Motofumi Goto (Director, Biz Promotion Division, welzo Inc., Project Leader)
* MC: Mr. Keisuke Sone (CEO/Founder, i-NNO Inc.)