February 14, 2025
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology FY2024 Entrepreneurs' Koshien and Entrepreneurs' Expo Conventions

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) will hold the Entrepreneurs' Koshien on Thursday, March 13, 2025, and the Entrepreneurs' Expo on Friday, March 14, 2025.

1. Purpose of the events

　MIC and NICT are implementing the National Accelerator Program, which provides support for the discovery and development of next-generation ICT human resources*2 and the business expansion of regional ICT startups, with the aim of solving regional issues and revitalizing the economy through the creation of regional ICT startups*1. These events form the final part of the program.

　　*1: Start-up companies that utilize ICT and are established in the region.
　　*2: Students (junior high school students, high school students, college of technology students, vocational school students, university students, graduate students, etc.) who aspire to start a business that utilizes ICT.

　Next-generation ICT human resources and promising regional ICT startups that have been discovered by NICT's ICT mentors at partner events in each region will participate in these events, and will present business plans that they have refined in mentoring sessions with the ICT mentors.

2. Event overview

(1) Date and time
　Entrepreneurs' Koshien: From 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025
　Entrepreneurs' Expo: From 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025

(2) Location
　Marunouchi Building Hall & Conference Square
　*A live stream will be available for the general public (see 2(5) for more details).

(3) Organizers
　MIC and NICT

(4) Details
　1. Entrepreneurs' Koshien on Thursday, March 13
　　•Business plan contest by teams of students selected from across Japan
　　•Jury Chair: KATO Fumiko (Representative Director and CEO, WAmazing, Inc.)
　　•Awards: Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award, NICT President's, Award, Partner Company Special Award

　2. Entrepreneurs' Expo on Friday, March 14
　　•Business matching challenge by selected regional ICT startups
　　•Jury Chair: NAKANO Shinzo (President/Partner of ITOCHU Technology Ventures Inc.)
　　•Awards: Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award, NICT President's, Award, Partner Company Special Award

(5) Streaming
　Coverage of these events will be streamed for the general public on the TOKYO MX official website (within the “Entrepreneurs‘ Koshien & Entrepreneurs’ Expo” event page) from 1:00 p.m. on both days.
　Entrepreneurs‘ Koshien: https://s.mxtv.jp/variety/kigyokakoshien/
　Entrepreneurs’ Expo: https://s.mxtv.jp/variety/kigyokabanpaku//