G-CHALLENGE 2024 Finals at GLOBIS University With Winning Teams Receiving Up to 10 Million Yen in Funding

February 17, 2025

CATEGORIES:GLOBIS UNIVERSITY

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Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo—Graduate School of Management, GLOBIS University hosted the final presentation for the GLOBIS Venture Challenge (G-CHALLENGE) 2024, a business plan contest for all current students and graduates, at its Tokyo Campus on Sunday, February 16.

After reviewing the presentations of the 7 finalists, four teams, PHOSLOOP, Elcyo Co., Ltd., SlidePlus Inc., and Social Communication Lab., were awarded the Grand Prize. The KIBOW Award, which considers social impact as an additional criterion, was won by two teams, PHOSLOOP and Biosono Inc. All winning teams have the opportunity to receive an investment of up to 10 million yen in their businesses.

Winning Teams

Grand Prize & KIBOW Award Winner: PHOSLOOP

Representative: Takuya Aoyagi (GLOBIS University Tokyo Campus, Class of 2023)

PHOSLOOP aims to change the value of unused compost and realize a circular society for phosphorus resources. Livestock manure, which is discharged in large quantities from pig farms every day, poses a challenge for farmers as it has a low fertilizer content and requires large-scale spreading. PHOSLOOP has developed biochar fertilizer by carbonizing this livestock manure and concentrating the fertilizer components. By processing it into a form that is easy for farmers to use, we contribute to the promotion of phosphorus resource circulation, CO2 reduction through carbon sequestration in the soil, and improvement in crop yield. With increasing global demand for phosphorus resources, the phosphorus market is expected to see significant growth. We aim to circulate phosphorus resources domestically, reducing reliance on imports and contributing to a sustainable future.

Grand Prize Winner: Elcyo Co., Ltd.

Representative: Ri Jun-Li (GLOBIS University Osaka Campus, Class of 2020)

Elcyo is a startup originating from Osaka University that develops glasses with built-in lenses that can automatically adjust focus using proprietary LCD technology. We are developing “Auto Focus Glasses” utilizing LCD technology to adjust the lens power in real-time, aiming to solve issues such as increased eye strain due to the proliferation of digital devices and presbyopia. In the future, we plan to incorporate sensing technology for early detection of eye diseases and health monitoring, realizing fully automated focus lenses for eye disease prevention. Elcyo aims to design a new lifestyle with new options to reduce the burden of visual impairment.

Grand Prize Winner: SlidePlus Inc.

Representative: Shin Miyagi (GLOBIS University Tokyo Campus, Class of 2022)

SlidePlus Inc. develops and provides “SidePlus”, a service for B2B sales, as well as “Scaling”, a revenue model support service specialized for B2B businesses.” With these solutions, we enable sales planners and leaders to strengthen their businesses.
SlidePlus is a document platform that semi-automatically consolidates proposal materials into a centralized database, enabling process management, quality validation through managerial oversight, and continuous improvement through asset accumulation. We help maintain proposal quality and support business growth, even with increasing workforce mobility and AI utilization.

Grand Prize Winner: Social Communication Lab.

Representative: Akihiro Nara (GLOBIS University Nagoya Campus, Class of 2022)

Social Communication Lab. provides a platform that allows anyone to easily bring manufacturing ideas to life, share them, and turn them into a business. We offer a unique prototyping tool designed for idea-driven creators. By collaborating with independent makers through our “dirty prototyping” approach, individuals can develop prototypes faster and at a lower cost. Additionally, we support commercialization by leveraging local manufacturing networks and crowdfunding.
Our service goes beyond simple prototyping support. Rather than letting ideas fall into the “valley of prototypes,” we help push them toward full-scale production. With our mission to “unleash creativity,” we are redefining the traditional manufacturing landscape as a decentralized, independent maker community, empowering ideas worldwide.

KIBOW Award Winner: Biosono Inc.

Representative: Ken Toyama (GLOBIS University Sendai Campus, Class of 2016)

Pulmonary aspiration is said to be one of the main causes of deadly accidents in caregiving, and many cases of pneumonia, which is a leading cause of death in Japan, can also be attributed to pulmonary aspiration in the elderly.The financial burden and medical expenses associated with pulmonary aspiration are significant, and when considering the caregiving industry as a whole, opportunity loss and medical costs are at a scale where they can be called a social issue.
Biosono addresses the social issue of pulmonary aspiration by developing “Shokutsū”, a digital health product that utilizes acoustic sensing and AI technology. We aim to contribute to the reduction of aspiration-related medical expenses and preventing losses for caregivers. Simultaneously, we establish a unique position in the digital health care market by utilizing the secondary use of accumulated throat sound data.

Final Selection Panel

Yosuke Inoue
- Faculty Member, GLOBIS University
- Leader, Creation Faculty Group
Soichi Kariyazono
- Faculty Member, GLOBIS University
- Co-Founding Partner, GLOBIS Capital Partners
- Chairman of the Japan Venture Capital Association
Koji Takahara
- Faculty Member, GLOBIS University
- Faculty Content Leader (Teaches courses such as Venture Business Planning and G-INCUBATE)
Natsuki Tamura
- Leader, Venture Support Team, GLOBIS
- Director, G-STARTUP
- Investment Professional, KIBOW Impact Investment Fund
Reiji Yamanaka
- Faculty Member, GLOBIS University (Teaches courses such as Venture Capital and Finance and Social Venture Management)
- Managing Partner, KIBOW Impact Investment Fund

About GLOBIS’s Venture Ecosystem

The GLOBIS Group actively encourages entrepreneurship, business development and growth of start-up companies through G-INCUBATE, G-CHALLENGE, G-STARTUP, and G-GROWTH initiatives, fostering a comprehensive venture ecosystem.

Creation Curriculum, Research & Startup Project, and Network of Entrepreneurs

GLOBIS University offers a dedicated creation curriculum with venture-focused courses such as Venture Management and Venture Business Planning, which draw on successful examples of venture companies.

G-INCUBATE is a six-month research and startup project designed to support students aiming to compete in the G-CHALLENGE to prepare a business plan. GLOBIS University also provides both students and alumni various entrepreneurial support mechanisms, such as mentoring for those aspiring to start a business and support with executing new businesses.

The GLOBIS Entrepreneur’s Club (GEC), an officially recognized student association with over 4,000 members, serves as a key channel for aspiring student and graduate entrepreneurs to build relationships.

G-GROWTH Investment Program for Alumni Startups

In October 2018, GLOBIS Alumni Growth Investment (G-GROWTH) was launched, an investment program aimed at fueling the growth of venture businesses started by current students or graduates.
GLOBIS invests up to 100 million yen in companies that have raised at least 100 million yen in total funding. To date, G-GROWTH has invested in nine companies.

G-STARTUP Accelerator Program

In April 2019, GLOBIS introduced G-STARTUP, an accelerator program aimed at seed-stage entrepreneurs, aspiring to foster a platform that produces 100 unicorn companies. The program supports startups expected to grow into Japan’s leading venture companies. Participants receive lectures from successful entrepreneurs and startup support specialists.Venture capitalists from GLOBIS Capital Partners provide mentorship and hands-on product and business development support.

About G-CHALLENGE 2024

The G-CHALLENGE aims to create more entrepreneurs for tomorrow’s business world. It provides a platform for students and graduates to compete with their business plans and secure startup funding. The contest has the additional goal to help ventures gain a foothold from the GLOBIS community to eventually grow into big startups in the future.

Investment is provided from a joint fund between GLOBIS University and GLOBIS Corporation. Award winners gain the opportunity to receive up to 10 million yen in funding. Evaluation criteria include the business plan’s market potential, competitive advantages, feasibility, profitability potential, in addition to aspects such as the benefit to society, the team’s ambition and kokorozashi, and affinity with the GLOBIS’s educational philosophy.

Since its inception up until this year’s contest, 462 teams have participated, with many GLOBIS students taking their first steps toward their future in entrepreneurship. This year, 33 teams applied, with eight teams advancing to the final selection round, leveraging their learnings from the MBA and post-graduation startup support structures.

Eligibility, Winner Benefits and Selection Process

For more information about G-CHALLENGE, visit the GLOBIS University website.

About GLOBIS University

Founded in a small rented classroom in 1992 by renowned entrepreneur Yoshito Hori, GLOBIS University has grown to become the largest business school in Japan and aims to become the “world’s No. 1 MBA in the Technovate era.” With the principles of fostering skill development, a professional network, and a personal mission, the institution is committed to developing visionary leaders who create and innovate societies. GLOBIS University proudly supports a vast international faculty, seven locations in Japan, and international hub locations in Singapore, Bangkok, San Francisco, Brussels and Manila. English MBA program offerings include a la carte Pre-MBA courses, a one-year Full-time MBA, a two-year Part-time and Online MBA, and nano-MBA courses combining live classes, self-paced learning formats, and AI-powered feedback.  GLOBIS University continues to expand its curriculum with course offerings in digital technology and entrepreneurship, promoting business mastery in an age of global innovation.

About GLOBIS

Since its foundation in 1992, GLOBIS has fostered a vision to create and innovate societies by fostering management ecosystems of people, capital, and knowledge. Today, the company is involved in a range of activities, from higher education and corporate training to venture capital. GLOBIS also operates the G1 Institute and the KIBOW Foundation, both non-profit organizations to promote creativity and innovation in society. The GLOBIS MBA and corporate training programs are offered both online and in person across Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, the USA, Belgium, and the Philippines. GLOBIS University is the proud home of Japan’s largest MBA and is rapidly growing to claim this title for all of Asia.